now distributed among the family, and which had come down from many
historical forbears. The oldest article was a pewter "great flagon" some
fourteen inches high, bearing the date stamp of Henry VIII and having on
its cover a large embossed _fleur-de-lys_ such as pewterers were ordered
by Henry VIII in 1543 to put upon the covers of all great flagons. This
is one of the rarest existing pieces of English pewter, and has no known
duplicate. In the Manoir of Lacolle it worthily represented the
sixteenth century. The seventeenth was represented by a set of "Late
Spanish" Dutch chairs, one of which is now owned by a descendant of the
Schuylers in Montreal. The set had been inherited by old Mrs. Ten Eyck
Schuyler from her great-grand-mother, a Visscher. Of the eighteenth
century was the quaint hooded mahogany family cradle; a clawfoot
Chippendale desk of red mahogany; a Sheraton card-table, an octagonal
table, one or two shield-back chairs,--all of carved mahogany and of
different sets; a handsome spindle-legged bow-front Heppelwhite
sideboard, several old portraits, and much silver coming from General
Fisher and other relatives, and other objects, including at one time
various uniforms, a pair of pistols and a field-chest of General
Schuyler the gold watch and despatches of General Fisher, and other such
articles. (In fact the pieces mentioned were but a small remnant of
those which had been brought to the house in 1825). Of Empire period
were many fine furniture pieces, several silkwork pictures, fiddle and
grand-father clocks, etc., while naturally the early Victorian, and all
modern changes, were duly represented. In the cabinets were rare
collections of various sorts largely brought together by the late Mrs.
Mary Averill Hoyle, the last co-Seigneuresse, who died early in 1914,
and whose gracious hospitality and accomplishments seemed part of the
place. Naturally the old Manoir was a delightful spot to visit, either
in summer or winter.