Madame’s popularity—Exchange of Prisoners.
IN the front of Madame’s house was a portico, towards the street. To
this she was supported, in fine evenings, when the whole town were
enjoying themselves on their respective seats of one kind or other. To
hers there were a few steps of ascent, on which we used humbly to seat
ourselves; while a succession of the “elders of that city” paid their
respects to madame, and conversed with her by turns. Never was levee
better attended. “Aunt Schuyler is come out,” was a talismanic sentence
that produced pleasure in every countenance, and set every one in motion
who hoped to be well received; for, as I have formerly observed, aunt
knew the value of time much too well to devote it to every one. We lived
all this time next door to her, and were often of these evening parties.
The Indian war was now drawing to a close, after occasioning great
disquiet, boundless expense, and some bloodshed. Even when we had the
advantage which our tactics and artillery in some instances gave, it was
a warfare of the most precarious and perplexing kind. It was something
like hunting in a forest at best; could you but have supposed the
animals you pursued armed with missile weapons, and ever ready to start
out of some unlooked-for place. Our faithful Indian confederates, as far
as I can recollect, were more useful to us on this occasion than all the
dear-bought apparatus which we collected for the purpose of destroying
an enemy too wise and too swift to permit us to come in sight of them;
or, if determined to attack us, sufficiently dexterous to make us feel
before we saw them. We said, however, that we conquered Pondiac, at
which, no doubt, he smiled; for the truth of the matter was, the conduct
of this war resembled a protracted game of chess. He was as little able
to take our forts without cannon, as we were able without the feet, the
eyes, and the instinctive sagacity of Indians, to trace them to their
retreats. After delighting ourselves for a long while with the manner in
which we were to punish Pondiac’s presumption, “could we but once catch
him,” all ended in our making a treaty, very honourable for him, and not
very disadvantageous to ourselves. We gave both presents and promises,
and Pondiac gave permission to the mothers of those children who had
been taken away from the frontier settlements, to receive them back
again, on condition of delivering up the Indian prisoners.
The joyful day when the congress was held for concluding peace I never
shall forget. Another memorable day is engraven in indelible characters
upon my memory. Madame being deeply interested in the projected
exchange, brought about a scheme for having it take place at Albany,
which was more central than any other place, and where her influence
among the Mohawks could be of use in getting intelligence about the
children, and sending messages to those who had adopted them, and who,
by this time, were very unwilling to part with them. In the first place,
because they were grown very fond of them; and again, because they
thought the children would not be so happy in our manner of life, which
appeared to them both constrained and effeminate. This exchange had a
large retrospect. For ten years back there had been every now and then,
while these Indians were in the French interest, ravages upon the
frontiers of the different provinces. In many instances, these children
had been snatched away while their parents were working in the fields,
or after they were killed. A certain day was appointed, on which all who
had lost their children, or sought those of their relations were to come
to Albany in search of them; where, on that day, all Indians possessed
of white children, were to present them. Poor women, who had travelled
some hundred miles from the back settlements of Pennsylvania and
New-England, appeared here, with anxious looks and aching hearts, not
knowing whether their children were alive, or how exactly to identify
them if they should meet them. I observed these apprehensive and tender
mothers were, though poor people, all dressed with peculiar neatness and
attention, each wishing the first impression her child should receive of
her might be a favourable one. On a gentle slope near the fort, stood a
row of temporary huts, built by retainers to the troops: the green
before these buildings was the scene of these pathetic recognitions,
which I did not fail to attend. The joy of even the happy mothers was
overpowering, and found vent in tears; but not like the bitter tears of
those who, after long travel, found not what they sought. It was
affecting to see the deep and silent sorrow of the Indian women, and of
the children, who knew no other mother, and clung fondly to their
bosoms, from whence they were not torn without the most piercing
shrieks; while their own fond mothers were distressed beyond measure at
the shyness and aversion with which these long-lost objects of their
love received their caresses. I shall never forget the grotesque figures
and wild looks of these young savages; nor the trembling haste with
which their mothers arrayed them in the new clothes they had brought for
them, as hoping that with the Indian dress, they would throw off their
habits and attachments. It was, in short, a scene impossible to
describe, but most affecting to behold. Never was my good friend’s
considerate liberality and useful sympathy more fully exerted than on
this occasion, which brought so many poor travellers from their distant
homes on this pilgrimage to the shrine of nature. How many traders did
she persuade to take them gratis in their boats! How many did she feed
and lodge! and in what various ways did she serve or make others serve
them all. No one, indeed, knew how to refuse a request of aunt Schuyler,
who never made one for herself.
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