was eminently proper in itself, however troublesome in its results; he had been under great obligations to his kinsman in his college course, and had a loyal feeling to him as the chief of the clan, and was besides a youth himself, and susceptible to the woes of distressed lovers. If he had arranged an interview or carried a note or two between his cousins he could not have suspected any harm in that when the parties were so eminently respectable and of the same blood; but he convinced General and Mrs. S. that he was innocent of all guilty knowledge beyond that degree. And so he was reinstated in the great man's favor, and had no reason to regret what had happened in its influence on his future career. He was trained up in the principles of the Federalists, the party of Washington, in which General Schuyler was a leader. I have seen the modern slang expression "machine" applied, in a letter written at his death, to the Federal party as managed by him. His impatience was so great, as my grandfather has told me, that in writing, after finishing a page, he would not wait to turn the sheet or cut it off carefully, but would tear it off and throw it on the floor for some

one to pick up. But he was one of the greatest characters that this nation has produced. At that early day he planned the great system of internal improvements which the State of New York has carried out in its canals, and formed a company which laid the foundation for them by improving the navigation of the inland lakes and streams. He planned the campaign that resulted in the capture of Burgoyne and his army, although he was not allowed to carry it out; giving nevertheless the benefit of his unstinted

aid and counsel to General Gates, by whom he was superseded. In this he showed patriotism and magnanimity of the highest order, for subsequently Gates proved himself to be vastly his inferior as a commander. My grandfather has told me that General Schuyler was an unbeliever in the Christian religion till the latter years of his life, when he frankly avowed his error and announced his belief in Christianity. This was a great step for him, and a hard one for such a leader of men, especially in that day, when infidelity was more fashionable than it has been since.*

After pursuing the proper studies he was admitted an attorney in the Supreme Court of the State of New York, his license being signed by Richard Morris, Chief Justice, and dated 30th October, 1784. He entered on the practice of the law in Claverack, Columbia county, where his brother-in-law, William Ludlow, who married his sister Catharine, resided. He became district attorney for the county, and must have enjoyed a profitable practice. He received his license as counsellor-at-law the 6th November, 1790, from Chief Justice Robert Yates. Having a taste for military duties, he had been commissioned as brigade inspector by Governor George Clinton, 27th December, 1786. His position and duties brought him into connection with the most distinguished men of the time, as well as with many rising men of his own age, who afterwards filled a large place in the history of

Per

*The Indians gave General Schuyler the name "Ta-ha ne-ye-a-ta-kau ye," literally "Ancient his legs." This was a strange title for one of the most impatient, active and enterprising of men, of whom it never could be said, as of old Laertes, that "weariness took hold of his limbs as he crept along the fruitful soil" of his Saratoga domain haps the Mohawk warriors had observed that Quider's" legs were not as nimble as their own when it became prudent to retire before the enemy and get behind trees, of which they were never slow to avail themselves. To General Washington they gave the more dignified and appropriate title, "An-na-ta-kau-les," "Taker of towns.' ("Memoir, etc," by Egbert Benson.)

the nation, and laid the foundation of many lasting friendships. One day I was standing looking at books in Putnam's store in New York, when a venerable gentleman of distinguished air came up to me and said, "Are not you a grandson of Killian K. Van Rensselaer?" On my replying "Yes," he said, "I am Chancellor Kent, and an old friend of your grandfather's." I was so taken aback by being thus accosted by so eminent a man that I lost my balance and could only say, "I have often heard my grandfather speak of you, Chancellor Kent." To which he answered, in his quick, jerky way, "I have no doubt you have heard him speak of Chancellor Kent," and thereupon left me, leaving me in great doubt whether my stupid awkwardness had not marred his estimation of my lineage.

CHAPTER SIXTH.

MARRIAGE AND PROFESSIONAL LIFE.

Killian K. Van Rensselaer was married January 27, 1791, to Margaretta Sanders, daughter of John Sanders, of Scotia, and cousin of his brother Philip's wife.

Just previous to this he had been called to Albany, having received from the Patroon the following notice of the death of the estimable Dominie by whom he and his sister Maria had been baptized, and who had married the Patroon's mother.

"ALBANY, December 27, 1790. "DEAR SIR-It pleased God to take to Himself our father Doctor Westerlo, on Sunday afternoon at half-past one o'clock. The family intend to Inter him on Wednesday next, at two o'clock, and request your attendance.

"Your Humble Servant,

"STEPHEN V. RENSSELAER,
"In behalf of the family.

"KILLIAN K. VAN RENSSELAER, Esq.,

Claverack."

On his marriage my grandfather settled in Albany, and received his license to practice in the Mayor's Court of the city of Albany, 28th of March, 1791, signed by Abm. Yates, Jr., Mayor. The following ten years, I think, were the happiest for himself and his family in all their experience. Five children were born to them, one of whom, however, Deborah, named after my grandmother's mother, was taken

away in infancy. Their residence was at first in State street near the "Old Elm Tree" on the corner of Pearl street. The homestead, 112 State street was begun in 1801, at the same time that Philip S. Van Rensselaer, the Mayor, built his house on the corner of Chapel street, now belonging to Erastus Corning. While it was building they lived for a time on the corner of Lodge street. In this mansion the front room on the first floor was "the office," in which, as I recollect it, my grandfather might generally be found seated in quiet dignity, reading or conversing with a visitor, who had come in familiary to see him and have a friendly chat. In the rear was the living room, where my grandmother could always be found, her delicate health confining her much to the house. The little room beside this, now a butler's pantry, was the dining-room, and there I remember first seeing a Nott stove," the original "base-burner," which first brought anthracite coal into use for domestic purposes. Between the front office and the back room was the bedroom, in which stood the family "kas," on which always stood a basket of the reddest, juiciest and richest-flavored Spitzenberg apples from the Scotia orchard, for the children whenever they might come in. The climb for those apples on the "kas" helped to show how much we grew every year. The back room was the scene of the annual family dinner, at which all, old and young, were assembled. A mystery hung over the upper stories of the house, on which were the parlor and drawing-room, kept carefully closed according to the Dutch tradition, and never opened except on state occasions, for family gatherings and the most distinguished guests. On