120 Selections from the Correspondence of 



of what kind of mercantile business it is, by your general knowl- 

 edge of America. My eldest daughter is married, as to fortune 

 beyond what I could expect in regard to my own, to one of the 

 late Mr. De Lancy's sons. I doubt not you have heard of his 

 father, he having been one of the most noted merchants in 

 America. My younger children give me reasonable hopes of 

 their doing well in the world, as they grow up, by their industry 

 and virtue. 



My removing to the country, I believe, has been of no disad- 

 vantage to my children, as it has freed them from many tempt- 

 ations to vice, to which youth is exposed in the city. My chief 

 pleasure, like yours, is in my own family, with my wife and 

 children, and I wish 1 could live so as never to be from them. 

 I have always had a view to be useful to my country, (though 

 I have had sometimes my designs that way grossly misinterpre- 

 ted,) and I have taken most pleasure in speculation for that end. 

 I cannot say how far I have succeeded ; but none now deny the 

 benefit of the trade at Oswego, in the framing of which scheme 

 and reducing it to practice I had a considerable share. I have 

 made a small spot of the world, which, when I first entered upon 

 it, was the habitation only of wolves and bears and other wild 

 animals, now no unfit habitation for a civilized family ; so that 

 I may without vanity take the comfort of not having been en- 

 tirely useless in my generation. I once intended to have at- 

 tempted the natural history of this province ; and Mr. Burnet for 

 my encouragement annexed a small salary to my office of sur- 

 veyor general, to be paid out of his majesty's quit-rents. But 

 Mr. H. Walpole at the same time having procured an additional 

 salary as auditor of his majesty's revenue in America, mine was 

 taken off, to make way for his, and I was left without any thing 

 besides the perquisites of my office, which often are very preca- 

 rious. This obliged me to lay aside all kind of study that was 

 attended with expense of time and money. J hope, notwith- 

 standing of this, to be able to entertain you from time to time 

 with what may prove no disagreeable amusement, according to 

 your own taste. I have at this time too far presumed on your 

 patience ; but it now begins to be difficult for me to leave off 

 while I write to you ; for I really am, dear sir, your most obli- 

 ged and affectionately humble servant, 



Cadwallader Colden. 



