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diff --git a/old/13811.txt b/old/13811.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..7ed87d9 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/13811.txt @@ -0,0 +1,9026 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook, Peter Stuyvesant, the Last Dutch Governor of +New Amsterdam, by John S. C. Abbott + + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + + + + +Title: Peter Stuyvesant, the Last Dutch Governor of New Amsterdam + +Author: John S. C. Abbott + +Release Date: October 20, 2004 [eBook #13811] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII) + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PETER STUYVESANT, THE LAST DUTCH +GOVERNOR OF NEW AMSTERDAM*** + + +E-text prepared by Curtis A. Weyant, Keith M. Eckrich, and the Project +Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team + + + +PETER STUYVESANT, THE LAST DUTCH GOVERNOR OF NEW AMSTERDAM + +by + +JOHN S. C. ABBOTT + +Illustrated + + + + + + + +PREFACE + + +It is impossible to understand the very remarkable character and +career of Peter Stuyvesant, the last, and by far the most illustrious, +of the Dutch governors of New Amsterdam, without an acquaintance with +the early history of the Dutch colonies upon the Hudson and the +Delaware. The Antiquarian may desire to look more fully into the +details of the early history of New York. But this brief, yet +comprehensive narrative, will probably give most of the information +upon that subject, which the busy, general reader can desire. + +In this series of "_The Pioneers and Patriots of America_," the reader +will find, in the "Life of De Soto," a minute description of the +extreme south and its inhabitants, when the Mississippi rolled its +flood through forests which the foot of the white man had never +penetrated. "Daniel Boone" conducts us to the beautiful streams and +hunting grounds of Kentucky, when the Indian was the sole possessor +of those sublime solitudes. In the "Life of Miles Standish, the +Puritan Captain," we are made familiar with that most wonderful of all +modern stories, the settlement of New England. "Peter Stuyvesant" +leads us to the Hudson, from the time when its majestic waters were +disturbed only by the arrowy flight of the birch canoe, till European +colonization had laid there the foundations of one of the most +flourishing cities on this globe. + +In these Histories the writer has spared no labor in gathering all the +information in his power, respecting those Olden Times, now passing so +rapidly into oblivion. + +JOHN S. C. ABBOTT. + + + + + +CONTENTS. + + +CHAPTER I. + +DISCOVERY OF THE HUDSON RIVER. 13 + + The Discovery of America. + Colonies. + The Bay of New York. + Description of the Bay. + Voyage of Sir Henry Hudson. + Discovery of the Delaware. + The Natives. + The Boat Attacked. + Ascending the Hudson. + Escape of the Prisoners. + The Chiefs Intoxicated. + The Return. + The Village at Castleton. + The Theft and its Punishment. + The Return to England. + + +CHAPTER II. + +THE PROGRESS OF DISCOVERY. 33 + + Value of the Territory Discovered. + Fate of Hudson. + The Conspiracy. + Aspect of Manhattan Island. + The Trail which has Widened into Broadway. + The Opening Commerce. + The Fur Trade. + Visit of the English Man of War. + Exploring the Sound. + Commercial Enterprise Receives a New Stimulus. + Erection of Forts. + Character of the Fur Trade. + + +CHAPTER III. + +THE COMMENCEMENT OF COLONIZATION. 54 + + The Puritans. + Memorial to the States-General. + Disagreement of the English and the Dutch. + Colony on the Delaware. + Purchase Of Manhattan. + The First Settlement. + An Indian Robbed and Murdered. + Description of the Island. + Diplomatic Intercourse. + Testimony of De Rassieres. + The Patroons. + The Disaster at Swaanendael. + + +CHAPTER IV. + +THE ADMINISTRATION OF VAN TWILLER. 77 + + Friendly Relations Restored. + Wouter Van Thiller New Director. + Captain Elkins. + Remonstrance of De Vrees. + Claims for the Connecticut. + The Plymouth Expedition. + A Boat's Crew Murdered. + Condition of the Colony in 1633. + Emigration to the Connecticut. + Emigrants from Holland. + The Red Rocks. + New Haven Colony Established. + Natural. + Indian Remonstrance Against Taxation. + Outrage upon the Raritan Indians. + Indian Revenge. + + +CHAPTER V. + +WAR AND ITS DEVASTATIONS. 100 + + Approaching Hostilities. + Noble Remonstrance. + Massacre of the Natives. + The War Storm. + Noble Conduct of De Vrees. + The Humiliation of Kieft. + Wide Spread Desolation. + The Reign of Terror. + State of Affairs at Fort Nassau. + The Massacre at Stamford. + Memorial of the Select Men. + Kieft Superseded by Peter Stuyvesant. + + +CHAPTER VI. + +GOVERNOR STUYVESANT. 121 + + New Netherland in 1646. + Early Years of Peter Stuyvesant. + Decay of New Amsterdam. + The Germs of a Representative Government. + Energetic Administration. + Death of Governor Winthrop. + Claims for Long Island. + Arrogance of the Governor. + Remonstrance of the Nine Men. + The Pastoral Office. + Boundary Lines. + Increasing Discontent. + Division of Parties. + Dictatorial Measures. + + +CHAPTER VII. + +WAR BETWEEN ENGLAND AND HOLLAND. 144 + + Action of the Patroons. + Settlements on the Hudson. + Alarm of the Home Government. + Recall of Stuyvesant. + His Escape from Humiliation. + Difficulties between England and Holland. + The Breaking Out of War. + Directions to Stuyvesant. + The Relations of the Colonies. + Charges Against the Dutch Governor. + Their Refutation. + Efforts of Stuyvesant for Peace. + Noble Conduct of the Massachusetts Government. + The Advocates for War. + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +ANOTHER INDIAN WAR. 167 + + Conflict Between the Governor and the Citizens. + Energy of the Governor. + His Measures of Defence. + Action of the English Colony. + Claims of the Government of Sweden. + Fort Casimir Captured by the Swedes. + Retaliation. + Measures for the Recapture of Fort Casimir. + Shooting a Squaw. + Its Consequences. + The Ransom of Prisoners. + Complaints of the Swedish Governor. + Expedition from Sweden. + Its Fate. + + +CHAPTER IX + +AN ENERGETIC ADMINISTRATION. 191 + + New Amsterdam in 1656. + Religious Intolerance. + Persecution of the Waldenses. + The New Colony on South River. + Wreck of the Prince Maurice. + The Friendly Indians. + Energetic Action of the Governor. + Persecution of the Quakers. + Remonstrance from Flushing. + The Desolation of Staten Island. + Purchase of Bergen. + Affairs at Esopus. + The Indian Council. + Generosity of the Indians. + New Amstel. + Encroachments of the English. + + +CHAPTER X. + +THE ESOPUS WAR. 213 + + Outrage at Esopus. + New Indian War. + Its Desolations. + Sufferings of Both Parties. + Wonderful Energies of the Governor. + Difficulties of his Situation. + The Truce. + Renewal of the War. + The Mohawks. + The Controversy with Massachusetts. + Indian Efforts for Peace. + The Final Settlement. + Claims of the English Upon the Delaware. + Renewed Persecution of the Quakers. + + +CHAPTER XI. + +THE DISASTROUS YEAR. 234 + + Purchase of Staten Island. + The Restoration of Charles Second. + Emigration Invited. + Settlement of Bushwick. + The Peculiar People. + Persecution of John Brown. + The Governor Rebuked. + Cumulation of Disasters. + The Outbreak at Esopus. + The Panic. + Measures of the Governor. + The Indian Fort. + The Expedition to Mamaket. + Capture of the Fort. + Annihilation of the Esopus Indians. + + +CHAPTER XII. + +ENCROACHMENTS OF THE ENGLISH. 257 + + Annihilation of the Esopus Tribe. + The Boundary Question. + Troubles on Long Island. The Dutch and English Villages. + Petition of the English. + Embarrassments of Governor Stuyvesant. + Embassage to Hartford. + The Repulse. + Peril of New Netherland. + Memorial to the Fatherland. + New Outbreak on Long Island. + John Scott and his Highhanded Measures. + Strengthening the Fortifications. + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +HOSTILE MEASURES COMMENCED. 279 + + John Scott and his Movements. + Losses of the Dutch. + The First General Assembly. + Action of the Home Government. + Peace with the Indians. + Arrest of John Scott. + Governor Winthrop's Visit to Long Island. + Sailing of the Fleet. + Preparations for War. + The False Dispatches. + Arrival of the Fleet. + The Summons to Surrender. + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +THE CAPTURE OF NEW AMSTERDAM. 301 + + The Approach of the Fleet. + The Governor Unjustly Censured. + The Flag of Truce. + The Haughty Response. + The Remonstrance. + The Defenceless City. + The Surrender. + The Expedition to the Delaware. + Sack and Plunder. + Change of Name. + Testimony to the Dutch Government. + Death of the Governor. + His Farm, or Bouwerie. + War Between Holland and England. + New York Menaced by the Dutch. + + +CHAPTER XV. + +THE FINAL SURRENDER. 324 + + The Summons. + The Bombardment. + Disembarkation of the Land Force. + Indecision of Captain Manning. + The Surrender. + Short Administration of the Dutch. + Social Customs. + The Tea Party. + Testimony of Travellers. + Visit to Long Island. + Fruitfulness of the Country. + Exploration of Manhattan Island. + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +THE OLDEN TIME. 346 + + Wealth and Rank of the Ancient Families. + Their Vast Landed Estates. + Distinctions in Dress. + Veneration for the Patroon. + Kip's Mansion. + Days of the Revolution. + Mr. John Adams' Journal. + Negro Slavery. + Consequences of the System. + General Panic. + + + + +PETER STUYVESANT. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + + + +DISCOVERY OF THE HUDSON RIVER. + + + The Discovery of America.--Colonies.--The Bay of New + York.--Description of the Bay.--Voyage of Sir Henry + Hudson.--Discovery of the Delaware.--The Natives.--The Boat + Attacked.--Ascending the Hudson.--Escape of the + Prisoners.--The Chiefs Intoxicated.--The Return.--The + Village at Castleton.--The Theft and its Punishment.--The + Return to England. + + +On the 12th of October, 1492, Christopher Columbus landed upon the +shores of San Salvador, one of the West India islands, and thus +revealed to astonished Europe a new world. Four years after this, in +the year 1496, Sebastian Cabot discovered the continent of North +America. Thirty-three years passed away of many wild adventures of +European voyagers, when, in the year 1539, Ferdinand de Soto landed at +Tampa Bay, in Florida, and penetrating the interior of the vast +continent, discovered the Mississippi River. Twenty-six years more +elapsed ere, in 1565, the first European colony was established at St. +Augustine, in Florida. + +In the year 1585, twenty years after the settlement of St. Augustine, +Sir Walter Raleigh commenced his world-renowned colony upon the +Roanoke. Twenty-two years passed when, in 1607, the London Company +established the Virginia Colony upon the banks of the James river. + +In the year 1524, a Florentine navigator by the name of Jean de +Verrazano, under commission of the French monarch, Francis I., +coasting northward along the shores of the continent, entered the bay +of New York. In a letter to king Francis I., dated July 8th, 1524, he +thus describes the Narrows and the Bay: + + "After proceeding one hundred leagues, we found a very + pleasant situation among some steep hills, through which a + very large river, deep at its mouth, forced its way to the + sea. From the sea to the estuary of the river, any ship + heavily laden might pass, with the help of the tide, which + rises eight feet. But as we were riding at anchor, in a good + berth, we would not venture up in our vessel without a + knowledge of the mouth. Therefore we took the boat, and + entering the river, we found the country, on its banks, well + peopled, the inhabitants not much differing from the others, + being dressed out with the feathers of birds of various + colors. + + "They came towards us with evident delight, raising loud + shouts of admiration, and showing us where we could most + securely land with our boat. We passed up this river about + half a league, when we found it formed a most beautiful lake + three leagues in circuit, upon which they were rowing thirty + or more of their small boats, from one shore to the other, + filled with multitudes who came to see us. All of a sudden, + as is wont to happen to navigators, a violent contrary wind + blew in from the sea, and forced us to return to our ship, + greatly regretting to leave this region which seemed so + commodious and delightful, and which we supposed must also + contain great riches, as the hills showed many indications + of minerals." + +In the year 1609, a band of Dutch merchants, called the East India +Company, fitted out an expedition to discover a northeast passage to +the Indies. They built a vessel of about eighty tons burden, called +the Half Moon, and manning her with twenty sailors, entrusted the +command to an Englishman, Henry Hudson. He sailed from the Texel in +his solitary vessel, upon this hazardous expedition, on the 6th of +April, 1609. Doubling North Cape amid storms and fog and ice, after +the rough voyage of a month, he became discouraged, and determined to +change his plan and seek a northwest passage. + +Crossing the Atlantic, which, in those high latitudes, seems ever to +be swept by storms, he laid in a store of codfish on the banks of +Newfoundland, and, on the 17th of July, ran his storm-shattered bark +into what is now known as Penobscot Bay, on the coast of Maine. Here +he found the natives friendly. He had lost his foremast in a storm, +and remained at this place a week, preparing a new one. He had heard +in Europe that there was probably a passage through the unexplored +continent, to the Pacific ocean, south of Virginia. Continuing his +voyage southward, he passed Cape Cod, which he supposed to be an +island, and arrived on the 18th of August at the entrance of +Chesapeake Bay. He then ran along the coast in a northerly direction +and entered a great bay with rivers, which he named South River, but +which has since received the name of the Delaware. + +Still following the coast, he reached the Highlands of Neversink, on +the 2d of September, and at three o'clock in the afternoon of the same +day, came to what then seemed to him to be the mouths of three large +rivers. These were undoubtedly the Raritan, the Narrows, and Rockaway +Inlet. After careful soundings he, the next morning, passed Sandy Hook +and anchored in the bay at but two cables' length from the shore. The +waters around him were swarming with fish. The scenery appeared to him +enchanting. Small Indian villages were clustered along the shores, and +many birch canoes were seen gliding rapidly to and fro, indicating +that the region was quite densely populated, and that the natives were +greatly agitated if not alarmed by the strange arrival. + +Soon several canoes approached the vessel, and the natives came on +board, bringing with them green tobacco and corn, which they wished to +exchange for knives and beads. Many vessels, engaged in fishing, had +touched at several points on the Atlantic coast, and trafficked with +the Indians. The inhabitants of this unexplored bay had heard of these +adventurers, of the wonders which they brought from distant lands, and +they were in a state of great excitement, in being visited in their +turn. + +The bay was fringed with the almost impenetrable forest. Here and +there were picturesque openings, where Indian villages, in peaceful +beauty, were clustered in the midst of the surrounding foliage. The +natives were dressed in garments of deer skin, very softly tanned, +hanging gracefully about their persons, and often beautifully +ornamented. Many of them wore mantles of gorgeously-colored feathers, +quite artistically woven together; and they had also garments of rich +furs. + +The following morning a party from the vessel landed, in a boat, on +the Jersey shore. They were received with great hospitality by the +natives, who led them into their wigwams, and regaled them with dried +currants, which were quite palatable. As they had no interpreters, +they could only communicate with each other by signs. They found the +land generally covered with forest trees, with occasional meadows of +green grass, profusely interspersed with flowers, which filled the air +with fragrance. + +Another party of five men, was sent to examine the northern shore of +the bay. They probably inflicted some gross outrage upon the natives, +as the crew of the Half Moon had conducted infamously, at other points +of the coast, where they had landed, robbing and shooting the Indians. +The sun had gone down, and a rainy evening had set in, when two canoes +impelled rapidly by paddles, overtook the returning boat. One +contained fourteen Indians; the other twelve. Approaching within arrow +shot, they discharged a volley into the boat. One of these +keen-pointed weapons, struck John Coleman in the throat, and instantly +killed him. Two other Englishmen were wounded. + +The Indians seemed satisfied with their revenge. Though they numbered +twenty-six warriors, and there were but two white men left unwounded, +the savages permitted them to continue their passage to the vessel, +without further molestation. The journalist, who records this assault, +is silent respecting the provocation which led to it. + +Hudson was alarmed by this hostility, and expected an immediate attack +upon the ship. He promptly erected bulwarks along the sides of his +vessel as a protection from the arrows of the fleet of war canoes, +with which, he supposed, he would be surrounded the next morning. + +But the night passed quietly away; the morning dawned, and a few +canoes approached from another part of the bay, with no signs of +hostility. These peaceful Indians had manifestly heard nothing of the +disturbance of the night before. They came unarmed, with all friendly +attestations, unsuspicious of danger, and brought corn and tobacco, +which they offered in exchange for such trinkets as they could obtain. +The next morning, two large canoes approached from the shores of the +bay which was many leagues in extent, one of which canoes seemed to be +filled with warriors, thoroughly armed. The other was a trading boat. + +It is probable that those in the war canoe, came as a protection for +their companions. It is hardly conceivable that the Indians, naturally +timid and wary, could have thought, with a single war canoe containing +scarcely a dozen men, armed with arrows, to attack the formidable +vessel of Sir Henry Hudson, armed, as they well knew it to be, with +the terrible energies of thunder and lightning. + +The Indians were so unsuspicious of danger, that two of them +unhesitatingly came on board. Sir Henry, we must think treacherously, +seized them as prisoners, and ordered the canoes containing their +companions, to keep at a distance. Soon another canoe came, from +another direction, with only two men in it. Sir Henry received them +both on board, and seized them also as prisoners. He intended to hold +them as hostages, that he might thus protect himself from any +hostility on the part of the natives. + +One of these men upon finding himself a captive, leaped overboard and +swam ashore. Sir Henry had now three prisoners and he guarded them +very closely. Yet the natives, either from policy or from fear, made +no hostile demonstrations against him. + +The half Moon remained in the outer bay nine days. Several exploring +tours had been sent out, visiting what is now known as the Jersey +shore. None of these, with the exception of the one to which we have +alluded, encountered any hostility whatever from the natives. + +On the 11th of September, Hudson sailed through the Narrows, and +anchored in the still and silent waters of New York harbor. These +waters had never then been whitened by a sail, or ploughed by any +craft larger than the Indian's birch canoe. The next morning, the 12th +of September, Sir Henry again spread his sails, and commenced his +memorable voyage up the solitary river, which has subsequently borne +his name. Only here and there could a few wigwams be seen, scattered +through the forest, which fringed its banks. But human life was there, +then as now, with the joys of the bridal and the grief of the burial. +When we contemplate the million of people, now crowded around the +mouth of the Hudson, convulsively struggling in all the stern +conflicts of this tumultuous life, it may be doubted whether there +were not as much real happiness in the wigwam of the Indian as is now +to be found in the gorgeous palace of the modern millionaire. And when +we contemplate the vices and the crimes which civilization has +developed, it may also be doubted whether, there were not as much +virtue, comparatively with the numbers to be found, within the bark +hut of the red man, as is now to be found in the abodes of the more +boastful white man. + +Sir Henry Hudson hoped to find this majestic river, inviting him into +unknown regions of the north, to be an arm of the sea through which he +could cross the continent to the shores of the Pacific. It was not +then known whether this continent were a few miles or thousands of +miles in breadth. For the first two days the wind was contrary, and +the Half Moon ascended the river but about two miles. The still +friendly natives paddled out from the shores, in their bark canoes in +great numbers, coming on board entirely unarmed and offering for sale, +excellent oysters and vegetables in great abundance. + +On the third day a strong breeze sprang up from the southeast. All +sail was set upon the Half Moon. It was a bright and beautiful +autumnal day. Through enchanting scenery the little vessel ploughed +the waves of the unknown river, till, having accomplished forty miles, +just at sunset they dropped their anchor in the still waters which are +surrounded by the grand and gloomy cliffs of the Highlands. + +The next morning, the river and its shores, were enveloped in a dense +fog, so that one could see but a few yards before him. Taking +advantage of this, the Indian captives, whom Sir Henry Hudson had so +treacherously ensnared, leaped out of one of the port-holes, and swam +ashore. As soon as they reached the land, they raised loud shouts of +hatred and defiance. + +The sun soon dispelled the fog, and the voyage was continued, and by +night the Half Moon reached a point supposed to be near the present +site of Catskill Landing. The natives were numerous, and very +friendly. They came freely on board, apparently unsuspicious of +danger. It was noticeable that there were many very aged men