Cadioallader Colden with Peter Collitison, fyc. 119 



ment in that way by my father's interest, who was a minister of 

 that church, as any young man could have ; for my father was 

 acquainted with, and had gained the esteem of many of the no- 

 bility and gentry, not only of those who thought as he did in 

 respect to religious principle, but likewise of those who differed 

 widely from him. But my taste and inclinations led my thoughts 

 another way. I applied myself to the study of physic, and, as 

 my father's fortune was not sufficient to enable me to push my 

 fortune in England and Scotland, I went over to Pennsylvania, 

 in the year 1710, where I had some relations. When I came 

 first into America, I was very young,* and though I had some 

 knowledge of books, I was absolutely a stranger to the world. 

 The encouragement to a mere scholar is very small in any part 

 of North America, and I had little sense of the value of money 

 at that time, when it would not have been difficult for me by 

 trade to have raised my fortune, as others did about the same 

 time. I had sufficient for my present occasions, and I had not 

 then learned to be concerned for the future. 



In the year 1715 I married, and my family soon began to 

 increase, which gave me some care that I had not before. Soon 

 after this, going out of curiosity to see New York, I fell into 

 Brigadier General Hunter's conversation, who was then gover- 

 nor of that place. He gave me an invitation to settle in New 

 York, with an offer of his friendship, which I accepted. By his 

 interest, I was made surveyor general of the king's lands in 

 this province. Mr. Burnet soon succeeding him as the governor, 

 I likewise gained his friendship, and he recommended me to be 

 of the king's council for this province, in which two offices I 

 have continued ever since. My family being considerably in- 

 creased, I left the city at the time Mr. Burnet was removed from 

 the government, and settled them in the country, where I now 

 live, as being less expensive. I have been enabled to live above 

 want, to keep free of debt, so as never to suffer a laboring man 

 to go from my house without his wages, and I hope to be able 

 to put my children in a way to provide for themselves by their 

 own industry ; which often proves more advantageous to them 

 than leaving such estates as that they can hope to live without 

 thought or care. My eldest son has for some years kept what 

 we call a store in this part of the country. I suppose you know 



* He was born, it appears, in the year 1688. — A. G. 



