A child still-born—Adoption of children common in the province—Madame’s
visit to New-York.
MRS. SCHUYLER had contributed all in her power to forward this
expedition—but was probably hurt, either by the fatigue of receiving so
many friends, or the anxiety produced by parting with them under such
circumstances; for soon after the colonel’s departure, she was delivered
of a dead child, which event was followed by an alarming illness—but she
wished the colonel to be kept ignorant of it, that he might give his
undivided attention to the duties in which he was engaged. Providence,
which doubtless had singled out this benevolent pair to be the parents
of many who had no natural claim upon their affection, did not indulge
them with any succeeding prospects of a family of their own. This
privation, not a frequent one in this colony, did not chill the minds or
narrow the hearts of people, who, from this circumstance, found
themselves more at liberty to extend their beneficence, and enlarge that
circle which embraced the objects of their love and care. This, indeed,
was not singular, during that reign of natural feeling which preceded
the prevalence of artificial modes in this primitive district. The love
of offspring is certainly one of the strongest desires that the
uncorrupted mind forms to itself in a state of comparative innocence.
Affecting indifference on this subject, is the surest proof of a
disposition either callous, or led by extreme vanity to pretend
insensibility to the best feelings of our nature.
To a tie so exquisitely tender, the pledge and bond of connubial union;
to that bud of promised felicity, which always cheers with the fragrance
of hope, the noon-day of toil or care, and often supports with the rich
cordial of filial love and watchful duty, the evening of our decline,
what mind can be indifferent? No wonder the joys of paternity should be
highly relished, where they were so richly flavoured; where parents knew
not what it was to find a rebel or a rival in a child; first, because
they set the example of simplicity, of moderation, and of seeking their
highest joys in domestic life; next, because they quietly expected and
calmly welcomed the evening of life; and did not, by an absurd desire of
being young too long, inspire their offspring with a premature ambition
to occupy their place. What sacrifices have I not seen made to filial
piety! How many respectable, (though not young) maidens, who, without
pretending a dislike to marriage, have rejected men whom their hearts
approved, because they would not forsake, during her lifetime, a widowed
mother, whose sole comfort they were!
For such children, who that hopes to grow old, would not wish? a
consideration which the more polished manners of Europe teach us to
banish as far as possible from our minds. We have learned to check this
natural sentiment, by finding other objects for those faculties of our
minds, which nature intended to bless and benefit creatures born to love
us, and to enlarge our affections by exciting them. If this stream,
which so naturally inclines to flow downwards, happened to be checked in
its course for want of the usual channel, these adepts in the science of
happiness, immediately formed a new one, and liked their canal as well
as a river, because it was of their own making. To speak without a
metaphor, whoever wanted a child adopted one; love produced love, and
the grafted scion very often proved an ornament and defence to the
supporting stock; but then the scion was generally artless and grateful.
This is a part of the manners of my old friends, which I always remember
with delight; more particularly as it was the invariable custom to
select the child of a friend who had a numerous family. The very animals
are not devoid of that mixture of affection and sagacity, which suggests
a mode of supplying this great desideratum. Next to that prince of cats,
the famous cat of Whittington, I would place the cat recorded by Dr.
White, in his curious natural history, who, when deprived of her young,
sought a parcel of deserted leverets to suckle and to fondle. What an
example!
The following year produced a suspension of hostilities between the
provinces and the Canadians. The colonel went to New-York to attend his
duty, being again chosen a member of the Colonial Assembly. Mrs.
Schuyler accompanied him; and being improved both in mind and manners
since her marriage, which, by giving her a more important part to act,
had called forth her powers, she became the centre of a circle, by no
means inelegant or uninformed; for society was there more various and
more polished than in any other part of the continent, both from the
mixture of settlers, formerly described, and from its being situated in
a province most frequently the seat of war, and consequently forming the
headquarters of the army, which, in point of the birth and education of
the candidates for promotion, was on a very different footing from what
it has been since. It was then a much narrower range, and the selection
more attended to. Unless a man, by singular powers of talent, fought his
way from the inferior rank, there was hardly an instance of a person
getting even a subaltern’s commission, whose birth was not at least
genteel, and who had not interest and alliances. There were not so many
lucrative places under government. The wide field of adventure, since
opened in the east, was scarcely known; a subaltern’s pay was more
adequate to the maintenance of a gentleman; and the noblest and most
respected families had no other way of providing for such younger
brothers, as were not bred to any learned profession, but by throwing
them into the army. As to morals, this did not, perhaps, much mend the
matter. These officers might, in some instances be thoughtless, and even
profligate, but they were seldom ignorant or low bred; and that rare
character, called a finished gentleman, was not unfrequently to be found
among the higher ranks of them—who had added experience, reading, and
reflection, to their original stock of talents and attainments.
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