among +them. The river seemed full of fishes, and with their hooks they took +large numbers. The next day the Indians came on board in crowds, +bringing pumpkins and tobacco. The vessel's boats were sent on shore +to procure fresh water. + +Early the ensuing morning, they pushed up the river five miles, to a +point probably near the present city of Hudson. + +Sir Henry Hudson does not appear to advantage in the account +transmitted to us of this exploration. Mr. Sparks, in his American +Biography, gives the following extraordinary account of one of his +procedures. + + "It is evident that great distrust was entertained by Hudson + and his men towards the natives. He now determined to + ascertain, by intoxicating some of the chiefs, and thus + throwing them off their guard, whether they were plotting + any treachery. He accordingly invited several of them into + the cabin, and gave them plenty of brandy to drink. One of + these men had his wife with him, who, the Journal informs + us, 'sate so modestly as any of our countrywomen would do in + a strange place.' But the men had less delicacy and were + soon quite merry with the brandy. + + "One of them, who had been on board from the first arrival + of the ship, was completely intoxicated, and fell sound + asleep, to the great astonishment of his companions, who + probably feared that he had been poisoned; for they all took + to their canoes and made for the shore, leaving their + unlucky comrade on board. Their anxiety for his welfare soon + induced them to return; and they brought a quantity of + beads, which they gave him, perhaps to enable him to + purchase his freedom from the spell which had been laid upon + him. + + "The poor savage slept quietly all night, and when his + friends came to visit him the next morning they found him + quite well. This restored their confidence, so that they + came to the ship again in crowds, in the afternoon, bringing + various presents for Hudson. Their visit which was one of + unusual ceremony is thus described in the Journal: + + "'So at three of the clock in the afternoon, they came + aboard and brought tobacco and more beads, and gave them to + our master, and made an oration and showed him all the + country round about. Then they sent one of their company on + land, who presently returned; and brought a great platter + full of venison, dressed by themselves, and they caused him + to eat with them. Then they made him reverence and departed, + all save the old man that lay aboard.'" + +It was now manifest that no northwest passage to the Indies could be +found in this direction, and it was not deemed expedient to attempt to +ascend the river any farther in the ship. The mate, however was sent +with a boat's crew, to explore the river some distance higher up. It +is supposed that the boat ascended several miles above the present +site of the city of Albany, Hudson probably going a little beyond +where the town of Waterford now is. Upon the return of the boat, the +mate having reported that it was useless to attempt any farther ascent +of the river with the ship, Sir Henry commenced his return. + +Carefully descending the winding channel of the stream, he was so +unfortunate as to run the ship on a mud bank, in the middle of the +river nearly opposite the present city of Hudson. Without much +difficulty the vessel was again floated, having received no injury. +But contrary winds detained him upon the spot two days. In the +meantime several boat parties visited the banks on both sides of the +stream. They were also visited by many of the natives who were +unremitting in their kindness. + +A fair wind soon springing up they ran down the river eighteen miles, +passing quite a large Indian village where Catskill now stands, and +cast anchor in deep water, near Red Hook. Baffled by opposing winds +and calms, they slowly worked their way down the stream, the next two +days, to near the present point of Castleton. Here a venerable old +man, the chief of a small tribe, or rather patriarchal family of forty +men and seventeen women, came on board in his birch canoe. He gave Sir +Henry a very cordial invitation to visit his little settlement of +wigwams, picturesquely nestled upon the banks of the river. Distance +lends enchantment to the view. The little hamlet in a sheltered cove +where fertile meadows were spread out, was surrounded by fields waving +with the harvest. From the deck of the ship the scene presented was +one of peace, prosperity and happiness. The smoke ascended gracefully +from the wigwam fires, children were sporting upon the beach, and +birch canoes, almost as light as bubbles, were being rapidly paddled +over the glassy waves. + +[Illustration] + +The good old chief took the English captain ashore and led him into +his palace. It was a very humble edifice, constructed of bark so +carefully overlapped as effectually to exclude both wind and rain. It +was from thirty to forty feet long and eighteen feet wide. There was a +door at each end, and ample light was admitted by an opening extending +along the whole length, through which the smoke of the fires could +escape. The interior was finished with great care, and very smoothly. +Under certain states of the atmosphere and of the wind the smoke +freely ascended, causing no embarrassment to those within. The ground +floor was neatly covered with mats, except in the centre where the +fire was built. The whole interior as Sir Hudson entered it, on a +serene autumnal day, presented a very cheerful aspect. One might +easily be pardoned for imagining, in that hour, that the life of the +American savage, free from care, was apparently far more desirable +than that of the toil-worn European. + +Sir Henry, with the few who accompanied him, was received with great +hospitality. Some Indians were immediately sent into the forest for a +dinner. They soon returned with some pigeons which they had shot with +their arrows. A nice fat puppy was also killed, skinned with a +clam-shell, and roasted in the highest style of barbaric culinary art. +Thick mats were provided as seats for the guests at this royal +festival. Hudson was urged to remain all night. He was evidently a man +of very cautious, if not suspicious temperament. He could not, or did +not conceal, from the Indians his fears that they were meditating +treachery. These artless men, to convince him that he had nothing to +apprehend, actually broke their bows and arrows, and threw them into +the fire. But nothing could induce Hudson to remain on shore through +the night. He describes the land here as very fertile, bearing +abundantly, corn, pumpkins, grapes, plums, and various other kinds of +small fruits. + +Availing himself of a fair wind, he again spread his sails, and on the +1st of October, cast anchor at the mouth of Haverstraw Bay, in the +vicinity of Stony Point. He had scarcely furled his sails, when a +large number of natives came paddling out from the shore in their +little birch canoes. They were entirely unarmed, bringing apparently +in a most friendly manner, furs, fish and vegetables for sale. Soon +quite a little fleet of these buoyant canoes were gliding over the +water. One Indian, paddling beneath the cabin windows, and seeing +hanging out certain articles pilfered a pillow and a jacket. As he was +making off with his treasures the mate caught sight of him, and +seizing his gun mercilessly shot him dead. A severe punishment for so +trivial a crime in an untutored savage. + +All the Indians on board the Half Moon as they heard the report of the +gun, and saw their unfortunate companion fall dead in his blood, were +stricken with terror. Some rushed into their canoes. Others plunged +into the river to swim ashore. The vessel's boat immediately put off +to pick up the canoe with the stolen goods. As it was returning, a +solitary Indian, in the water, probably exhausted and drowning, +grasped the gunwale. The cook seized a hatchet and with one blow, +deliberately cut off the man's hand at the wrist. The poor creature, +uttering a shriek, sank beneath the crimsoned waves and was seen no +more. + +The next day, the Half Moon descended the river about twenty miles +through Tappan Sea, and anchored, it is supposed, near the head of +Manhattan island. Sir Henry Hudson was apparently oppressed in some +degree with the unjustifiable harshness with which he had treated the +simple-hearted, yet friendly natives. He was continually and +increasingly apprehensive of treachery. A single canoe containing +several men approached the ship Hudson's eagle eye perceived that one +of these men was one of the captives whom he had seized, but who had +escaped from his imprisonment by plunging into the river and swimming +ashore. The sight of this man alarmed the captain, and he refused to +allow any of them to come on board. + +It seems to us rather absurd to suppose that half-a-dozen savages +could think of attacking, from a birch canoe, with arrows, a European +ship with its well-armed crew. It should be borne in mind that we have +the narrative from the white man only. The Indians have had no +opportunity to tell their story. + +Mr. Brodhead, in his valuable history of New York, gives the following +account of the untoward scenes which immediately ensued, compiling +from the most ancient records: + + "But Hudson, perceiving their intent, would suffer none of + them to enter the vessel. Two canoes, full of warriors, then + came under the stern, and shot a flight of arrows into the + yacht. A few muskets were discharged in retaliation, and two + or three of the assailants were killed. Some hundred Indians + then assembled at the Point to attack the Half Moon, as she + drifted slowly by; but a cannon-shot killed two of them, + whereupon the rest fled into the woods. Again the assailants + manned another canoe and again the attack was repulsed by a + cannon shot which destroyed their frail bark; and so the + savages went their way mourning the loss of nine of their + warriors. The yacht then got down two leagues beyond that + place, and anchored over night on the other side of the + river in the bay near Hoboken. Hard by his anchorage and + upon that side of the river that is called Mannahatta, + Hudson noticed that there was a cliff that looked of the + color of white-green. Here he lay wind-bound the next day, + and saw no people to trouble him. The following morning, + just one month after his arrival at Sandy Hook, Hudson + weighed anchor for the last time and coming out of the mouth + of the great river, in the which he had run so far, he set + all sail and steered off again into the main sea." + +It is very evident that Sir Henry Hudson was by no means a good +disciplinarian. The authority he exercised over his crew, was very +feeble. A mutinous spirit began already to prevail, and we are told +that they threatened him savagely. It would appear that Sir Henry and +his mate wished to repair to Newfoundland, and after having passed the +winter, which was close upon them, there to resume their voyage, in +search of a northwest passage, through Davis's Straits. But the +turbulent crew would not consent. They compelled the captain to turn +the prow of his ship towards Europe. After the voyage of a month the +Half Moon cast anchor in the harbor of Dartmouth, England, on the 9th +of November, 1609. + +It will be remembered that Sir Henry Hudson was an Englishman, though +he was sailing in the service of the Dutch East India Company. When +the Dutch Directors heard of his arrival in England, and of the +important discoveries he had made, they sent orders for him +immediately to repair to Amsterdam. At the same time the Dutch +government claimed, by the right of discovery, all that portion of the +North American continent along whose coasts Hudson had sailed and upon +whose shores he had occasionally landed, taking possession of the same +in the name of the Dutch government. + +The English government, jealous of the advantage which had thus been +gained by the flag of Holland, peremptorily forbade Hudson to leave +his native country; and for several months the Half Moon was detained +at Dartmouth. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + + + + +THE PROGRESS OF DISCOVERY. + + + + Value of the Territory Discovered.--Fate of Hudson.--The + Conspiracy.--Aspect of Manhattan Island.--The Trail which + has Widened into Broadway.--The Opening Commerce.--The Fur + Trade.--Visit of the English Man of War.--Exploring the + Sound.--Commercial Enterprise Receives a New + Stimulus.--Erection of Forts.--Character of the Fur Trade. + +The Half Moon was detained in England eight months, and did not reach +Amsterdam until the summer of 1610. The Dutch Directors, though +disappointed in not finding in the region they had explored the much +hoped-for Northwest Passage to the Indies, were somewhat elated by the +magnificent discoveries which had been made. The territory they +claimed, by virtue of these discoveries, extended from the mouth of +the Delaware on the South, to Cape Cod on the Northeast. The grand +river of Canada, the St. Lawrence, was deemed its northern frontier. +Its western boundaries were unexplored and unknown. + +This was indeed a princely territory to be owned by any power. The +climate was as favorable as any to be found upon the globe. The soil +was fertile, the landscape being picturesquely diversified by +mountains and valleys. Vast forests, of the most valuable timber, +covered immense portions. Wild fruits and nuts in great variety were +found in profusion. The territory was watered by several truly +magnificent rivers. The region was filled with game; and furs, of the +richest kind and apparently in exhaustless quantities, could be +purchased of the natives, at an almost nominal price. + +It may be worthy of notice, that Sir Henry Hudson never revisited the +pleasant region which he had discovered, and which he had pronounced +to be 'as beautiful a land as the foot of man can tread upon.' In the +summer of 1610, Hudson entered the service of a London company and +sailed from the Thames in the "Discovery," in search of either a +Northwest or Northeast passage to the Indies. Passing Iceland, +appropriately so called, he gazed with astonishment upon Hecla in full +eruption, throwing its fiery flood and molten stones into the air. +Doubling the Cape of Greenland, he entered Davis's Straits. Through +these he passed into the gloomy waters beyond. + +After spending a dismal winter, in the endurance of great privation, +exposed to severe Arctic storms, his mutinous crew abandoned him, in +the midst of fields of ice, to perish miserably. The following artless +account of this tragedy, which is taken from the lips of one of the +mutineers, will be read with interest. The ship was surrounded with +ice and the crew in a starving condition. + +"They had been detained at anchor in the ice," says Pricket, + + "about a week, when the first signs of the mutiny appeared. + Green, and Wilson the boatswain, came in the night to me, as + I was lying in my berth very lame and told me that they and + several of the crew had resolved to seize Hudson and set him + adrift in the boat, with all on board who were disabled by + sickness; that there were but a few days' provisions left; + that the master appeared entirely irresolute, which way to + go; that for themselves they had eaten nothing for three + days. Their only hope therefore was in taking command of the + ship, and escaping from these regions as quickly as + possible. + + "I remonstrated with them in the most earnest manner, + entreating them to abandon such a wicked intention. But all + I could say had no effect. It was decided that the plot + should be put into execution at daylight. In the meantime + Green went into Hudson's cabin to keep him company, and to + prevent his suspicions from being excited. They had + determined to put the carpenter and John King into the boat + with Hudson and the sick, having some grudge against them + for their attachment to the master. King and the carpenter + had slept on deck this night, but about daybreak, King was + observed to go down into the hold with the cook, who was + going for water. Some of the mutineers ran and shut down the + hatch over them, while Green and another engaged the + attention of the carpenter, so that he did not observe what + was going on. + + "Hudson now came from the cabin and was immediately seized + by Thomas and Bennet, the cook, who had come up from the + hold, while Wilson ran behind and bound his arms. He asked + them what they meant, and they told him that he would know + when he was in the shallop. Hudson called upon the carpenter + to help him, telling him that he was bound. But he could + render him no assistance being surrounded by mutineers. The + boat was now hauled along side, and the sick and lame were + called up from their berths. I crawled upon the deck as well + as I could and Hudson, seeing me, called to me to come to + the hatchway and speak to him. + + "I entreated the men, on my knees, for the love of God, to + remember their duty. But they only told me to go back to my + berth, and would not allow me to have any communication with + Hudson. After the captain was put in the boat, the carpenter + was set at liberty; but he refused to remain in the ship + unless they forced him. So they told him he might go in the + boat and allowed him to take his chest with him. Before he + got into the boat, he told me that he believed they would + soon be taken on board again, as there was no one left who + knew enough to bring the ship home. He thought that the boat + would be kept in tow. We then took leave of each other, with + tears in our eyes, and the carpenter went into the boat, + taking a musket and some powder and shot, an iron pot, a + small quantity of meal, and other provisions. + + "Hudson's son and six of the men were also put into the + boat. The sails were then hoisted and they stood eastward, + with a fair wind, dragging the shallop from the stern. In a + few hours, being clear of the ice, they cut the rope by + which the boat was towed, and soon after lost sight of her + forever." + +The imagination recoils from following the victims thus abandoned, +through the long days and nights of lingering death, from hunger and +from cold. To God alone has the fearful tragedy been revealed. + +The glowing accounts which Sir Henry Hudson had given of the river he +had discovered, and particularly of the rich furs there to be +obtained, induced the merchants of Amsterdam in the year 1616 to fit +out a trading expedition to that region. A vessel was at once +dispatched, freighted with a variety of goods to be exchanged for +furs. The enterprise was eminently successful and gradually more +minute information was obtained respecting the territory surrounding +the spacious bay into which the Hudson river empties its flood. + +The island of Manhattan, upon which the city of New York is now built, +consisted then of a series of forest-crowned hills, interspersed with +crystal streamlets and many small but beautiful lakes. These solitary +sheets of water abounded with fish, and water-fowl of varied plumage. +They were fringed with forests, bluffs, and moss-covered rocks. The +upper part of the island was rough, being much broken by storm-washed +crags and wild ravines, with many lovely dells interspersed, fertile +in the extreme, blooming with flowers, and in the season, red with +delicious strawberries. There were also wild grapes and nuts of +various kinds, in great abundance. + +The lower part of the island was much more level. There were +considerable sections where the forest had entirely disappeared. The +extended fields, inviting the plough, waved with luxuriant grass. It +was truly a delightful region. The climate was salubrious; the +atmosphere in cloudless transparency rivalled the famed skies of +Italy. + +Where the gloomy prison of the Tombs now stands, there was a lake of +crystal water, overhung by towering trees. Its silence and solitude +were disturbed only by the cry of the water-fowl which disported upon +its surface, while its depths sparkled with the spotted trout. The +lake emptied into the Hudson river by a brook which rippled over its +pebbly bed, along the present line of Canal street. This beautiful +lake was fed by large springs and was sufficiently deep to float any +ship in the navy. Indeed it was some time before its bottom could be +reached by any sounding line. + +There was a gentle eminence or ridge, forming as it were the backbone +of the island, along which there was a narrow trail trodden by the +moccasined feet of the Indian, in single file for countless +generations. Here is now found the renowned Broadway, one of the +busiest thoroughfares upon the surface of the globe. + +On the corner of Grand street and Broadway, there was a well-wooded +hill, from whose commanding height one obtained an enchanting view of +the whole island with its surrounding waters. Amidst these solitudes +there were many valleys in whose peaceful bosoms the weary of other +lands seemed to be invited to take refuge. + +Indeed it is doubtful whether the whole continent of North America +presented any region more attractive. The salubrity of its clime, the +beauty of the scenery, the abundance and purity of the waters, the +spacious harbor, the luxuriance of the soil and the unexplored rivers +opening communication with vast and unknown regions of the interior, +all combined in giving to the place charms which could not be exceeded +by any other position on the continent. + +The success of the first trading vessel was so great that, within +three years, five other ships were sent to the "Mauritius river" as +the Hudson was first named. There was thus opened a very brisk traffic +with the Indians which was alike beneficial to both parties. Soon one +or two small forts were erected and garrisoned on the river for the +protection of the traders. Manhattan island, so favorably situated at +the mouth of the river, ere long became the headquarters of this +commerce. Four log houses were built, it is said, upon the present +site of 39, Broadway. + +Here a small company of traders established themselves in the silence +and solitude of the wilderness. Their trading boats ran up the river, +and along the coast, visiting every creek and inlet in the pursuit of +furs. The natives, finding this market thus suddenly opening before +them, and finding that their furs, heretofore almost valueless, would +purchase for them treasures of civilization of almost priceless worth, +redoubled their zeal in hunting and trapping. + +A small Indian