170 



Arendt Van Curler. 



J onathan Pearson, still hale and wise in sunny old age, has spoken for 

 himself in goodly volumes of priceless lore. 

 These are realities. 



The monument to the martyrs of 1690 is yet in the loins of the 

 future, and the pockets of subscribers; but its local habitation is se- 

 lected, and the spirit is willing. In due time, I doubt not, will ap- 

 pear a child <.f art and memory, which shall perpetuate the virtue., 

 alike of the founder and the forefathers of the village in the pine 

 woods, once spoken of as in "the far West," and made the theme of 

 grave debate between London and Versailles. To add a further me- 

 morial of a man who was great in goodness, as well as renowned in 

 statecraft, is the purpose of this paper. 



It usually happens in history that the thunders of battle, the noise 

 of the drum, and the shoutings of great captains drown the still small 

 voice of truth. Through the dust and smoke of war, the more sub- 

 stantial victories of peace are discerned not at first, but later. Of the 

 eccentric, the belligerent, and testy in church and state, the military 

 on horseback, and the patroon on his manor, we have heard much: 

 and epaulet ted and cloaked statues are beginning to be numerous. 

 On history's sober page, or in Irying's classic jest, many names are 



who laid the foundations of this commonwealth, and made it the Em- 

 pire State, there is too little known. There is room for more monu- 

 ments, as the true perspective of history retires some names to shadow, 

 and brings others into the foreground. Of these, in my modestly sub- 

 mitted opinion and in the estimation of historical crit ics who note .the 

 effect while apparently shortsighted as to the cause, none more de- 

 serves honor in some enduring token, than the yeoman, Arendt Van 

 Curler, the first superintendent of the Colony of Eensselaerwyck, and 

 the founder of Schenectady. 



Yet no letters on a sculptured monument or in written essay can 

 ecpial the noble expression of admiration from the uncivilized Indian. 

 Thefirst treaty of peace made between the Iriquois and the Hollanders 



nantof Corlaer." P For over two centuries the red men between the 

 Hudson and the Niagara addressed the governors of New Amsterdam 

 and New York as "Corlaer." When leaving their native hunting-grounds 

 to follow their religious teachers to Canada, the Mohawks of Caugh- 

 nawaga, though changing their faith, their allegiance, their habitation 



