Further Successes of the British Arms—A Missionary—Cortland
Schuyler.
THE conquest of Oswego, which was this year (1759) retaken from the
French by General Bradstreet, contributed to revive the drooping spirits
of the army and the patriots; and it was quickly succeeded by the
dear-bought conquest of Quebec. Though madame had never seen General
Wolfe, she shared the general admiration of his heroism, and the general
sorrow for his loss, in a very high degree. She, too, was conscious that
the security and tranquillity purchased by the conquest of Quebec,
would, in a manner, loosen the bonds which held the colonists attached
to a government which they only endured while they required its
protection. This led to consequences which she too clearly foresaw.
The mind of Mrs. Schuyler, which had been greatly agitated by the sad
events at Ticonderoga, now began, in consequence of the late successes,
to become more composed, and to turn itself to objects of utility, as
formerly. What she had done, and made others do for the orphans and
widows that had become such in consequence of the attack on the lines,
could scarce be credited. No one would suppose a moderate fortune, like
hers, could possibly be equal to it. She had at this time too much
satisfaction in seeing the respective churches (in all which she was
deeply interested) filled with persons who did honour to their
profession. A young clergyman named Westerloe, succeeded Domine
Freylinghausen, after an interval of three or four years, during which
the charge was irregularly filled. This young man had learning, talent,
and urbanity; he had all the sanctity of life and animated eloquence of
his predecessor, without his love of power, his bustling turn, or his
eagerness for popularity; he was, indeed, a person of very singular
merit, but studious and secluded, and unwilling to mix with strangers.
To madame, however, he was open and companionable, and knew and valued
the attractions of her conversation. Dr. Ogilvie was the English
Episcopal minister, who, under the name of Indian missionary, and with a
salary allowed him as such, had the charge of performing duty in a
church erected for that purpose in town, to strangers, and such of the
military as chose to attend. The Christian Indians, who were her
particular charge, lived at too great a distance to benefit by his
labours. The province, however, allowed a salary to a zealous preacher,
who laboured among them with apostolic fervour, and with the same
disregard to the things of this world. Dr. Ogilvie was highly respected,
and indeed much beloved by all who were capable of appreciating his
merit. His appearance was singularly prepossessing: his address and
manners entirely those of a gentleman. His abilities were respectable,
his doctrine was pure and scriptural, and his life exemplary, both as a
clergyman and in his domestic circle, where he was peculiarly amiable;
add to all this a talent for conversation, extensive reading, and a
thorough knowledge of life. The Doctor was indeed a man after madame’s
own heart: and she never ceased regretting his departure to New-York,
where he was settled two years after. For Stuart[18] she had the utmost
veneration. Perfectly calculated for his austere and uncourtly duties,
he was wholly devoted to them, and scarce cast a look back to that world
which he had forsaken. Yet he was, on various accounts, highly valued by
madame; for since the appointment of the superintendent, and more
particularly since the death of the colonel, he became more important to
her, as the link which held her to the Mohawks, whom she now saw so much
more seldom, but always continued to love. The comprehension of her mind
was so great, and her desire for knowledge so strong, that she found
much entertainment in tracing the unfoldings of the human mind in its
native state, and the gradual progress of intellect when enlightened by
the gentle influence of pure religion; and this good _father of the
deserts_ gratified her more by the details he was enabled to give of the
progress of devotion and of mind among his beloved little flock, than he
could have done by all that learning or knowledge of the world can
bestow. Again the Flats began to be the resort of the best society. She
had also her nephews in succession; one, a brother of that Philip so
often mentioned, since better known to the world by the appellation of
General Schuyler, had been long about the family. He was a youth
distinguished for the gracefulness of his person, and the symmetry of
his features. He was a perfect model of manly beauty, though almost as
dark as an Indian. Indeed, both in looks and character, he greatly
resembled the aborigines of the country. He seemed perfectly unconscious
of the extraordinary personal advantages which he possessed; was brave,
honourable, and possessed a very good understanding, but collected
within himself; silent, yet eloquent when he chose to interest himself,
or was warmed by the occasion; and had such stainless probity, that
every one respected and trusted him. Yet he was so very indifferent to
the ordinary pleasures and pursuits of life, and so entirely devoted to
the sports of the field, that when his aunt afterwards procured, him a
commission in a marching regiment, hoping thus to tame and brighten him,
he was known in Ireland by the name of the handsome savage. This title
did not belong to him in the sense we most often use it; for his manners
were not rude or harsh in the least, though an air of cold austerity,
which shaded his fine countenance, with his delight in solitary
amusements, led the gay and social inhabitants of the country in which
he resided, to consider him as unwillingly rescued from his native
forests. This youth was named Cortland, and will be more particularly
mentioned hereafter. That eccentric and frolicsome boy, whose humorous
sallies and playful flights were a continual source of amusement, was
also a frequent guest, but did not stay so long as his elder brother,
who certainly was, of all aunt’s adopted, the greatest favourite, and
became more endeared to her, from being less successful in life than the
rest of his family.
Footnote 18:
A pious missionary in the Mohawk country.
In a council held between their relations and madame, it was decided
that both Cortlandt and Cornelius should try their fortune in arms.
Cortlandt was made an ensign in an old regiment, and went over to
Ireland. Cornelius, a year after, got a commission in the fifty-fifth,
then commanded by that singularly worthy and benevolent character, Sir
Adolphus Oughton. The mayor was highly respected for his wisdom; yet his
purchasing a commission for so mere a boy, and laying out for it a sum
of money which appeared large in a country where people contrived to do
very well with wonderfully little of that article, astonished all his
countrymen. Conscious, however, of his son’s military genius, and well
knowing that the vivacity that filled his grave kinsman with
apprehension, was merely a lambent flame of youthful gaiety, which would
blaze without scorching, he fearlessly launched him into a profession in
which he hoped to see him attain merited distinction; while the
excellent patroness of all these young people had the satisfaction of
seeing every one brought up under her auspices, (and, by this time, they
were not a few,) do honour to her instructions, and fill up their
different stations in a manner the most creditable and prosperous; and
she was often surrounded by the children of those who had engaged her
earliest cares.
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