settlement sprang up upon the spot. Quite large cargoes +of furs were collected during the winter and shipped to Holland in the +spring. The Dutch merchants seem to have been influenced by a high +sentiment of honor. The most amicable relations existed between them +and the Indians. Henry Christiaensen was the superintendent of this +feeble colony. He was a prudent and just man, and, for some time, the +lucrative traffic in peltry continued without interruption. The Dutch +merchants were exposed to no rivalry, for no European vessels but +theirs had, as yet, visited the Mauritius river. + +But nothing in this world ever long continues tranquil. The storm ever +succeeds the calm. In November, of the year 1613, Captain Argal, an +Englishman, in a war vessel, looked in upon the little defenceless +trading hamlet, at the mouth of the Hudson, and claiming the territory +as belonging to England, compelled Christiaensen to avow fealty to the +English crown, and to pay tribute, in token of his dependence upon +that power. Christiaensen could make no resistance. One broadside from +the British ship would lay his huts in ruins, and expose all the +treasures collected there to confiscation. He could only submit to the +extortion and send a narrative of the event to the home government. + +The merchants in Holland were much alarmed by these proceedings. They +presented a petition to the States-General, praying that those who +discovered new territory, on the North American continent, or +elsewhere, might enjoy the exclusive right of trading with the +inhabitants of those regions during six consecutive voyages. + +This request was granted, limiting the number of voyages however to +four instead of six. In the meantime the Dutch merchants erected and +garrisoned two small forts to protect themselves from such piratic +excursions as that of captain Argal. In the year 1614 five vessels +arrived at Manhattan to transport to Europe the furs which had been +purchased. Just as Captain Block was preparing to return, his ship, +the Tiger, which was riding at anchor just off the southern point of +Manhattan island, took fire, and was burned to the water's edge. + +[Illustration] + +He was a very energetic man, not easily dismayed by misfortune. The +island abounded with admirable timber for ship building. He +immediately commenced the construction of another vessel. This yacht +was forty-four and a half feet long, and eleven and a half feet wide. +The natives watched the growth of the stupendous structure with +astonishment. In the most friendly manner they rendered efficient aid +in drawing the heavy timber from the forest to the shipyard. They also +brought in abundant food for the supply of the strangers. + +Early in the spring of 1614 the "Restless" was launched. Immediately +Captain Block entered upon an exploring tour through what is now +called the East River. He gave the whole river the name of the +Hellegat, from a branch of the river Scheldt in East Flanders. The +unpropitious name still adheres to the tumultuous point of whirling +eddies where the waters of the sound unite with those of the river. + +Coasting along the narrow portion of the sound, he named the land upon +his right, which he did not then know to be an island, Metoac or the +Land of Shells. We should rather say he accepted that name from the +Indians. On this cruise he discovered the mouths of the Housatonic and +of the Connecticut. He ascended this latter stream, which he called +Fresh River, several leagues. Indian villages were picturesquely +scattered along the shores, and the birch canoes of the Indians were +swiftly paddled over the mirrored waters. All else was silence and +solitude. The gloom of the forest overshadowed the banks and the +numerous water-fowl were undisturbed upon the stream. The natives were +friendly but timid. They were overawed by the presence of the gigantic +structure which had invaded their solitude. + +Continuing his cruise to the eastward he reached the main ocean, and +thus found that the land upon his left was an island, now known as +Long Island. Still pressing forward he discovered the great +Narragansett Bay, which he thoroughly explored, and then continued his +course to Cape Cod, which, it will be remembered, Sir Henry Hudson had +already discovered, and which he had called New Holland. + +Intelligence was promptly transmitted to Holland of these discoveries +and the United Company, under whose auspices the discoveries had been +made, adopted vigorous measures to secure, from the States-General, +the exclusive right to trade with the natives of those wide realms. A +very emphatic ordinance was passed, granting this request, on the 27th +of March, 1614. + +This ordinance stimulated to a high degree the spirit of commercial +enterprise. The province was called New Netherland, and embraced the +territory within the 40th and 45th degrees of north latitude. All +persons, excepting the United "New Netherland Company," were +prohibited from trading within those limits, under penalty of the +confiscation of both vessels and cargoes, and also a fine of fifty +thousand Dutch ducats. + +The Company immediately erected a trading-house, at the head of +navigation of the Hudson river, which as we have mentioned, was then +called Prince Maurice's River. This house was on an island, called +Castle Island, a little below the present city of Albany, and was +thirty-six feet long and twenty-six feet wide, and was strongly built +of logs. As protection from European buccaneers rather than from the +friendly Indians, it was surrounded by a strong stockade, fifty feet +square. This was encircled by a moat eighteen feet wide. The whole was +defended by several cannon and was garrisoned by twelve soldiers. + +This port, far away in the loneliness of the wilderness, was called +Fort Nassau. Jacob Elkins was placed in command. Now that the majestic +Hudson is whitened with the sails of every variety of vessels and +barges, while steamers go rushing by, swarming with multitudes, which +can scarcely be counted, of the seekers of wealth or pleasures, and +railroad trains sweep thundering over the hills and through the +valleys, and the landscape is adorned with populous cities and +beautiful villas, it is difficult to form a conception of the silence +and solitude of those regions but about two hundred and fifty years +ago, when the tread of the moccasoned Indian fell noiseless upon the +leafy trail, and when the birch canoe alone was silently paddled from +cove to cove. + +In addition to the fort in the vicinity of Albany, another was erected +at the southern extremity of Manhattan Island at the mouth of the +Hudson. Here the company established its headquarters and immediately +entered into a very honorable and lucrative traffic with the Indians, +for their valuable furs. The leaders of the Company were men of +integrity, and the Indians were all pleased with the traffic, for they +were ever treated with consideration, and received for their furs, +which they easily obtained, articles which were of priceless value to +them. + +The vagabond white men, who were lingering about the frontiers of +civilization, inflicting innumerable and nameless outrages upon the +natives, were rigorously excluded from these regions. Thus the +relations existing between the Indians and their European visitors +were friendly in the highest degree. Both parties were alike benefited +by this traffic; the Indian certainly not less than the European, for +he was receiving into his lowly wigwam the products of the highest +civilization. + +Indian tribes scattered far and wide through the primitive and +illimitable forest, plied all their energies with new diligence, in +taking game. They climbed the loftiest mountains and penetrated the +most distant streams with their snares. Some came trudging to the +forts on foot, with large packs of peltries upon their backs. Others +came in their birch canoes, loaded to the gunwales, having set their +traps along leagues of the river's coast and of distant streams. + +Once a year the ships of the company came laden with the most useful +articles for traffic with the Indians, and, in return, transported +back to Europe the furs which had been collected. Such were the +blessings which peace and friendship conferred upon all. There seemed +to be no temptation to outrage. The intelligent Hollanders were well +aware that it was for their interest to secure the confidence of the +Indian by treating him justly. And the Indian was not at all disposed +to incur the resentment of strangers from whom he was receiving such +great benefits. + +The little yacht "Restless," of which we have spoken, on one of her +exploring tours, visited Delaware Bay, and ascended that beautiful +sheet of water as far as the Schuylkill River. Runners were also sent +back from the forts, to follow the narrow trails far into the woods, +to open communication with new tribes, to examine the country, and to +obtain a more intimate acquaintance with the manners and customs of +the Indians. + +In the spring of 1617 a very high freshet, accompanied by the breaking +up of the ice, so injured Fort Nassau that the traders were compelled +to abandon it. A new and very advantageous situation was selected, at +the mouth of the Tawasentha Creek, subsequently called Norman's Kill. +This name is said to have been derived from a native of Denmark, +called the Norman, who settled there in 1630. + +In this vicinity there was a very celebrated confederation of Indian +tribes called the Five Nations. These tribes were the Mohawks, +Oneidas, Onondagas, Cayugas and Senecas. They were frequently known by +the generic name of the Iroquois. When the Dutch arrived, the Iroquois +were at war with the Canadian Indians, who, though composed of +different tribes, were known by the general name of the Algonquins. +The Iroquois had been worsted in several conflicts. This led them +eagerly to seek alliance with the white men, who, with their wonderful +instruments of war, seemed to wield the energies of thunder and +lightning. + +The Algonquins had, some years before, formed an alliance with the +French in Canada. The Iroquois now entered into an alliance with the +Dutch. It was a very important movement, and the treaty look place, +with many surroundings of barbaric pomp, on the banks of the Norman's +Kill. + +Ambassadors from each of the five tribes graced the occasion. Leading +chiefs of several other tribes were also invited to be present, to +witness the imposing ceremony. The garrison furnished for the pageant +the waving of silken banners and the exhilarating music of its band. +The Indian chiefs attended with their decorated weapons, and they were +arrayed in the richest costume of war paint, fringed garments, and +nodding plumes. + +The assembly was large. The belt of peace, gorgeously embroidered with +many-colored beads, on softly-tanned deer skin, was held at one end by +the Iroquois chieftains, and at the other by the prominent men of the +Dutch Company, in their most showy attire. The pipe of peace was +smoked with solemn gravity. The tomahawk was buried, and each party +pledged itself to eternal friendship. + +The united nation of the Iroquois, in numbers and valor, had become +quite supreme throughout all this region. All the adjacent tribes +bowed before their supremacy. In Mr. Street's metrical romance, +entitled "Frontenac" he speaks, in pleasing verse, of the prowess and +achievements of these formidable warriors. + + "The fierce Adirondacs had fled from their wrath, + The Hurons been swept from their merciless path, + Around, the Ottawas, like leaves, had been strown, + And the lake of the Eries struck silent and lone. + The Lenape, lords once of valley and hill, + Made women, bent low at their conquerors' will. + By the far Mississippi the Illini shrank + When the trail of the Tortoise was seen on the bank. + On the hills of New England the Pequod turned pale + When the howl of the Wolf swelled at night on the gale, + And the Cherokee shook, in his green smiling bowers, + When the foot of the Bear stamped his carpet of flowers." + +Thus far the Iroquois possessed only bows and arrows. They were +faithful to their promises, and implicit confidence could be reposed +in their pledge. The Dutch traders, without any fear, penetrated the +wilderness in all directions, and were invariably hospitably received +in the wigwams of the Indians. + +In their traffic the Dutch at first exchanged for furs only articles +of ornament or of domestic value. But the bullet was a far more potent +weapon in the chase and in the hunting-field than the arrow. The +Indians very soon perceived the vast advantage they would derive in +their pursuit of game, from the musket, as well as the superiority it +would give them over all their foes. They consequently became very +eager to obtain muskets, powder and ball. They were warm friends of +the Europeans. There seemed to be no probability of their becoming +enemies. Muskets and steel traps enabled them to obtain many more +furs. Thus the Indians were soon furnished with an abundant supply of +fire-arms, and became unerring marksmen. + +Year after year the returns from the trading-posts became more +valuable; and the explorations were pushed farther and farther into +the interior. The canoes of the traders penetrated the wide realms +watered by the upper channels of the Delaware. A trading-house was +also erected in the vast forest, upon the Jersey shore of the Hudson +River, where the thronged streets of Jersey City at the present hour +cover the soil. + +We have now reached the year 1618, two years before the arrival of the +Pilgrims at Plymouth. Though the energetic Dutch merchants were thus +perseveringly and humanely pushing their commerce, and extending their +trading posts, no attempt had yet been made for any systematic +agricultural colonization. + +The Dutch alone had then any accurate knowledge of the Hudson River, +or of the coasts of Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Long Island. In +1618 the special charter of the Company, conferring upon them the +monopoly of exclusive trade with the Indians, expired. Though the +trade was thus thrown open to any adventurous Dutch merchant, still +the members of the Company enjoyed an immense advantage in having all +the channels perfectly understood by them, and in being in possession +of such important posts. + +English fishing vessels visited the coast of Maine, and an +unsuccessful attempt had been made to establish a colony at the mouth +of the Kennebec River. Sir Walter Raleigh had also made a very +vigorous but unavailing effort to establish a colony in Virginia. +Before the year 1600, every vestige of his attempt had disappeared. +Mr. John Romeyn Brodhead, in his valuable history of the State of New +York, speaking of this illustrious man, says: + + "The colonists, whom Raleigh sent to the island of Roanoke + in 1585, under Grenville and Lane, returned the next year + dispirited to England. A second expedition, dispatched in + 1587, under John White, to found the borough of Raleigh, in + Virginia, stopped short of the unexplored Chesapeake, + whither it was bound, and once more occupied Roanoke. In + 1590 the unfortunate emigrants had wholly disappeared; and + with their extinction all immediate attempts to establish an + English colony in Virginia were abandoned. Its name alone + survived. + + "After impoverishing himself in unsuccessful efforts to add + an effective American plantation to his native kingdom, + Raleigh, the magnanimous patriot, was consigned, under an + unjust judgment, to lingering imprisonment in the Tower of + London, to be followed, after the lapse of fifteen years, by + a still more iniquitous execution. Yet returning justice has + fully vindicated Raleigh's fame. And nearly two centuries + after his death the State of North Carolina gratefully named + its capital after that extraordinary man, who united in + himself as many kinds of glory as were ever combined in any + individual." + + + + + +CHAPTER III. + + + + +THE COMMENCEMENT OF COLONISATION. + + + + The Puritans.--Memorial to the States-General.--Disagreement + of the English and the Dutch.--Colony on the + Delaware.--Purchase of Manhattan.--The First Settlement.--An + Indian Robbed and Murdered.--Description of the + Island.--Diplomatic Intercourse.--Testimony of De + Rassieres.--The Patroons.--The Disaster at Swaanendael. + +In the year 1620 the Puritans founded their world-renowned colony at +Plymouth, as we have minutely described in the History of Miles +Standish. It will be remembered that the original company of Puritans +were of English birth. Dissatisfied with the ritual and ceremonies +which the Church of England had endeavored to impose upon them, they +had emigrated to Holland, where they had formed a church upon their +own model. Rev. John Robinson, a man of fervent piety and of +enlightened views above his times, was their pastor. + +After residing in Holland for several years, this little band of +Englishmen, not pleased with that country as their permanent abode, +decided to seek a new home upon the continent of North America. They +first directed their attention towards Virginia, but various obstacles +were thrown in their way by the British Government, and at length Mr. +Robinson addressed a letter to the Dutch Company, intimating the +disposition felt by certain members of his flock, to take up their +residence at New Netherland. + +The proposition was very cordially received. The intelligent gentlemen +of that Company at once saw that there was thus presented to them an +opportunity to establish a colony, at their trading post, which it +would be wise to embrace. They therefore addressed a memorial upon the +subject to the States-General, and to the Prince of Orange, in which +they urged the importance of accepting the proposition which they had +received from Mr. Robinson, and of thus commencing an agricultural +colony upon the island of Manhattan. In this memorial they write under +date of February, 1620: + + "It now happens that there resides at Leyden an English + clergyman, well versed in the Dutch language, who is + favorably inclined to go and dwell there. Your petitioners + are assured that he knows more than four hundred families, + who, provided they were defended and secured there by your + Royal Highness, and that of the High and Mighty Lords + States-General, from all violence on the part of other + potentates, would depart thither, with him, from this + country and from England, to plant, forthwith, everywhere + the true and pure Christian religion; to instruct the + Indians of those countries in the true doctrine; to bring + them to the Christian belief; and likewise, through the + grace of the Lord, and for the greater honor of the rulers + of this land to people all that region under a new + dispensation; all under the order and command of your + princely Highness and of the High and Mighty Lords + States-General. + + "Your petitioners have also learned that His Britannic + Majesty is inclined to people the aforesaid lands with + Englishmen; to destroy your petitioners' possessions and + discoveries, and also to deprive this State of its right to + these lands, while the ships belonging to this country, + which are there during the whole of the present year, will + apparently and probably be surprised by the English." + +The petitioners therefore prayed that the request of Mr. Robinson +might be favorably regarded; that the contemplated colony should be +taken under the protection of the Dutch government, and that two ships +of war should be sent out for the defence of the infant settlements. + +The Dutch government was then upon the eve of a war with Spain, and +all its energies were demanded in preparation for the conflict. They +therefore quite peremptorily refused to entertain the petition of the +New Netherland Company. Thus the destination of the Puritans was +changed. Though they were not encouraged to commence their colonial +life at New Netherland, still it was their intention when they sailed +from England, to find a home somewhere in that vicinity, as England, +as well as Holland, claimed the whole coast. A note, in the History of +New Netherland, by E.B. O'Callaghan, contains the following +interesting statement upon this subject: + + "Some historians represent that the Pilgrims were taken + against their will to New Plymouth, by the treachery of the + captain of the Mayflower, who, they assert, was bribed by + the Dutch to land them at a distance from the Hudson river. + This has been shown, over and over again, to have been a + calumny; and, if any farther evidence were requisite, it is + now furnished, of a most conclusive nature, by the petition + in behalf of the Rev. Mr. Robinson's congregation, of Feb. + 1620, and the rejection of its prayer by their High + Mightinesses. + + "That the Dutch were anxious to secure the settlement of the + Pilgrims under them, is freely admitted by the latter. + Governor Bradford, in his History of the Plymouth Colony, + acknowledges it, and adds that the Dutch for that end made + them large offers. + + "Winslow corroborates this in his 'Brief Narrative,' and + adds that the Dutch would have freely transported us to the + Hudson river, and furnished every family with cattle. The + whole of this evidence satisfactorily establishes the good + will of the Dutch people towards the English; while the + determination of the States-General proves that there was no + encouragement held out by the Dutch government to induce + them to settle in their American possessions. On the + contrary, having formally rejected their petition, they + thereby secured themselves against all suspicion of dealing + unfairly by those who afterwards landed at Cape Cod. It is + to be hoped, therefore, that even for the credit of the + Pilgrims, the idle tale will not be repeated." + +There were many indications that a conflict would ere long arise +between the Dutch and the English. The English repudiated entirely the +Dutch claim to any right of possession on the Atlantic coast. They +maintained their right to the whole American coast, from the Spanish +possessions in Florida, to the French posts in Canada. The English +government founded its claim upon the ground of first discovery, +occupation and possession. Various companies, in England, had, by +charters and letters patent from their sovereigns, been entrusted with +these vast territories. It was quite evident that these conflicting +claims between England and Holland must eventually lead to collision. + +The Dutch merchants continued to push their commercial enterprises in +New Netherland with great energy. They were preparing to send quite a +large fleet of merchant vessels to the extensive line of coast which +they claimed, when the British merchants composing what was called the +Plymouth Company, took the alarm, and presented a petition to James +I., remonstrating against such proceedings. The British government +promptly sent an ambassador to Holland to urge the States-General to +prohibit the departure of the fleet, and to forbid the establishment +of a Dutch colony in those regions. The diplomacy which ensued led to +no decisive results. + +In the year 1623, the Dutch sent a ship, under captain May, and +established a small colony upon the eastern banks of the Delaware, +about fifty miles from its mouth. The settlement, which consisted of +about thirty families, was in the vicinity of the present town of +Gloucester. A fortress was erected, called Fort Nassau. This was the +first European settlement upon the Delaware, which stream was then +called Prince Hendrick's, or South River. Another fortified post, +called Fort Orange, was established upon the western banks of the +Hudson River about thirty-six miles from the island of Manhattan. + +Very slowly the tide of emigration began to flow towards the Hudson. A +few families settled on Staten Island. Not pleased with their isolated +location, they soon removed to the northern shore of Long Island, and +reared their log cabins upon the banks of a beautiful bay, which they +called Wahle-Bocht, or "the Bay of the Foreigners." The name has since +been corrupted into Wallabout. The western extremity of Long Island +was then called Breukelen, which has since been Anglicised into +Brooklyn. + +The government of these feeble communities was committed to a +Governor, called Director, and a Council of five men. One of the first +Governors was Peter Minuit, who was appointed in the year 1624. The +English still claimed the territory which the Dutch were so quietly +and efficiently settling. In the year 1626, the Dutch decided to make +a permanent settlement upon Manhattan island, which was then estimated +to contain about twenty-two thousand acres of land. The island was +purchased of the natives for twenty-four dollars. It was all that, at +that time, the savage wilderness was worth. In that year the export of +furs amounted to nineteen thousand dollars. + +The colony soon numbered about two hundred persons. The village +consisted of thirty log houses, extending along the banks of the East +River. These cabins were one story high, with thatched roof, wooden +chimneys, and two rooms on the floor. Barrels, placed on an end, +furnished the tables. The chairs were logs of wood. Undoubtedly in +many of these humble homes more true happiness was found than is now +experienced in some of the palatial mansions which grace the gorgeous +avenues of the city. About this time three ships arrived, containing a +large number of families with farming implements, and over a hundred +head of cattle. To prevent the cattle from being lost in the woods, +they were pastured on Governor's, then called Nutten's Island. + +And now the tide of emigration began pretty rapidly to increase. The +Dutch transported emigrants for twelve and a half cents a day, during +the voyage, for both passage and food. They also gave them, upon +reaching the colony, as much land as they were able to cultivate. With +a wise toleration, which greatly honored them, the fullest religious +freedom of speech and worship was allowed. + +A strong block-house, surrounded with palisades of red cedar, was +thrown up on the south point of Manhattan Island, and was called Fort +Amsterdam. This became the headquarters of the government and the +capital of the extended, though not very clearly defined, realm of New +Netherland. + +An unfortunate occurrence now took place which eventually involved the +colony in serious trouble. An Indian, from the vicinity of +Westchester, came with his nephew, a small boy, bringing some beaver +skins to barter with the Dutch at the fort. The narrow trail through +the forest, led in a southeast direction, along the shore of the East +River, till it reached what was called Kip's Bay. Then, diverging to +the west, it passed near the pond of fresh water, which was about half +way between what are now Broadway and Chatham streets. This pond, for +a century or more, was known as the Kolck or the Collect. + +When the Indians reached this point, they were waylaid by three white +men, robbed of their furs, and the elder one was murdered. The boy +made his escape and returned to his wilderness home, vowing to revenge +the murder of his uncle. It does not appear that the Dutch authorities +were informed of this murder. They certainly did not punish the +murderers, nor make any attempt to expiate the crime, by presents to +the Indians. + +"The island of Manhattan," wrote De Rassieres at this time, + + "is full of trees and in the middle rocky. On the north side + there is good land in two places, where two farmers, each + with four horses, would have enough to do without much + grubbing or clearing at first. The grass is good in the + forests and valleys; but when made into hay, it is not so + nutritious for the cattle as the hay in Holland, in + consequence of its wild state, yet it annually improves by + culture. + + "On the east side there rises a large level field, of about + one hundred and sixty acres, through which runs a very fine + fresh stream; so that land can be ploughed without much + clearing. It appears to be good. The six farms, four of + which lie along the river Hell-gate, stretching to the south + side of the island, have at least one hundred and twenty + acres to be sown with winter seed, which, at the most, may + have been ploughed eight times." + +There were eighteen families at Fort Orange, which was situated on +Tawalsoutha creek, on the west side of the Hudson river, about +thirty-six Dutch miles above the island of Manhattan. These colonists +built themselves huts of bark, and lived on terms of cordial +friendship with the Indians. Wassenaar writes, "The Indians were as +quiet as lambs, and came and traded with all the freedom imaginable." + +The Puritans had now been five years at Plymouth. So little were they +acquainted with the geography of the country that they supposed New +England to be an island.[1] Floating rumors had reached them of the +Dutch colony at the mouth of the Hudson. Governor Bradford +commissioned Mr. Winslow to visit the Dutch, who had sent a ship to +Narragansett bay to trade, that he might dissuade them from +encroaching in their trade upon territory which the Puritans +considered as exclusively belonging to them. Mr. Winslow failed to +meet the Dutch before their vessel had sailed on its return to +Manhattan. + +Soon after this the Dutch Governor, Peter Minuit, sent secretary De +Rassieres to Governor Bradford, with a very friendly letter, +congratulating the Plymouth colony upon its prosperity, inviting to +commercial relations, and offering to supply their English neighbors +with any commodities which they might want. + +Governor Bradford, in his reply, very cordially reciprocated these +friendly greetings. Gracefully he alluded to the hospitality with +which the exiled Pilgrims had been received in Holland. "Many of us," +he wrote, + + "are tied by the good and courteous entreaty which we have + found in your country, having lived there many years with + freedom and good content, as many of our friends do this + day; for which we are bound to be thankful, and our children + after us, and shall never forget the same." + +At the same time he claimed that the territory, north of forty degrees +of latitude, which included a large part of New Netherland, and all +their Hudson river possessions, belonged to the English. Still he +promised that, for the sake of good neighborhood, the English would +not molest the Dutch at the mouth of the Hudson, if they would +"forbear to trade with the natives in this bay and river of +Narragansett and Sowames, which is, as it were, at our doors." + +The authorities at Fort Amsterdam could not, for a moment, admit this +claim of English supremacy over New Netherland. Director Minuit +returned an answer, remarkable for its courteous tone, but in which he +firmly maintained the right of the Dutch to trade with the +Narragansetts as they had done for years, adding "As the English claim +authority under the king of England, so we derive ours from the States +of Holland, and we shall defend it." + +Governor Bradford sent this correspondence to England. In an +accompanying document he said, + + "the Dutch, for strength of men and fortification, far + exceed us in all this land. They have used trading here for + six or seven and twenty years; but have begun to plant of + later time; and now have reduced their trade to some order, + and confined it only to their company, which, heretofore, + was spoiled by their seamen and interlopers, as ours is, + this year most notoriously. Besides spoiling our trade, the + Dutch continue to sell muskets, powder and shot to the + Indians, which will be the overthrow of all, if it be not + looked into." + +Director Minuit must have possessed some very noble traits of +character. After waiting three months to receive a reply to his last +communication, he sent another letter, reiterating the most friendly +sentiments, and urging that an authorized agent should be sent from +Plymouth to New Amsterdam, to confer "by word of mouth, touching our +mutual commerce and trading." He stated, moreover, that if it were +inconvenient for Governor Bradford to send such an agent, they would +depute one to Plymouth themselves. In further token of kindness, he +sent to the Plymouth Governor, "a rundlet of sugar and two Holland +cheeses." + +It is truly refreshing to witness the fraternal spirit manifested on +this occasion. How many of the woes of this world might have been +averted had the brotherhood of man been thus recognized by the leaders +of the nations! + +A messenger was sent to Plymouth. He was hospitably entertained, and +returned to Fort Amsterdam with such testimonials of his reception as +induced Director Minuit to send a formal ambassador to Plymouth, +entrusted with plenipotentiary powers. Governor Bradford apologized +for not sending an ambassador to Fort Amsterdam, stating, "one of our +boats is abroad, and we have much business at home." Director Minuit +selected Isaac De Rassieres, secretary of the province, "a man of fair +and genteel behavior," as his ambassador. This movement was, to those +infant colonies, an event of as much importance as any of the more +stately embassies which have been interchanged between European +courts. + +The barque Nassau was fitted out, and manned with a small band of +soldiers, and some trumpeters. It was the last of September, 1629, +when earth and sky were bathed in all the glories of New England +autumnal days. In De Rassieres' account of the excursion, he writes: + + "Sailing through Hell-gate, and along the shores of + Connecticut and Rhode Island, we arrived, early the next + month, off Frenchman's Point, at a small river where those + of New Plymouth have a house, made of hewn oak planks, + called Aptuxet; where they keep two men, winter and summer, + in order to maintain the trade and possession." + +This Aptuxet was at the head of Buzzard's Bay, upon the site of the +present village of Monumet, in the town of Sandwich. Near by there was +a creek, penetrating the neck of Cape Cod, which approached another +creek on the other side so near that, by a portage of but about five +miles, goods could be transported across. + +As the Nassau came in sight of this lonely trading port suddenly the +peals of the Dutch trumpets awoke the echoes of the forest. It was the +4th of October. A letter was immediately dispatched by a fleet-footed +Indian runner to Plymouth. A boat was promptly sent to the head of the +creek, called Manoucusett, on the north side of the cape, and De +Rassieres, with his companions, having threaded the Indian trail +through the wilderness for five miles, was received on board the +Pilgrims' boat and conveyed to Plymouth, "honorably attended with the +noise of trumpeters."[2] + +This meeting was a source of enjoyment to both parties. The two +nations of England and Holland were in friendly alliance, and +consequently this interview, in the solitudes of the New World, of the +representatives of the two colonies, was mutually agreeable. The +Pilgrims, having many of them for a long time resided in Holland, +cherished memories of that country with feelings of strong affection +and regarded the Hollanders almost as fellow-countrymen. + +But again Governor Bradford asserted the right of the English to the +country claimed by the Dutch, and even intimated that force might soon +be employed to vindicate the British pretentions. We must admire the +conduct of both parties in this emergency. The Dutch, instead of +retaliating with threats and violence, sent a conciliatory memorial to +Charles I., then King of England. And Charles, much to his credit, +issued an order that all the English ports, whether in the kingdom or +in the territories of the British king, should be thrown open to the +Dutch vessels, trading to or from New Netherland. + +The management of the affairs of the Dutch Colony was entrusted to a +body of merchants called the West India Company. In the year 1629, +this energetic company purchased of the Indians the exclusive title to +a vast territory, extending north from Cape Henlopen, on the south +side of Delaware Bay, two miles in breadth and running thirty-two +miles inland. + +The reader of the record of these days, often meets with the word +_Patroon_, without perhaps having any very distinct idea of its +significance. In order to encourage emigration and the establishment +of colonies, the authorities in Holland issued a charter, conferring +large extents of land and exclusive privileges, upon such members of +the West India Company as might undertake to settle any colony in New +Netherland. + +"All such," it was proclaimed in this charter, + + "shall be acknowledged _Patroons_ of New Netherland, who + shall, within the space of four years, undertake to plant a + colony there of fifty souls upwards of fifteen years of age. + The Patroons, by virtue of their power, shall be permitted, + at such places as they shall settle their colonies, to + extend their limits four miles[3] along the shore, and so + far into the country as the situation of the occupiers will + admit." + +The patroons, thus in possession of territory equal to many of the +dukedoms and principalities of Europe, were invested with the +authority which had been exercised in Europe by the old feudal lords. +They could settle all disputes, in civil cases, between man and man. +They could appoint local officers and magistrates, erect courts, and +punish all crimes committed within their limits, being even authorized +to inflict death upon the gallows. They could purchase any amount of +unappropriated lands from the Indians. + +One of these patroons, Kiliaen Van Rensselaer, a wealthy merchant in +Holland, who had been accustomed to polish pearls and diamonds, +became, as patroon, possessed of nearly the whole of the present +counties of Albany and Rensselaer, in the State cf New York, embracing +the vast area of one thousand one hundred and forty-one square miles. +Soon all the important points on the Hudson River and the Delaware +were thus caught up by these patroons, wealthy merchants of the West +India Company. + +When the news of these transactions reached Holland, great +dissatisfaction was felt by the less fortunate shareholders, that +individuals had grasped such a vast extent of territory. It was +supposed that Director Minuit was too much in sympathy with the +patroons, who were becoming very powerful, and he was recalled. All +were compelled to admit that during his administration the condition +of the colony had been prosperous. The whole of Manhattan Island had +been honestly purchased of the Indians. Industry had flourished. +Friendly relations were everywhere maintained with the natives. The +northwestern shores of Long Island were studded with the log cottages +of the settlers. During his directorship the exports of the colony had +trebled, amounting, in the year 1632, to nearly fifty thousand +dollars. + +We come now to a scene of war, blood and woe, for which the Dutch were +not at all accountable. It will be remembered that a colony had been +established near the mouth of Delaware Bay. Two vessels were +dispatched from Holland for this point containing a number of +emigrants, a large stock of cattle, and whaling equipments, as whales +abounded in the bay. The ship, called the Walvis, arrived upon the +coast in April, 1631. Running along the western shore of this +beautiful sheet of water, they came to a fine navigable stream, which +was called Horekill, abounding with picturesque islands, with a soil +of exuberant fertility, and where the waters were filled with fishes +and very fine oysters. There was here also a roadstead unequalled in +the whole bay for convenience and safety. + +Here the emigrants built a fort and surrounded it with palisades, and +a thriving Dutch colony of about thirty souls was planted. They +formally named the place, which was near the present town of Lewiston, +Swaanendael. A pillar was raised, surmounted by a plate of glittering +tin, upon which was emblazoned the arms of Holland; and which also +announced that the Dutch claimed the territory by the title of +discovery, purchase and occupation. + +For awhile the affairs of this colony went on very prosperously. But +in May, 1632, an expedition, consisting of two ships, was fitted out +from Holland. with additional emigrants and supplies. Just before the +vessels left the Texel, a ship from Manhattan brought the melancholy +intelligence to Amsterdam that the colony at Swaanendael had been +destroyed by the savages, thirty-two men having been killed outside of +the fort working in the fields. Still DeVrees, who commanded the +expedition, hoping that the report was exaggerated, and that the +colony might still live, in sadness and disappointment proceeded on +his way. One of his vessels ran upon the sands off Dunkirk, causing a +delay of two months. It was not until the end of December that the +vessels cast anchor off Swaanendael. No boat from the shore +approached; no signs of life met the eye. The next morning a boat, +thoroughly armed, was sent into the creek on an exploring tour. + +Upon reaching the spot where the fort had been erected they found the +building and palisades burned, and the ground strewn with the hones of +their murdered countrymen, intermingled with the remains of cattle. +The silence and solitude of the tombs brooded over the devastated +region. Not even a savage was to be seen. As the boat returned with +these melancholy tidings, DeVrees caused a heavy cannon to be fired, +hoping that its thunders, reverberating over the bay, and echoing +through the trails of the wilderness, might reach the ear of some +friendly Indian, from whom he could learn the details of the disaster. + +The next morning a smoke was seen curling up from the forest near the +ruins. The boat was again sent into the creek, and two or three +Indians were seen cautiously prowling about. But mutual distrust stood +in the way of any intercourse. The Dutch were as apprehensive of +ambuscades and the arrows of the Indians, as were the savages of the +bullets of the formidable strangers. + +Some of the savages at length ventured to come down to the shore, off +which the open boat floated, beyond the reach of arrows. Lured by +friendly signs, one of the Indians soon became emboldened to venture +on board. He was treated with great kindness, and succeeded in +communicating the following, undoubtedly true, account of the +destruction of the colony: + + "One of the chiefs, seeing the glittering tin plate, + emblazoned with the arms of Holland, so conspicuously + exposed upon the column, apparently without any + consciousness that he was doing anything wrong, openly, + without any attempt at secrecy, took it down and quite + skilfully manufactured it into tobacco pipes. The commander + of the fort, a man by the name of Hossett, complained so + bitterly of this, as an outrage that must not pass + unavenged, that some of the friendly Indians, to win his + favor, killed the chief, and brought to Hossett his head, or + some other decisive evidence that the deed was done." + +The commandant was shocked at this severity of retribution, so far +exceeding anything which he had desired, and told the savages that +they had done very wrong; that they should only have arrested the +chief and brought him to the fort. The commandant would simply have +reprimanded him and forbidden him to repeat the offence. + +The ignorant Indians of the tribe, whose chief had thus summarily, +and, as they felt, unjustly been put to death, had all their savage +instincts roused to intensity. They regarded the strangers at the fort +as instigating the deed and responsible for it. They resolved upon +bloody vengeance. + +A party of warriors, thoroughly armed, came stealing through the +glades of the forest and approached the unsuspecting fort. All the men +were at work in the fields excepting one, who was left sick at home. +There was also chained up in the fort, a powerful and faithful +mastiff, of whom the Indians stood in great dread. Three of the +savages, concealing, as far as they could, their weapons, approached +the fort, under the pretence of bartering some beaver skins. They met +Hossett, the commander, not far from the door. He entered the house +with them, not having the slightest suspicion of their hostile intent. +He ascended some steep stairs into the attic, where the stores for +trade were deposited, and as he was coming down, one of the Indians, +watching his opportunity, struck him dead with an axe. They then +killed the sick man. Standing at a cautious distance, they shot +twenty-five arrows into the chained mastiff till he sank motionless in +death. + +The colonists in the field, in the meantime, were entirely unaware of +the awful scenes which were transpiring, and of their own impending +peril. The wily Indians approached them, under the guise of +friendship. Each party had its marked man. At a given signal, with the +utmost ferocity they fell upon their victims. With arrows, tomahawks +and war-clubs, the work was soon completed. Not a man escaped. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + + + + +THE ADMINISTRATION OF VAN TWILLER. + + + + Friendly Relations Restored.--Wouter Van Twiller New + Director.--Captain Elkins.--Remonstrance of De + Vrees.--Claims for the Connecticut.--The Plymouth + Expedition.--A Boat's Crew Murdered.--Condition of the + Colony in 1633.--Emigration to the Connecticut.--Emigrants + from Holland.--The Red Rocks.--New Haven Colony + Established.--Natural.--Indian Remonstrance Against + Taxation.--Outrage upon the Raritan Indians.--Indian + Revenge. + +De Vrees very wisely decided that it would be but a barren vengeance +to endeavor to retaliate upon the roaming savages, when probably more +suffering would be inflicted upon the innocent than upon the guilty. +He therefore, to their astonishment and great joy, entered into a +formal treaty of peace and alliance with them. Any attempt to bring +the offenders to justice would of course have been unavailing, as they +could easily scatter, far and wide, through the trackless wilderness. +Arrangements were made for re-opening trade, and the Indians with +alacrity departed to hunt beaver. + +A new Director was appointed at Manhattan, Wouter Van Twiller. He was +an inexperienced young man, and owed his appointment to the powerful +patronage he enjoyed from having married the niece of the patroon Van +Rensselaer. Thus a "raw Amsterdam clerk," embarked in a ship of twenty +guns, with a military force of one hundred and four soldiers, to +assume the government of New Netherland. The main object of this +mercantile governor seemed to be to secure trade with the natives and +to send home furs. + +De Vrees, having concluded his peace with the Indians, sailed up the +South river, as they then called the Delaware, through the floating +ice, to a trading post, which had been established some time before at +a point about four miles below the present site of Philadelphia. He +thought he saw indications of treachery, and was constantly on his +guard. He found the post, which was called Fort Nassau, like a similar +post on the Hudson, deserted. The chiefs, however, of nine different +tribes, came on board, bringing presents of beaver skins, avowing the +most friendly feelings, and they entered into a formal treaty with the +Dutch. There did not, however, seem to be any encouragement again to +attempt the establishment of a colony, or of any trading posts in that +region. He therefore abandoned the Delaware river, and for some time +no further attempts were made to colonize its coasts. + +In April, 1633, an English ship arrived at Manhattan. The bluff +captain, Jacob Elkins, who had formerly been in the Dutch employ, but +had been dismissed from their service, refused to recognize the Dutch +authorities, declaring that New Netherland was English territory, +discovered by Hudson, an Englishman. It was replied that though Hudson +was an Englishman, he was in the service of the East India Company at +Amsterdam; that no English colonists had ever settled in the region, +and that the river itself was named Mauritius river, after the Prince +of Orange. + +Elkins was not to be thus dissuaded. He had formerly spent four years +at this post, and was thoroughly acquainted with the habits and +language of the Indians. His spirit was roused. He declared that he +would sail up the river if it cost him his life. Van Twiller was +equally firm in his refusal. He ordered the Dutch flag to be run up at +fort Amsterdam, and a salute to be fired in honor of the Prince of +Orange. Elkins, in retaliation, unfurled the English flag at his +mast-head, and fired a salute in honor of King Charles. After +remaining a week at fort Amsterdam, and being refused a license to +ascend the river, he defiantly spread his colors to the breeze, +weighed anchor, and boldly sailed up the stream to fort Orange. This +was the first British vessel which ascended the North river. + +The pusillanimous Van Twiller was in a great rage, but had no decision +of character to guide him in such an emergency. The merchant clerk, +invested with gubernatorial powers, found himself in waters quite +beyond his depth. He collected all the people of the fort, broached a +cask of wine, and railed valiantly at the intrepid Englishman, whose +ship was fast disappearing beyond the palisades. His conduct excited +only the contempt and derision of those around. + +DeVrees was a man of very different fibre. He had, but a few days +before, entered the port from Swaanendael. He dined with the Governor +that day, and said to him in very intelligible Dutch: + + "You have committed a great folly. Had it been my case, I + would have helped the Englishman to some eight pound iron + beans, and have prevented him from going up the river. The + English are of so haughty a nature that they think that + everything belongs to them. I would immediately send a + frigate after him, and drive him out of the river." + +Stimulated by this advice, Van Twiller prepared, as speedily as +possible, three well armed vessels, strongly manned with soldiers, and +sent them, under an intrepid captain, in pursuit of the intruders. +They found the English ship, the William, about a mile below fort +Orange. A tent was pitched upon the shore, where, for a fortnight, the +English had been pursuing a very lucrative traffic for furs. The Dutch +soldiers were in strength which Elkins could not resist. + +They ordered him to strike his tent. He refused. They did it for him; +reshipped all his goods which he had transferred to the shore, to +trade with the Indians, and also the furs which he had purchased. They +then weighed the anchors of the William, unfurled her sails, and, with +trumpet blasts of victory, brought the ship, captain and crew down to +fort Amsterdam. The ship was then convoyed to sea, and the discomfited +Elkins returned to London. Thus terminated, in utter failure, the +first attempt of the English to enter into trade with the Indians of +New Netherland. + +The Dutch were now the only Europeans who had occupied any part of the +present territory of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware. +They were also carrying on a very flourishing trade with the Indians +on the Connecticut river, which was then called Fresh river, and this +"long before any English had dreamed of going there." The Value of +this traffic may be inferred from the fact that, in the year 1633, +sixteen thousand beaver skins were sent to Holland from the North +river alone. + +To strengthen their title, thus far founded on discovery and exclusive +visitation, the Dutch, in 1632, purchased of the Indians nearly all of +the lands on both sides of the Connecticut river, including Saybrook +Point, at the mouth, where the arms of the States-General were affixed +to a tree in token of possession. A fort was also commenced, near the +mouth of the river, and a trading post established some miles up the +stream, at the point now occupied by the city of Hartford. + +About the same time, Lord Warwick, assuming that a legitimate grant of +the region had been made to him by the king of England, conveyed to +Lords Say, Brook and others, all the territory running southwest from +Narragansett river, to the distance of one hundred and twenty miles +along the coast, and reaching back, through the whole breadth of the +country, from the Western Ocean to the South Sea. The geography of +these regions was then very imperfectly known. No one had any +conception of the vast distance between the Atlantic Ocean and the +shores of the Pacific. The trading post, which the Dutch had +established on the Connecticut, was called Fort Hope. + +As soon as it was known, at Plymouth and Boston, that the Dutch had +taken formal possession of the valley of the Connecticut, Governor +Winslow hastened to confer with the Massachusetts Governor respecting +their duties. As it was doubtful whether the region of the Connecticut +was embraced within either of their patents, they decided not to +interfere. But through diplomatic policy they assigned a different +reason for their refusal. + +"In regard," said Governor Winthrop, + + "that the place was not fit for plantation, there being + three or four thousand warlike Indians, and the river not to + be gone into but by small pinnaces, having a bar affording + but six feet at high water, and for that no vessel can get + in for seven months in the year, partly by reason of the + ice, and then the violent stream, we thought not fit to + meddle with it."[4] + +Still Governor Winthrop looked wistfully towards the Connecticut. +Though he admitted that the lower part of the valley was "out of the +claim of the Massachusetts patent," it could not be denied that the +upper part of the valley was included in their grant. In the summer of +1633, John Oldham, with three companions, penetrated the wilderness, +through the Indian trails, one hundred and sixty miles to the +Connecticut river. They were hospitably entertained in the many Indian +villages they passed through by the way. + +They brought back early in the autumn, glowing accounts of the beauty +of the region, and of the luxuriant meadows which bordered the stream. +Governor Winthrop then sent a vessel on a trading voyage, through Long +Island Sound, to Manhattan, there to inform the Dutch authorities that +the king of England had granted the Connecticut river and the adjacent +country to the subjects of Great Britain. + +In most of these transactions the Dutch appear to great advantage. +After five weeks' absence the vessel returned to Boston to report the +friendly reception of the Massachusetts party at Manhattan, and +bearing a courteous letter to Governor Winthrop, in which Van Twiller, +in respectful terms, urged him to defer his claim to Connecticut until +the king of England and the States-General of Holland should agree +about their limits, so that the colonists of both nations, might live +"as good neighbors in these heathenish countries." Director Van +Twiller added, with good sense, which does him much credit: + + "I have, in the name of the States-General and the West + India Company, taken possession of the forementioned river, + and, for testimony thereof, have set up an house on the + north side of the said river. It is not the intent of the + States to take the land from the poor natives, but rather to + take it at some reasonable price, which, God be praised, we + have done hitherto. In this part of the world there are many + heathen lands which are destitute of inhabitants, so that + there need not be any question respecting a little part or + portion thereof." + +At the same time the Plymouth colony made a move to obtain a foothold +upon the Connecticut. To secure the color of a title, the colony +purchased of a company of Indians who had been driven from their homes +by the all-victorious Pequods, a tract of land just above fort Hope, +embracing the territory where the town of Windsor now stands. +Lieutenant Holmes was then dispatched with a chosen company, in a +vessel which conveyed the frame of a small house carefully stowed +away, and which could be very expeditiously put together. He was +directed to push directly by fort Hope, and raise and fortify his +house upon the purchased lands. Governor Bradford, of Plymouth, gives +the following quaint account of this adventure: + + "When they came up the river the Dutch demanded what they + intended, and whither they would go? They answered, 'up the + river to trade.' Now their order was to go and seat above + them. They bid them strike and stay or they would shoot + them, and stood by their ordnance ready fitted. They + answered, they had commission from the Governor of Plymouth + to go up the river to such a place, and if they did shoot + they must obey their order and proceed; they would not + molest them but go on. So they passed along. And though the + Dutch threatened them hard yet they shot not. Coming to + their place they clapped up their house quickly, and landed + their provisions, and left the company appointed, and sent + the bark home, and afterward palisaded their house about, + and fortified themselves better." + +Van Twiller, informed of this intrusion, sent a commissioner, +protesting against this conduct and ordering Holmes to depart, with +all his people. Holmes replied, "I am here in the name of the king of +England, and here I shall remain." + +Matters soon became seriously complicated. A boat's crew was robbed +and murdered by some vagabond Indians. The culprits were taken and +hung. + +This exasperated against the Dutch the powerful Pequods who had the +supremacy over all that territory. Open war soon ensued. The Pequods +sent an embassy to Boston, and entered into a treaty of alliance with +the Massachusetts colony, in which they surrendered to that colony the +Connecticut valley. + +In the meantime, Van Twiller having received instructions from the +home government, dispatched a force of seventy well armed men to drive +Lieutenant Holmes and his men from their post. The English stood +firmly upon their defence. The Dutch, seeing that a bloody battle must +ensue, with uncertain results, withdrew without offering any violence. +In many respects the Dutch colonies continued to enjoy much +prosperity. Mr. Brodhead gives the following interesting account of +the state of affairs at the mouth of the Hudson, in the year 1633: + + "Fort Amsterdam, which had become dilapidated, was repaired, + and a guard-house and a barrack for the newly arrived + soldiers were constructed within the ramparts, at a cost of + several thousand guilders. + + "Three expensive windmills were also erected. But they were + injudiciously placed so near the fort that the buildings, + within its walls, frequently intercepted and turned off the + south wind. + + "Several brick and frame houses were built for the Director + and his officers. On the Company's farm, north of the fort, + a dwelling-house, brewery, boat-house and barn were erected. + Other smaller houses were built for the corporal, the smith, + the cooper. The loft, in which the people had worshipped + since 1626, was now replaced by a plain wooden building, + like a barn, situated on the East River, in what is now + Broad street, between Pearl and Bridge streets. Near this + old church a dwelling-house and stable were erected for the + use of the Domine. In the Fatherland the title of Domine was + familiarly given to clergymen. The phrase crossed the + Atlantic with Bogardus, and it has survived to the present + day among the descendants of the Dutch colonists of New + Netherland." + +The little settlement at Manhattan was entitled to the feudal right of +levying a tax upon all the merchandise passing up or down the river. +The English were, at this time, so ignorant of this region of the +North American coast that a sloop was dispatched to Delaware Bay "to +see if there were any river there." As the Dutch had vacated the +Delaware, the English decided to attempt to obtain a foothold on those +waters. Accordingly, in the year 1635, they sent a party of fourteen +or fifteen Englishmen, under George Holmes, to seize the vacant Dutch +fort. + +Van Twiller, informed of this fact, with much energy sent an armed +vessel, by which the whole company was arrested and brought to +Manhattan, whence they were sent, "pack and sack," to an English +settlement on the Chesapeake. + +The Plymouth people had now been two years in undisturbed possession +of their post at Windsor, on the Connecticut. Stimulated by their +example, the General Court of Massachusetts encouraged emigration to +the Connecticut valley, urging, as a consideration, their need of +pasturage for their increasing flocks and herds; the great beauty and +fruitfulness of the Connecticut valley, and the danger that the Dutch, +or other English colonies, might get possession of it. "Like the banks +of the Hudson," it was said, "the Connecticut had been first explored +and even occupied by the Dutch. But should a log hut and a few +straggling soldiers seal a territory against other emigrants?"[5] + +Thus solicited, families from Watertown and Roxbury commenced a +settlement at Wethersfield in the year 1635. Some emigrants, from +Dorchester, established themselves just below the colony of the +Plymouth people at Windsor. This led to a stern remonstrance on the +part of Governor Bradford, of Plymouth, denouncing their unrighteous +intrusion. + + "Thus the Plymouth colonists on the Connecticut, themselves + intruders within the territory of New Netherland, soon began + to quarrel with their Massachusetts brethren for trespassing + upon their usurped domain." + +In November of this year, Governor Winthrop dispatched a bark of +twenty tons from Boston, with about twenty armed men, to take +possession of the mouth of the Connecticut. It will be remembered that +the Dutch had purchased this land of the Indians three years before, +and, in token of their possession, had affixed the arms of the +States-General to a tree. The English contemptuously tore down these +arms, "and engraved a ridiculous face in their place." + +The Dutch had called this region, Kievit's Hook. The English named it +Saybrook, in honor of lords Say and Brook, who were regarded as the +leading English proprietors. Early the next year the Massachusetts +people established a colony at Agawam, now Springfield. Thus, step by +step, the English encroached upon the Dutch, until nearly the whole +valley of the Connecticut was wrested from them. + +About this time Van Twiller issued a grant of sixty-two acres of land, +a little northwest of fort Amsterdam, to Roelof Jansen. This was the +original conveyance of the now almost priceless estate, held by the +corporation of Trinity Church. The directors, in Holland, encouraged +emigration by all the means in their power. Free passage was offered +to farmers and their families. They were also promised the lease of a +farm, fit for the plough, for six years, with a dwelling house, a +barn, four horses and four cows. They were to pay a rent for these six +years, of forty dollars a year, and eighty pounds of butter. + +At the expiration of the six years the tenants were to restore the +number of cattle they had received, retaining the increase. They were +also assisted with clothing, provisions, etc., on credit, at an +advance of fifty per cent. But notwithstanding the rapid increase of +the Dutch settlements, thus secured, the English settlements were +increasing with still greater rapidity. Not satisfied with their +encroachments on the Connecticut, the English looked wistfully upon +the fertile lands extending between that stream and the Hudson. + +The region about New Haven, which, from the East and West rocks, was +called the Red Rocks, attracted especial attention. Some men from +Boston, who had visited it, greatly extolled the beauty and fertility +of the region, declaring it to be far superior to Massachusetts Bay. +"The Dutch will seize it," they wrote, "if we do not. And it is too +good for any but friends." + +Just then an English non-conformist clergyman, John Davenport, and two +merchants from London, men of property and high religious worth, +arrived at Boston. They sailed to the Red Rocks, purchased a large +territory of the Indians, and regardless of the Dutch title, under the +shadow of a great oak, laid the foundations of New Haven. The colony +was very prosperous, and, in one year's time, numbered over one +hundred souls. + +And now the English made vigorous efforts to gain all the lands as far +west as the Hudson river. A village of fifty log huts soon rose at +Stratford, near the Housatonic. Enterprising emigrants also pushed +forward as far as Norwalk, Stamford and Greenwich. The colony at +Saybrook consisted in 1640, of a hundred houses, and a fine church. +The Dutch now held, in the Connecticut valley, only the flat lands +around fort Hope. And even these the English began to plough up. They +cudgelled those of the Dutch garrison who opposed them, saying, "It +would be a sin to leave uncultivated so valuable a land which can +produce such excellent corn." + +The English now laid claim to the whole of Long Island, and commenced +a settlement at its eastern extremity. In the meantime very bitter +complaints were sent to Holland respecting the incapacity of the +Director Van Twiller. It was said that he, neglecting the affairs of +the colony, was directing all his energies to enriching himself. He +had become, it was reported, the richest landholder in the province. +Though sustained by very powerful friends, he was removed. + +William Kieft was appointed in his stead, the fifth Director. He was a +man of very unenviable reputation, and his administration was far from +successful. Mr. Brodhead gives the following true and very interesting +account of the abundant natural resources of the Dutch settlements on +the Hudson at this time: + + "The colonists lived amid nature's richest profusion. In the + forests, by the water side, and on the islands, grew a rank + abundance of nuts and plums. The hills were covered with + thickets of blackberries. On the flat lands, near the + rivers, wild strawberries came up so plentifully that the + people went there to lie down and eat them. Vines, covered + with grapes as good and sweet as in Holland, clambered over + the loftiest trees. Deer abounded in the forests, in harvest + time and autumn, as fat as any Holland deer can be. Enormous + wild turkeys and myriads of partridges, pheasants and + pigeons roosted in the neighboring woods. Sometimes the + turkeys and deer came down to the houses of the colonists to + feed. A stag was frequently sold by the Indians for a loaf + of bread, or a knife, or even for a tobacco pipe. The river + produced the finest fish. There was a great plenty of + sturgeon, which, at that time, the Christians did not make + use of, but the Indians ate them greedily. Flax and hemp + grew spontaneously. Peltries and hides were brought in great + quantities, by the savages, and sold for trifles. The land + was very well provisioned with all the necessaries of + life."[6] + +Thus far, as a general rule, friendly relations had existed between +the Dutch and the Indians. But all sorts of characters were now +emigrating from the old world. The Indians were often defrauded, or +treated harshly. Individuals among the natives retaliated by stealing. +When caught they were severely punished. Notwithstanding the +government prohibited the sale of muskets to the Indians, so eager +were the savages to gain these weapons, so invaluable to them on their +hunting-fields, that they would offer almost any price for them. Thus +the Mohawks ere long obtained "guns, powder and bullets for four +hundred warriors." + +Kieft endeavored to tax the Indians, extorting payment in corn and +furs. This exasperated them. Their reply, through one of their chiefs, +would have done honor to any deliberative assembly. Indignantly the +chief exclaimed: + + "How can the sachem at the fort dare to exact a tax from us! + He must be a very shabby fellow. He has come to live in our + land when we have not invited him; and now he attempts to + deprive us of our corn for nothing. The soldiers at fort + Amsterdam are no protection to us. Why should we be called + upon to support them? We have allowed the Dutch to live + peaceably in our country, and have never demanded of them + any recompense. When they lost a ship here, and built a new + one, we supplied them with food and all other necessaries. + We took care of them for two winters until their ship was + finished. The Dutch are under obligations to us. We have + paid full price for everything we have purchased of them. + There is, therefore, no reason why we should supply them + with corn and furs for nothing. If we have ceded to them the + country they are living in, we yet remain masters of what we + have retained for ourselves." + +This unanswerable argument covered the whole ground. The most +illiterate Indian could feel the force of such logic. + +Some European vagabonds, as it was afterwards clearly proved, stole +some swine from Staten Island. The blame was thrown upon the innocent +Raritan Indians, who lived twenty miles inland. The rash Director +Kieft resolved to punish them with severity which should be a warning +to all the Indians. + +He sent to this innocent, unsuspecting tribe, a party of seventy well +armed men, many of them unprincipled desperadoes. They fell upon the +peaceful Indians, brutally killed several, destroyed their crops, and +perpetrated all sorts of outrages. + +The Indians never forget a wrong. The spirit of revenge burned in +their bosoms. There was a thriving plantation belonging to DeVrees on +Staten Island. The Indians attacked it, killed four of the laborers, +burned the dwelling and destroyed the crops. Kieft, in his blind rage, +resolved upon the extermination of the Raritans. He offered a large +bounty for the head of any member of that tribe. + +It will be remembered that some years before an Indian had been robbed +and murdered near the pond, in the vicinity of the fort at Manhattan, +and that his nephew, a boy, had escaped. That boy was now a man, and, +through all these years, with almost religious scrupulousness, had +been cherishing his sense of duty to avenge his uncle's unatoned +death. + +A very harmless Dutchman, by the name of Claes Smits, had reared his +solitary hut upon the Indian trail near the East river. The nephew of +the murdered savage came one day to this humble dwelling, and stopped +under the pretence of selling some beaver skins. As Smits was stooping +over the great chest in which he kept his goods, the savage, seizing +an axe, killed him by a single blow. In doing this, he probably felt +the joys of an approving conscience,--a conscience all uninstructed in +religious truth--and thanked the great spirit that he had at length +been enabled to discharge his duty in avenging his uncle's death. + +Kieft sent to the chief of the tribe, demanding the murderer. The +culprit Indian sent back the reply: + + "When the fort was building some years ago, my uncle and I, + carrying some beaver skins to the fort to trade, were + attacked by some Dutchmen, who killed my uncle and stole the + furs. This happened when I was a small boy. I vowed to + revenge it upon the Dutch when I grew up. I saw no better + chance than this of Claes Smits." + +The sachem refused to deliver up the criminal, saying that he had but +done his duty, according to the custom of his race, in avenging the +death of his kinsman, murdered many years before. Kieft was +exceedingly embarrassed. He was very unpopular; was getting the colony +deeper and deeper into difficulty, and was accused of seeking war with +the Indians that he "might make a wrong reckoning with the Company." + +In this emergency, that others might share the responsibility with +him, he reluctantly sought the counsel of the community. Twelve +"select men" were chosen to consider the propositions to be submitted +to them by the Director. To them the question was propounded: + + "Is it not just, that the murder lately committed by a + savage, upon Claes Smits, be avenged and punished? In case + the Indians will not surrender the murderer, is it not just + to destroy the whole village to which he belongs? In what + manner, when, and by whom ought this to be executed?" + +The result of their deliberations was, in brief, as follows: + + "Our harvest is still ungathered; our cattle are scattered + in the woods. Many of the inhabitants, unsuspicious of + danger, are at a distance. It is not best to precipitate + hostilities. In the meantime let two hundred coats of mail + be procured in preparation for the expedition. Let our + friendly intercourse with the savages be uninterrupted, to + throw them off their guard. When the hunting season + commences, let two armed bands be sent out to attack the + Indians from opposite directions. Let as many negroes as can + be spared, be sent on this expedition, each armed with + tomahawk and half-pike. Still let messengers be sent once, + twice and even a third time to solicit the surrender of the + murderer." + +The Governor had the reputation of being an arrant coward. It had +often been said, "It is very well for him to send us into the field, +while he secures his own life in a good fort, out of which he has not +slept a single night in all the years he has been here." They +therefore shrewdly added, "The Governor himself ought to lead the van +in this attack. We will follow his steps and obey his commands." + +The hunting season soon came. Still it was decided to delay +hostilities. The savages were on their guard. A very general feeling +of unfriendliness pervaded the tribes. The Dutch settlers were widely +scattered. A combination of the Indians against the colonists might +prove an awful calamity. Thus, for a time, the war which was evidently +approaching was averted. + + + + + +CHAPTER V. + + + + +WAR AND ITS DEVASTATIONS. + + + + Approaching Hostilities.--Noble Remonstrance.--Massacre of + the Natives.--The War Storm.--Noble conduct of DeVrees.--The + Humiliation of Kieft.--Wide-Spread Desolation.--The Reign of + Terror.--State of Affairs at Fort Nassau.--The Massacre at + Stamford.--Memorial of the Select Men.--Kieft Superseded by + Peter Stuyvesant. + +The year 1643 was a year of terror and of blood in nearly all of the +American colonies. New England was filled with alarm in the +apprehension of a general rising of the Indians. It was said that a +benighted traveller could not halloo in the woods without causing fear +that the savages were torturing their European captives. This +universal panic pervaded the Dutch settlements. The wildest stories +were circulated at the firesides of the lonely settlers. Anxiety and +terror pervaded all the defenceless hamlets. + +DeVrees, rambling one day with his gun upon his shoulder, met an +Indian "who was very drunk." Coming up to the patroon, the Indian +patted him upon the shoulder, in token of friendship, saying, + + "You are a good chief. When we come to see you, you give us + milk to drink. I have just come from Hackensack where they + sold me brandy, and then stole my beaver skin coat. I will + take a bloody revenge. I will go home for my bow and arrows, + and shoot one of those rascally Dutchmen who have stolen my + coat." + +DeVrees endeavored in vain to soothe him. He had hardly reached his +home ere he heard that the savage had kept his vow. He had shot and +killed an innocent man, one Garret Van Voorst, who was thatching the +roof of a house. The chiefs of the tribe were terror-stricken, through +fear of the white man's vengeance. They did not dare to go to the fort +lest they should be arrested and held as hostages. But they hastened +to an interview with DeVrees, in whom they had confidence, and +expressed a readiness to make atonement for the crime, in accordance +with the custom of their tribe, by paying a large sum to the widow of +the murdered man. + +It is worthy of notice that this custom, so universal among the +Indians, of a blood atonement of money, was also the usage of the +tribes of Greece We read in Homer's Iliad, as translated by Pope, + + "If a brother bleed, + On just atonement we remit the deed; + A sire the slaughter of his sons forgives, + The price of blood discharged, the murderer lives." + +At length, encouraged by DeVrees and accompanied by him, the chiefs +ventured to fort Amsterdam. They explained to Kieft the occurrence, +and proposed the expiatory offering to appease the widow's grief. +Kieft was inexorable. Nothing but the blood of the criminal would +satisfy him. In vain they represented that he was the son of a beloved +chief, and that already he had fled far away to some distant tribe. +Our sympathy for these men is strongly excited as we read their +sorrowful yet noble remonstrance: "Why," said they, + + "will you sell brandy to our young men? They are not used to + it. It makes them crazy. Even your own people, who are + accustomed to strong liquors, sometimes become drunk and + fight with knives. Sell no more strong drink to the Indians, + if you will avoid such mischief." + +While this question was being agitated, the Mohawks from the upper +part of the Hudson, came down in strong military bands, armed with +muskets, upon the lower river tribes, attacked them with great +ferocity, killed quite a number of their warriors, took the women and +children captive, and destroyed their villages. + +The lower river tribes all trembled before the terrible Iroquois. +Large numbers of these subjugated tribes fled from the river banks, +and from the region of Westchester, to Manhattan and to Pavonia, where +Jersey City now stands. Here, stripped and panic-stricken, they +encamped, "full a thousand strong." + +The humane and judicious patroon, DeVrees, in whom the Indians seem to +have reposed great confidence, had a beautiful estate several miles up +the river, at a place called Vreesendael. It was a delightful spot of +about five hundred fertile acres, through which wound a fine stream +affording handsome mill seats. The meadows yielded hay enough +spontaneously for two hundred head of cattle. + +DeVrees, finding his house full of fugitive savages, on their retreat +to Pavonia, at the mouth of the river, paddled down in a canoe through +the floating ice to fort Amsterdam, to confer with Director Kieft upon +the emergency. He urged upon the Director that these poor Indians, +thus escaping from the terrible Iroquois and grateful for the +protection which the Dutch had not denied them, might easily be won to +a sincere friendship. On the other hand, some of the more fiery +spirits in the colony thought that the occasion furnished them with an +opportunity so to cripple the Indians as to render them forever after +powerless. They sent in a petition to Kieft, saying, + + "We entreat that immediate hostile measures may be directed + against the savages. They have not yet delivered up the + assassins of Smits and Van Voorst, and thus these murders + remain unavenged. The national character of the Dutch must + suffer. God has now delivered our enemies into our hands. + Let us attack them. We offer our services, and urge that + united parties of soldiers and civilians assail them at + several points." + +These views were in entire harmony with the wishes of the sanguinary +Kieft. He was delighted with the prospect of a war in which victory +seemed easy and certain. Disregarding the remonstrances of DeVrees, +and of the Christian minister Bogardus, he made efficient preparation +for the slaughter of the helpless savages. + +He sent his secretary and a military officer across the river to +reconnoitre the position of the Indians. There were two bands of these +trembling fugitives, one at Pavonia, on the Jersey side of the river, +and one at Corlaer's Hook, on the Island of Manhattan, just above fort +Amsterdam. Secretly, at midnight of the 25th of February, 1643, the +armed bands advanced against their unsuspecting victims. They were +sleeping in fancied security when the murderous assault commenced. + + "The noise of muskets," writes Brodhead, "mingled with the + shrieks of the terrified Indians. Neither age nor sex were + spared. Warrior and squaw, sachem and child, mother and + babe, were alike massacred. Daybreak scarcely ended the + furious slaughter. Mangled victims, seeking safety in the + thickets, were driven into the river. Parents, rushing to + save their children whom the soldiers had thrown into the + stream, were driven back into the waters and drowned before + the eyes of their unrelenting murderers." + +"I sat up that night," writes DeVrees, + + "by the kitchen fire at the Director's. About midnight, + hearing loud shrieks, I ran up to the ramparts of the fort. + Looking towards Pavonia, I saw nothing but shooting, and + heard nothing but the shrieks of Indians murdered in their + sleep." + +With the dawn of the morning the victorious Dutch returned from their +scene of slaughter, bearing with them about thirty prisoners, and the +_heads_ instead of the _scalps_ of many warriors. Kieft welcomed these +blood-stained men with "shaking of hands and congratulations." The +tidings of this outrage spread far and wide among the Indian tribes in +the valley of the Hudson and on the Long Island shore. + +Private enterprise, relying upon the protection of Kieft, had sent out +a foraging expedition upon Long Island. Kieft assumed that he saw +signs of hostility there. The unsuspecting savages were plundered of +two wagon loads of grain. These Indians, who had thus far been the +warmest friends of the Dutch, were now justly roused to the highest +pitch of indignation. They immediately made common cause with the +river tribes, who were almost frenzied with the desire to avenge the +midnight massacres of Pavonia and Manhattan. The storm which thus +burst upon New Netherland was sudden and awful. The savages, in their +rage, developed energy and power totally unanticipated. + +Eleven tribes combined in the most furious and merciless attacks upon +the lonely farm-houses. Everywhere the war-whoop resounded, and the +plumed and painted savages emerged from swamps and thickets, and +assailed every unprotected dwelling. The farmer was shot in the field, +his dwelling burned, and his wife and children were thrown into the +flames. Many women and children, their lives being spared, were +carried into captivity worse than death. Houses, haystacks and +granaries were fired. Cattle were slain or driven off, and crops +destroyed. + +Terror held high carnival. From the banks of the Raritan to the valley +of the Housatonic, over a region of hundreds of square miles, not a +plantation was safe. Men, women and children, haggard with hunger, +exposure and woe, fled from their deserted homes to fort Amsterdam. +Despairing of ever again finding peaceful residence in this new world, +with one voice they demanded a return to the fatherland. The Dutch +colonies were threatened with immediate and entire depopulation. + +Kieft himself was terrified in view of the frightful storm he had +raised. He was compelled to enlist every able-bodied man as a soldier. +There was an end to all traffic, to all agriculture, to all the arts +of industry. Even the plantation of the humane DeVrees did not escape +the undiscriminating wrath of the savages. The outhouses, cattle and +crops were utterly destroyed. Quite a number of the terrified +colonists had taken refuge in the manor house which DeVrees had +prudently built very strong, and constructed with loopholes for +musketry. + +The Indians were besieging the place, when one of their tribe came, +whom DeVrees had assisted to escape from the massacre at Manhattan. He +told the story of his escape and said that DeVrees was a good chief +whom they ought to respect. The Indians held a short consultation, and +then the grateful savages deputed one of their number to advance +within speaking distance of the manor house. This man, whom we call a +savage, cried out: + + "We are very sorry that we have destroyed the outhouses, the + cattle and the crops. We now know that chief DeVrees is a + good chief and our friend. If we had not destroyed his + property we would not do so. We will not harm the brewery, + though we all greatly need the copper kettle to make barbs + for our arrows." + +These noble red men, for we must think they exhibited a noble spirit, +then departed. DeVrees was, at the time, in the manor house. He +hastened down the river to fort Amsterdam and indignantly addressing +the governor, said: "Has it not happened just as I foretold, that you +are only helping to shed Christian blood? Who will now compensate us +for our losses?" + +The wretched Kieft had not one word to reply. He however, made a weak +and unavailing attempt to appease the wrath of the Long Island +Indians. But the roaring tornado of savage vengeance could not thus be +divested of its terrors. The messengers he sent, approaching a band of +Indians, cried out to them, "We come to you as friends." They shouted +back contemptuously, "Are you our friends? You are only corn thieves." +Refusing all intercourse they disappeared in the forest. + +During all these scenes the infamous and cowardly Kieft ensconced +himself securely within the walls of the fort. The bewailings of +ruined farmers, and of widows and orphan children rose all around him. +To divert public clamor, he fitted out several expeditions against the +Indians. But these expeditions all returned having accomplished +nothing. + +"The proud heart of the Director," writes Brodhead, + + "began to fail him at last. In one week desolation and + sorrow had taken the place of gladness and prosperity. The + colony entrusted to his charge was nearly ruined. It was + time to humble himself before the Most High, and invoke from + heaven the mercy which the Christian had refused the savage. + + "A day of general fasting and prayer was proclaimed. 'We + continue to suffer much trouble and loss from the heathen, + and many of our inhabitants see their lives and property in + jeopardy, which is doubtless owing to our sins,' was Kieft's + contrite confession, as he exhorted every one penitently to + supplicate the mercy of God, 'so that his holy name may not, + through our iniquities, be blasphemed by the heathen.'" + +The people still held the Director responsible for all the +consequences which had followed the massacres of Pavonia and Corlaer's +Hook. They boldly talked of arresting and deposing him, and of sending +him, as a culprit, back to Holland. The Director, panic stricken, +endeavored to shift the responsibility of the insane course which had +been pursued, upon one Adriansen, an influential burgher, who was the +leading man among the petitioners who had counselled war. + +Adriansen was now a ruined man. His own plantation had been utterly +devastated. Exasperated by his losses, he had no disposition to take +upon himself the burden of that popular odium which had now become so +heavy. Losing all self-control, he seized a sword and a pistol, and +rushed into the Director's room, with the apparent intention of +assassinating him, exclaiming, "what lies are these you are reporting +of me." + +He was disarmed and imprisoned. One of his servants took a gun, went +to the fort and deliberately discharged the piece at the Director, but +without hitting him. The would-be assassin was shot down by a sentinel +and his head exposed upon the scaffold. Adriansen was sent to Holland +for trial. + +After terrible scenes of suffering, a temporary peace was restored +through the heroic interposition of DeVrees. He was the only man who +dared to venture among the exasperated Indians. They watched over him +kindly, and entreated him to be cautious in exposing himself, lest +harm might befall him from some wandering Indians by whom he was not +known. But the wrongs which the Indians had experienced were too deep +to be buried in oblivion. And there was nothing in the character of +Kieft to secure their confidence. After the truce of a few weeks the +war, without any imaginable cause, broke out anew. + +All the settlements at Westchester and Long Island were laid waste. +Scarcely an inhabitant, save the roving Indian, was to be found in +those regions. The Dutch were driven out of the whole of New Jersey. +The settlers on Staten Island were trembling in hourly expectation of +an assault. War's devastating surges of flame and blood swept nearly +the whole island of Manhattan. Bold men ventured to remain well armed, +upon a few of the farms, or _boweries_ as they were called, in the +immediate vicinity of the fort, but they were continually menaced with +attack, night and day. A _bowery_ was a farm on which the family +resided. A plantation was one of those extended tracts of land, which +was partly cultivated but upon which no settler dwelt. There was no +protection anywhere for the trembling population, save in and directly +around fort Amsterdam. Mr. Brodhead, alluding to these scenes of +terror, writes, + + "The women and children lay concealed in straw huts, while + their husbands and fathers mounted guard on the crumbling + ramparts above. For the fort itself was almost defenceless. + It resembled rather a mole-hill than a fortress against an + enemy. The cattle, which had escaped destruction, were + huddled within the walls, and were already beginning to + starve for want of forage. It was indispensable to maintain + a constant guard at all hours, for seven allied tribes, well + supplied with muskets, powder and ball, which they had + procured from private traders, boldly threatened to attack + the dilapidated citadel with all their strength, now + amounting to fifteen hundred men. + + "So confident had the enemy become, that their scouting + parties constantly threatened the advanced sentinels of the + garrison. Ensign Van Dyck, while relieving guard at one of + the outposts, was wounded by a musket ball in his arm. All + the forces that the Dutch could now muster, besides the + fifty or sixty soldiers in garrison, were about two hundred + freemen. With this handful of men was New Netherland to be + defended against the implacable fury of her savage foe." + +For a time the war which had desolated the region of the lower valley +of the Hudson, did not reach fort Nassau, now Albany. The tribes +resident there were at war with the lower river tribes. As these +Indians still maintained apparently friendly relations with the +whites, the patroon, Van Rensselaer, allowed his agents freely to sell +to them fire arms and powder. + +This distant and feeble post at this time consisted only of a wretched +little fort built of logs, with eight or ten small cannon or swivels. + +A hamlet of about thirty huts was scattered along the river. A church, +thirty-four feet long by nineteen wide, had been erected in a pine +grove within range of the guns of the fort. Nine benches accommodated +the congregation. A very faithful pastor, Domine Megapolensis, +ministered to them. + +The red men were often attracted to the church to hear the preached +gospel, and wondered what it meant. Megapolensis writes: + + "When we have a sermon sometimes ten or twelve of the + Indians will attend, each having in his mouth a long tobacco + pipe made by himself, and will stand awhile and look. + Afterwards they will ask me what I was doing, and what I + wanted, that I stood there alone and made so many words and + none of the rest might speak. + + "I tell them that I admonish the Christians that they must + not steal or drink, or commit murder, or do anything wrong, + and that I intend, after a while, to come and preach to them + when I am acquainted with their language. They say that I do + well in teaching the christians, but immediately add, 'Why + do so many christians do these things?'" + +This was several years before John Eliot commenced preaching the +gospel to the Indians near Boston. Kieft very earnestly applied to the +English colony at New Haven for assistance against the Indians. The +proposal was submitted to the General Court. After mature +deliberation, it was decided that the Articles of Confederation +between the New England colonies prohibited them from engaging +separately in war; and that moreover "they were not satisfied that the +Dutch war with the Indians was just." + +The Dutch Director, thus disappointed in obtaining assistance from the +English, was roused to the energies of desperation. The spirit of the +people also rose to meet the emergency. It was determined to commence +the most vigorous offensive measures against the savages. + +We have not space to enter into the details of this dreadful war. We +will record one of its sanguinary scenes, as illustrative of many +others. The Connecticut Indians, in the vicinity of Greenwich, had +joined the allied tribes, and were becoming increasingly active in +their hostility. Ensign Van Dyck was dispatched with one hundred and +fifty men in three vessels. The expedition landed at Greenwich. The +Indian warriors, over five hundred in number, were assembled in a +strongly palisaded village in the vicinity of Stamford. + +It was midnight in February, 1644, when the expedition approached the +Indian village. All the day long the men had toiled through the snow. +It was a wintry night, clear and cold, with a full moon whose rays, +reflected by the dazzling surface of hill and valley, were so +brilliant that "many winter days were not brighter." + +The Dutch, discharging a volley of bullets upon the doomed village, +charged, sword in hand. The savages, emboldened by their superior +numbers, made a desperate resistance. But in a conflict like this, +arrows are comparatively powerless when opposed to muskets. The +Indians, unable to reach their foes with their arrows, made several +very bold sallies, recklessly endeavoring to break the Dutch lines. +They were invariably driven back with great loss. Not one of them +could show himself outside the palisades without being shot down. + +In less than an hour the dark forms of one hundred and eighty Indian +warriors lay spread out upon the blood-crimsoned snow. And now the +Dutch succeeded in applying the torch. The whole village, composed of +the most combustible materials, was instantly in flames. The Indians +lost all self-possession. They ran to and fro in a state of frenzy. As +they endeavored to escape they were, with unerring aim, shot down, or +driven back into their blazing huts. Thus over five hundred perished. +Of all who crowded the little village at nightfall but eight escaped. +Only eight of the Dutch were wounded; but not one fatally. + +The conflagration of an hour laid the bark village in ashes. Nothing +remained. The victors built large fires and bivouacked upon the snow. +The next day they returned to Stamford, and two days afterward reached +fort Amsterdam. + +War is generally ruin to both parties. In this case neither of the +combatants gained anything. Both parties alike reaped but a harvest of +blood and woe. Scouting parties of the savages prowled beneath the +very walls of fort Amsterdam, ready at a moment's warning, to dart +into the wilderness, where even the bravest of the Dutch could not +venture to pursue. For the protection of the few cattle which +remained, all the men turned out and built a stout fence, "from the +great bowery or farm across to Emanuel plantation," near the site of +the present Wall street. + +During the whole summer of 1644, the savages were busy carrying the +desolating war into every unprotected nook and corner. The condition +of the colony became desperate, being almost entirely destitute of +food, money and clothing. The utter incompetency of Kieft was daily +more conspicuous. He did nothing. "Scarce a foot was moved on land, or +an oar laid in the water." The savages, thus left in security to fish +and gather in their crops, were ever increasingly insolent and +defiant. One of the annalists of those times writes: + + "Parties of Indians roved about day and night, over + Manhattan island, killing the Dutch not a thousand paces + from fort Amsterdam. No one dared to move a foot to fetch a + stick of firewood without a strong escort." + +Kieft, in his overwhelming embarrassments, had found it necessary to +convene eight select men to advise him and to aid in supporting his +authority. These select men decided to demand of the home government +the recall of Kieft, whose incapacity had thus plunged the +once-flourishing colony into utter ruin. They also urged the +introduction into New Netherland of the municipal system of the +fatherland. + +In their brief but touching memorial they write, + + "Our fields lie fallow and waste. Our dwellings are burned. + Not a handful can be sown this autumn on the deserted + places. The crops, which God permitted to come forth during + the summer, remain rotting in the fields. We have no means + to provide necessaries for wives or children. We sit here + amidst thousands of savages from whom we can find neither + peace nor mercy. + + "There are those among us who, by the sweat and labor of + their hands, through many long years and at great expense, + have endeavored to improve their land. Others have come with + ships freighted with a large quantity of cattle. They have + cleared away the forest, enclosed their plantations, and + brought them under the plough, so as to be an ornament to + the country and a profit to the proprietors after their long + and laborious toil. The whole of these now lie in ashes + through a foolish hankering after war. + + "All right-thinking men here know that these Indians have + lived as lambs among us until a few years ago, injuring no + man, offering every assistance to our nation, and when no + supplies were sent for several months, furnishing provisions + to the Company's servants until they received supplies. + These hath the Director, by several uncalled-for proceedings + from time to time, so estranged from us, and so embittered + against the Netherlands nation, that we do not believe that + anything will bring them and peace back, unless the Lord, + who bends all hearts to his will, propitiate their people. + + "Little or nothing of any account has been done here for the + country. Every place is going to ruin. Neither counsel nor + advice is taken." + +After giving an account of the origin and progress of the war, they +warn the home government against relying upon the statements which the +Director had sent over to them. "These statements," they said, +"contain as many lies as lines." The memorial was concluded with the +following forcible words: + + "Honored Lords; this is what we have, in the sorrow of our + hearts, to complain of. We shall end here, and commit the + matter wholly to our God, praying that he will move your + lordships' minds, so that a Governor may be speedily sent to + us with a beloved peace, or that we may be permitted to + return with our wives and children, to our dear fatherland. + For it is impossible ever to settle this country until a + different system be introduced here, and a new Governor sent + out." + +In response to this appeal Kieft was recalled. Just before he received +his summons peace was concluded with the Indians, on the 31st of +August, 1645. The war had raged five years. It had filled the land +with misery. All were alike weary of its carnage and woes. A new +governor was appointed, Peter Stuyvesant. The preceding account of the +origin of the Dutch colony and its progress thus far is essential to +the understanding of the long and successful administration of the new +governor, whose name is one of the most illustrious in the early +annals of New York. + +It may be worthy of brief remark that a few weeks after the arrival of +Governor Stuyvesant, Kieft embarked in the ship Princess for Holland. +The vessel was wrecked on the coast of Wales Kieft and eighty-one men, +women and children sank into a watery grave. Kieft died unlamented. +His death was generally regarded as an act of retributive justice. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + + + + +GOVERNOR STUYVESANT. + + + + New Netherland in 1646.--Early Years of Peter + Stuyvesant.--Decay of New Amsterdam.--The Germs of a + Representative Government.--Energetic Administration.--Death + of Governor Winthrop.--Claims for Long Island.--Arrogance of + the Governor.--Remonstrance of the Nine Men.--The Pastoral + Office.--Boundary lines.--Increasing Discontent.--Division + of Parties.--Dictatorial Measures. + + +It is estimated that the whole population of New Netherland, in the +year 1646, amounted to about one thousand souls. In 1643, it numbered +three thousand. Such was the ruin which the mal-administration of +Kieft had brought upon the colony. The male adult population around +Amsterdam was reduced to one hundred. At the same time the population +of the flourishing New England colonies had increased to about sixty +thousand. + +On the 11th of May, 1647, Governor Stuyvesant arrived at Manhattan. He +was appointed as "Redresser General," of all colonial abuses. We have +but little knowledge of the early life of Peter Stuyvesant. The West +India Company had a colony upon the island of Curacoa, in the +Caribbean Sea. For some time Stuyvesant had been its efficient +Director. He was the son of a clergyman in Friesland, one of the +northern provinces of the Netherlands. + +He received a good academic education, becoming quite a proficient in +the Latin language, of which accomplishment, it is said that he was +afterwards somewhat vain. At school he was impetuous, turbulent and +self-willed. Upon leaving the academy he entered the military service, +and soon developed such energy of character, such a spirit of +self-reliance and such administrative ability that he was appointed +director of the colony at Curacoa. He was recklessly courageous, and +was deemed somewhat unscrupulous in his absolutism. In an attack upon +the Portuguese island of Saint Martin, in the year 1644, which attack +was not deemed fully justifiable, he lost a leg. The wound rendered it +necessary for him to return to Holland in the autumn of 1644, for +surgical aid. + +Upon his health being re-established, the Directors of the West India +Company, expressing much admiration for his Roman courage, appointed +him Governor of their colony in New Netherland, which was then in a +state of ruin. There were also under his sway the islands of Curacoa, +Buenaire and Amba. The Provincial Government presented him with a +paper of instructions very carefully drawn up. The one-man power, +which Kieft had exercised, was very considerably modified. Two +prominent officers, the Vice-Director and the Fiscal, were associated +with him in the administration of all civil and military affairs. They +were enjoined to take especial care that the English should not +further encroach upon the Company's territory. They were also directed +to do everything in their power to pacify the Indians and to restore +friendly relations with them. No fire-arms or ammunition were, under +any circumstances, to be sold to the Indians. + +Van Diricklagen was associated with the Governor as Vice-Director, and +ensign Van Dyck, of whom the reader has before heard, was appointed +Fiscal, an important office corresponding with our post of Treasurer. +Quite a large number of emigrants, with abundant supplies, accompanied +this party. The little fleet of four ships left the Texel on Christmas +day of 1646. The expedition, running in a southerly direction, first +visited the West India islands. On the voyage the imperious temper of +Stuyvesant very emphatically developed itself. + +Holland was then at war with Spain. A prize was captured and the +question arose respecting its disposal. Fiscal Van Dyck claimed, by +virtue of his office, a seat at the council board and a voice in the +decision. The governor rudely repulsed him with the words, + +"Get out. Who admitted you into the council. When I want you I will +call you." + +When they arrived at Curacoa, Van Dyck again made an attempt to gain +that place in the Council to which he thought his office legitimately +entitled him. Stuyvesant punished him by confining him to the ship, +not allowing him to step on shore. All the other officers and soldiers +were freely allowed to recruit themselves by strolling upon the land. + +Upon reaching Manhattan, Stuyvesant was received by the whole +community with great rejoicing. And when he said, "I shall reign over +you as a father governs his children," they were perhaps not fully +aware of the dictatorial spirit which was to animate his government. +With wonderful energy he immediately devoted himself to the reform of +abuses. Though he availed himself of absolute power, taking counsel of +no one, all his measures seem to have been adopted, not for the +advancement of his own selfish interests, but for the promotion of the +public good. + +Proclamations were issued against Sabbath desecration, intemperance +and all quarrelling. No intoxicating liquors were to be sold to the +savages under a penalty of five hundred guilders. _And the seller was +also to be held responsible for any injury which the savage might +inflict, while under the influence of strong drink_. After the ringing +of the nine o'clock bell in the evening, intoxicating drinks were not +to be sold to any person whatever. + +To draw a knife in a quarrel was to be punished with a heavy fine and +six months imprisonment. If a wound was inflicted the penalty was +trebled. Great faults accompanied this development of energy. The new +governor assumed "state and pomp like a peacock's." He kept all at a +distance from him, exacted profound homage, and led many to think that +he would prove a very austere father. All his acts were characterized +by great vigor. + +New Amsterdam, at that time, presented a very dilapidated and +deplorable appearance. The fort was crumbling to ruins. The skeleton +of an unfinished church deformed the view. The straggling fences were +broken down. The streets were narrow and crooked, many of the houses +encroaching upon them. The foul enclosures for swine bordered the +thoroughfares. + +A system of taxation upon both exports and imports was introduced, +which speedily replenished the treasury. Governor Stuyvesant was a +professing christian, being a devout member of the Reformed Church of +the fatherland. He promptly transferred his relations to the church at +fort Amsterdam. He became an elder in the church, and conscious that +the christian religion was the basis of all prosperity, one of his +first acts was the adoption of measures for the completion of the +church edifice. Proprietors of vacant lots were ordered to fence them +in and improve them. Surveyors of buildings were appointed to regulate +the location and structure of new houses. + +The embarrassments which surrounded the governor were so great that he +found it necessary to support his authority by calling public opinion +to his aid. "Necessity," writes Brodhead, "produced concession and +prerogative yielded to popular rights. The Council recommended that +the principle of representation should be conceded to the people. +Stuyvesant consented." + +An election was ordered and eighteen "of the most notable, reasonable, +honest and respectable persons" in the colony were chosen, from whom +the governor was to select nine persons as a sort of privy council. It +is said that Stuyvesant was very reluctant to yield at all to the +people, and that he very jealously guarded the concessions to which he +was constrained to assent. By this measure popular rights gained +largely. The _Nine Men_ had however only the power to give advice when +it was asked. When assembled, the governor could attend the meeting +and act as president. + +Governor Stuyvesant, soon after his arrival at fort Amsterdam, +addressed courteous letters to the governors of all the neighboring +colonies. In his letter to Governor Winthrop, of Massachusetts, he +asserted the indubitable right of the Dutch to all the territory +between the Connecticut and the Delaware, and proposed an interview +for the settlement of all difficulties. + +An Amsterdam ship, the Saint Benino, entered the harbor of New Haven, +and for a month engaged in trade without a license from the West India +Company. Stuyvesant, ascertaining the fact, sent a company of soldiers +on a secret expedition to New Haven, seized the vessel on the Lord's +day, brought her to Manhattan, and confiscated both ship and cargo. + +Emboldened by success, Stuyvesant sent a letter to the authorities at +New Haven claiming all the region from Cape Henlopen to Cape Cod as +part of the territory of New Netherland, and affirming his right to +levy duties upon all Dutch vessels trading within those limits. + +Governor Eaton, of the New Haven colony, sent back a remonstrance +protesting against the Dutch governor as a disturber of the public +peace by "making unjust claims to our lands and plantations, to our +havens and rivers, and by taking a ship out of our harbor without our +license." + +Three deserters from Manhattan fled to New Haven. Governor Eaton, +though bound by treaty obligations to deliver them up, yet indignant +in view of what he deemed the arrogant claim of Governor Stuyvesant, +refused to surrender them, lest the surrender should be deemed as +"done in the way of subordination." The impetuous Stuyvesant at once +issued a retaliatory proclamation in which he said: + + "If any person, noble or ignoble, freeman or slave, debtor + or creditor, yea, to the lowest prisoner included, run away + from the colony at New Haven, or seek refuge in our limits, + he shall remain free, under our protection, on taking the + oath of allegiance." + +This decree excited strong disapprobation at home as well as in the +other colonies. The inhabitants of Manhattan objected to it as tending +to convert the province into a refuge for vagabonds from the +neighboring English settlements. After a few months the obnoxious +proclamation was revoked. But in the meantime Governor Stuyvesant had +bribed the runaways, who had been taken into the public service at New +Haven, to escape and return home. + +As a precaution against fire, it was ordered that if a house were +burned through the owner's negligence, he should be heavily fined. +Fire-wardens were appointed to inspect the buildings. If any chimney +was found foul, the owner was fined and the sum was appointed to +purchasing fire-ladders, hooks and buckets. As nearly one-fourth of +the houses were licensed for the sale of brandy, tobacco or beer, it +was resolved that no farther licenses should be granted. It was +ordered that cattle and swine should be pastured within proper +enclosures. And it was also ordained that, "from this time forth, in +the afternoon as well as in the forenoon, there shall be preaching +from God's word." Many of the Indians were employed as servants or day +laborers. They were often defrauded of their wages. A decree was +issued, punishing with a fine those who neglected to pay these debts. + +In January, 1649, Charles I., of England, was beheaded in front of his +own banqueting hall, and England became nominally a republic. The +event created the most profound sensation throughout all Christendom. +The shock, which agitated all Europe, was felt in America. The prince +of Wales and the duke of York, escaping from England, took refuge in +Holland with their brother-in-law, the stadtholder, William, prince of +Orange. A rupture between England and Holland appeared imminent. The +Puritans in America were well pleased with the establishment of a +republic in their native land. A war between the two European nations +would probably bring all the Dutch colonies under the control of +England. The West India Company, in view of these perils, urged +Stuyvesant "to live with his neighbors on the best terms possible." + +On the 24th of March, of this year, the venerable Governor Winthrop, +of Massachusetts, died, at the age of sixty-one. Governor Eaton, of +New Haven, proposed to Stuyvesant a meeting of the Governors, at +Boston, to discuss the affairs of the colonies. The meeting was held +in August. It was not harmonious. The Dutch were forbidden from +trading anywhere with the Indians within the territory of the English +colonies, and Stuyvesant was very emphatically informed that the +English claimed all the territory between Cape Cod and New Haven. + +Lady Stirling, widow of Lord Stirling, determined to maintain her +title to the whole of Long Island. She sent an agent, who announced +himself to the English settlers at Hempstead, on the northern portion +of the island, as governor of the whole island under the Dowager +Countess of Stirling. Intelligence of this was speedily sent to +Stuyvesant. The Dutch Governor caused his immediate arrest, ordered +him, notwithstanding his "very consequential airs," to be examined +before the council, took copies of his papers, and placed him on board +ship for Holland. The ship put in at an English port, the agent +escaped and was heard of no more. + +The council, much displeased with the absolutism assumed by +Stuyvesant, resolved to send one of their number, a remarkably +energetic man, Adrien Van Der Donck, to Holland to seek redress from +the home government. The movement was somewhat secret, and they +endeavored to conceal from the governor the papers which were drawn +up, containing the charges against him. The spirit of Stuyvesant was +roused. + +He went in person, with some officers, to the chamber of Van Der +Donck, when he was absent, seized his papers, and then caused him to +be arrested and imprisoned. + +The Vice Director, Van Diricklagen, accompanied by a delegation from +the people, protested against these proceedings, and demanded that Van +Der Donck should be released from captivity and held on bail. +Stuyvesant refused, saying that the prisoner was arrested, "for +calumniating the officers of government; that his conduct tended to +bring the sovereign authority into contempt." Van Der Donck was +punished by banishment from the council and from the board of Nine +Men. + +Just before this, two prominent men, Kuyter and Melyn, demanded an +appeal to the people in reference to some act of Kieft's reckless +administration. Stuyvesant took the alarm. If the people could judge +of Kieft's administration, his own might be exposed to the same +ordeal. Convening a special council, he said, + + "These petitioners are disturbers of the public peace. If we + grant their request, will not the cunning fellows, in order + to usurp over us a more unlimited power, claim even greater + authority against ourselves, should it happen that our + administration may not square in every respect with their + whims. It is treason to petition against one's magistrate + whether there be cause or not." + +The unfortunate petitioners were now arraigned on various charges. The +Governor and his subservient Council acted both as prosecutors and +judges. The prisoners were accused of instigating the war with the +savages, of counselling the mortgaging of Manhattan to the English, +and of threatening Kieft with personal violence. The case was speedily +decided and sentence was pronounced. Stuyvesant wished Melyn to be +punished with death and confiscation of property. But the majority of +the Council held back the Governor's avenging hand. Still he succeeded +in sentencing Melyn to seven years' banishment, to a fine of three +hundred guilders, and to forfeit all benefits derived from the +Company. Kuyter was sentenced to three years' banishment and to a fine +of one hundred and fifty guilders. They were also denied the right of +appeal to the fatherland. + +"If I were persuaded," said the Governor, "that you would divulge our +sentence, or bring it before their High Mightinesses, I would have you +hanged at once, on the highest tree in New Netherland." + +Again he said, with characteristic energy, "If any one, during my +administration, shall appeal, I will make him a foot shorter, and send +the pieces to Holland and let him appeal in that way."[7] + +Melyn and Kuyter being sent to Holland as criminals, did appeal to the +home government; their harsh sentence was suspended; they were +restored to all the rights of colonists of New Netherland, and +Stuyvesant was cited to defend his sentence at the Hague. When Melyn +returned to Manhattan with these authoritative papers, a great tumult +was excited. Anxious that his triumph should be as public as his +disgrace had been, he demanded that the Acts should be read to the +people assembled in the church. With much difficulty he carried his +point. "I honor the States and shall obey their commands," said +Stuyvesant, "I shall send an attorney to sustain the sentence." + +The Indians loudly, and with one accord, demanded the right to +purchase fire-arms. For years they had been constantly making such +purchases, either through the colonists at Rensselaerswyck, or from +private traders. It was feared that the persistent refusal to continue +the supply, might again instigate them to hostilities. The Directors +of the West India government therefore intimated that "it was the best +policy to furnish them with powder and ball, but with a sparing hand." + +Stuyvesant ordered a case of guns to be brought over from Holland. +They were landed openly at fort Amsterdam and placed under the care of +an agent of the governor. Thus Stuyvesant himself was to monopolize +the trade, which was extremely lucrative; for the Indians would pay +almost any price for guns, powder and shot. This increased the growing +dissatisfaction. The Indians would readily exchange skins to the +amount of forty dollars for a gun, and of four dollars for a pound of +powder. + +"The governor," it was said, + + "assumes to be everything. He establishes shops for himself + and does the business of the whole country. He is a brewer + and has breweries. He is a ship-owner, a merchant, and a + trader in both lawful and contraband articles." + +The Nine Men persisted in their resolve to send a remonstrance to the +fatherland. The memorial was signed and forwarded the latter part of +July. In this important document, which first gave a brief account of +the past history of the colony, the administration of Stuyvesant was +reviewed with much severity. + +"In our opinion," said the remonstrants, + + "this country will never flourish under the present + government. The country must be provided with godly, + honorable and intelligent rulers, who are not very indigent, + and who are not too covetous. The mode in which this country + is now governed is intolerable. Nobody is secure in his + property longer than the Director pleases, who is generally + strongly inclined to confiscating. A good population would + be the consequence of a good government. Many would be + allured here by the pleasantness, situation, salubrity and + fruitfulness of the country, if protection were secured." + +Three of the signers were deputed to convey the remonstrance to the +Hague and lay it before the authorities there. The pastor of the +church at Manhattan, Domine Backerus, returned to Holland with the +commissioners. He was greatly dissatisfied with the regime of the +governor, and upon his arrival in Holland, joined the complainants. + +Domine Megapolensis, who had been pastor of the church at +Rensselaerswyck, having obtained letters of dismission from his +church, was also about to sail to the fatherland. The colonists, +generally religiously disposed, were greatly troubled, being +threatened with a total loss of the gospel ministry. By the earnest +solicitation of Stuyvesant, he consented to remain at Manhattan, where +he was formally installed as pastor of the church, upon a salary of +twelve hundred guilders, which was about four hundred dollars. At the +same time the energetic governor manifested his interest in education +by writing earnestly to Amsterdam, urging that a pious, well-qualified +and diligent schoolmaster might be sent out. "Nothing," he added, "is +of greater importance than the right, early instruction of youth." + +The governor was sorely annoyed by the action of the States-General, +reversing his sentence against Melyn and Kuyter. He wrote that he +should obey their decision, but that he would rather never have +received their commission as governor, than to have had his authority +lowered in the eyes of his neighbors and friends. + +The three commissioners, bearing the memorial of the Nine Men, reached +Holland in safety. The States-General received their memorial, and +also listened to the reply of the agent, whom Stuyvesant had sent out +to plead his cause. The decision of the States was virtually a rebuke +of the dictatorial government of Stuyvesant, and several very +important reforms were ordered. This decision displeased the West +India Company. Those men deemed their rights infringed upon by this +action of the States-General. They were therefore led to espouse the +cause of the governor. Thus strengthened, Stuyvesant ventured to +disregard the authority of the States-General. + +The Dutch at Manhattan began to be clamorous for more of popular +freedom. Stuyvesant, hoping to enlist the sympathies of the governors +of the English colonies in his behalf, made vigorous arrangements for +the long projected meeting with the Commissioners of the United +Colonies. + +On the 17th of September, 1650, Governor Stuyvesant embarked at +Manhattan, with his secretary, George Baxter, and quite an imposing +suite. Touching at several places along the sound, he arrived at +Hartford in four days. After much discussion it was agreed to refer +all differences, of the points in controversy, to four delegates, two +to be chosen from each side. It is worthy of special remark that +Stuyvesant's secretary was an Englishman, and he chose two Englishmen +for his delegates. + +In the award delivered by the arbitrators, it was decided that upon +Long Island a line running from the westernmost part of Oyster Bay, in +a straight direction to the sea, should be the bound between the +English and the Dutch territory; the easterly part to belong to the +English, the westernmost part to the Dutch. Upon the mainland, the +boundary line was to commence on the west side of Greenwich bay, about +four miles from Stamford, and to run in a northerly direction twenty +miles into the country, provided that the said line came not within +ten miles of the Hudson river. The Dutch were not to build any house +within six miles of said line. The inhabitants of Greenwich were to +remain, till further consideration, under the Government of the Dutch. +It was also decided that a nearer union of friendship and amity, +between England and the Dutch colonies in America, should be +recommended to the several jurisdictions of the United Colonies. + +Stuyvesant reported the result of these negotiations to the Chamber at +Amsterdam but, for some unexplained reason, did not send to that body +a copy of the treaty. Upon his return to Manhattan he was immediately +met with a storm of discontent. His choice of two Englishmen as the +referees, to represent the Dutch cause, gave great offence. It was +deemed an insult to his own countrymen. There was a general +disposition with the colonists to repudiate a treaty which the Dutch +had had no hand in forming. Complaints were sent to Holland that the +Governor had surrendered more territory than might have formed fifty +colonies; and that, rejecting those reforms in favor of popular rights +which the home government had ordered, he was controlling all things +with despotic power. + +"This grievous and unsuitable government," the Nine Men wrote, + + "ought at once to be reformed. The measures ordered by the + home government should be enforced so that we may live as + happily as our neighbors. Our term of office is about to + expire. The governor has declared that he will not appoint + any other select men. We shall not dare again to assemble in + a body; for we dread unjustifiable prosecutions, and we can + already discern the smart thereof from afar."[8] + +Notwithstanding these reiterated rebukes, Stuyvesant persisted in his +arbitrary course. The vice-director, Van Diricklagen, and the fiscal +or treasurer Van Dyck, united in a new protest expressing the popular +griefs. Van Der Donck was the faithful representative of the +commonalty in their fatherland. The vice-director, in forwarding the +new protest to him wrote, + +"Our great Muscovy duke keeps on as of old; something like the wolf, +the longer he lives the worse he bites." + +It is a little remarkable that the English refugees, who were quite +numerous in the colony, were in sympathy with the arbitrary +assumptions of the governor. They greatly strengthened his hands by +sending a Memorial to the West India Company, condemning the elective +franchise which the Dutch colonists desired. + +"We willingly acknowledge," they wrote, + + "that the power to elect a governor from among ourselves, + which is, we know, the design of some here, would be our + ruin, by reason of our factions and the difference of + opinion which prevails among us." + +The West India Company, not willing to relinquish the powers which it +grasped, was also in very decided opposition to the spirit of popular +freedom which the Dutch colonists were urging, and which was adopted +by the States-General. Thus, in this great controversy, the governor, +the West India Company and the English settlers in the colony were on +one side. Upon the other side stood the States-General and the Dutch +colonists almost without exception. + +The vice-director was punished for his protest, by expulsion from the +council and by imprisonment in the guard-room for four days. Upon his +liberation he took refuge with the Patroon on Staten Island. The +notary, who had authenticated the protest, was dismissed from office +and forbidden any farther to practice his profession. In every +possible way, Stuyvesant manifested his displeasure against his own +countrymen of the popular party, while the English were treated with +the utmost consideration. + +In the treaty of Hartford no reference was made to the interests of +the Dutch on the south, or Delaware river. The New Haven people +equipped a vessel and dispatched fifty emigrants to establish a colony +upon some lands there, which they claimed to have purchased of the +Indians. The governor regarded this as a breach of the treaty, for the +English territory terminated and the Dutch began at the bay of +Greenwich. The expedition put in at Manhattan. The energetic governor +instantly arrested the leaders and held them in close confinement till +they signed a promise not to proceed to the Delaware. The emigrants, +thus discomfited, returned to New Haven. + +At the same time Governor Stuyvesant sent a very emphatic letter to +Governor Eaton of New Haven, in which he wrote: "I shall employ force +of arms and martial opposition, even to bloodshed, against all English +intruders within southern New Netherland." + +In this movement of the English to get a foothold upon the Delaware +river, Stuyvesant thought he saw a covert purpose on their part, to +dispossess the Dutch of all their possessions in America. Thinking it +not improbable that it might be necessary to appeal to arms, he +demanded of the authorities of Rensselaerswyck a subsidy. The +patroons, who had been at great expense in colonizing the territory, +deemed the demand unjust, and sent a commissioner to remonstrate +against it. Stuyvesant arrested the commissioner and held him in close +confinement for four months. + +The Swedes were also making vigorous efforts to get possession of the +beautiful lands on the Delaware. Stuyvesant, with a large suite of +officers, visited that region. In very decided terns he communicated +to Printz the Swedish governor there, that the Dutch claimed the +territory upon the three-fold title of discovery, settlement and +purchase from the natives. He then summoned all the Indian chiefs on +the banks of the river, in a grand council at fort Nassau. After a +"solemn conference" these chiefs ceded to the West India Company all +the lands on both sides of the river to a point called by them +Neuwsings, near the mouth of the bay. + +The Swedes were left in possession only of a small territory +surrounding their fort, called Christina. As Stuyvesant thought fort +Nassau too far up the river and inconvenient of access, he demolished +it. In its seclusion in the wilderness it had stood for twenty-eight +years. A new fort called Casimir was erected, on the west side of the +river near the present site of New Castle, four miles below the +Swedish fort Christina. Having thus triumphantly accomplished his +object, Stuyvesant returned to Manhattan. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + + + + +WAR BETWEEN ENGLAND AND HOLLAND. + + + + Action of the Patroons.--Settlements on the Hudson.--Alarm + of the Home Government.--Recall of Stuyvesant.--His Escape + from Humiliation.--Difficulties between England and + Holland.--The Breaking out of War.--Directions to + Stuyvesant.--The Relations of the Colonies.--Charges against + the Dutch Governor.--Their Refutation.--Efforts of + Stuyvesant for Peace.--Noble Conduct of the Massachusetts + Government.--The Advocates for War. + + +Governor Stuyvesant having removed the obnoxious vice-director, had +another, Johannes Dyckman, who he thought would be more subservient to +his wishes, appointed in his stead. The commissary of the patroons, +whom he had imprisoned at Manhattan, secreted himself on board a sloop +and escaped up the river to Beaverwyck. The enraged governor seized +the skipper of the sloop on his return, and inflicted upon him a heavy +fine. + +The patroons were now fearful that the governor would fulfill his +threat of extending his authority over the extensive territory whose +jurisdiction the Charter of Privileges had entrusted exclusively to +the patroons. They therefore, on an appointed day assembled the +freemen and householders who bound themselves, by an oath, "to +maintain and support offensively and defensively the right and +jurisdiction of the colony against every one." + +Among the persons who took this oath we find the name of John Baptist +Van Rensselaer. He was the younger half-brother of the patroon, and +probably the first of the name who came to New Netherland. It was now +reported that Governor Stuyvesant himself was about to visit fort +Orange, and that a new gallows was being prepared for those who should +attempt to thwart his wishes. The governor soon arrived and, with his +customary explicitness, informed the authorities there, that the +territory by the Exemptions, allowed to the patroon, was to extend +sixteen miles on one side of the river, or eight miles if both banks +were occupied. He called upon them to define their boundaries, saying +that he should recognize the patroons' jurisdiction only to that +extent. These limits would include but a small portion of the +territory which the patroons claimed by right of purchase from the +Indians. + +The authorities were not prepared to act upon this question without +instructions from Holland. Stuyvesant would admit of no delay. He sent +a party of fourteen soldiers, armed with muskets, to the patroon's +house, who entered the enclosure, fired a volley, and hauled down the +flag of the patroon. He then issued a decree that Beaverswyck, which +included the region now occupied by the city of Albany, was +independent of the patroon's government, and was brought under the +jurisdiction of the colony of fort Amsterdam. + +Van Slechtenhorst, the patroon's bold and efficient Commissary at +Rensselaerswick, ordered the governor's placards, announcing this +change, to be torn down, and a counter proclamation, affirming the +claims of the patroon to be posted in its stead. The governor arrested +him, imprisoned him for a time in fort Orange, and then removed him to +New Amsterdam, where he was held in close custody, until his +successor, John Baptist Van Rensselaer, was formally appointed in his +place. + +At this time, 1652, there were no settlements, and but a few scattered +farmhouses between the island of Manhattan and the Catskill mountains. +Thomas Chambers had a farm at what is now Troy. With a few neighbors +he moved down the river to "some exceedingly beautiful lands," and +began the settlement of the present county of Ulster. + +Stuyvesant returning to Manhattan, forbade any persons from buying +lands of the Indians without his permission. The large sales which had +been made to prominent individuals were declared to be void, and the +"pretended proprietors," were ordered to return the purchase money. +Should they however petition the governor, they might retain such +tracts as he and his council should permit. + +By grant of the governor several new settlements were commenced on +Long Island, one at Newton, one at Flatbush. The news had now reached +the Directors of the Company in Holland, of the governor's very +energetic measures on the Delaware, supplanting the Swiss, demolishing +fort Nassau and erecting fort Casimir. They became alarmed lest such +violent measures might embroil them with the Swedish government. In a +letter addressed to Stuyvesant, they wrote: + + "Your journey to the South river, and what has passed there + between you and the Swedes, was very unexpected to us, as + you did not give us before so much as a hint of your + intention. We cannot give our opinion upon it until we have + heard the complaints of the Swedish governor to his queen, + and have ascertained how these have been received at her + court. We hope that our arguments, to prove that we were the + first possessors of that country, will be acknowledged as + sufficient. Time will instruct us of the design of the + new-built fort Casimir. We are at a loss to conjecture for + what reason it has received this name. You ought to be on + your guard that it be well secured, so that it cannot be + surprised." + +The States-General were more and more dissatisfied with the measures +of Governor Stuyvesant. The treaty of Hartford was severely censured. +They said that the Connecticut river should have been the eastern +boundary of New Netherland, and that the whole of Long Island should +have been retained. Even the West India Company became convinced that +it was necessary to make some concessions to the commonalty at +Manhattan. They therefore communicated to Stuyvesant their consent +that the "burgher government" should be established, which the +committee of Nine had petitioned for in behalf of the commonalty, in +1649, and which the States-General had authorized in 1650. + +By this arrangement the people were to elect seven representatives, +who were to form a municipal court of justice, subject to the right of +appeal to the Supreme Court of the province. The sheriff was also +invested with new powers. He was to convoke and preside at the +municipal court, to prosecute all offenders against the laws, and to +take care that all the judgments of the court should be executed. The +people at Manhattan had thus won, to a very considerable degree, the +popular government which they had so long desired. + +Quite to the amazement of the Directors of the West India Company, the +States-General recalled Stuyvesant, ordering him to return immediately +to Holland to give an account of his administration. He had been in +the main the faithful agent of the Company, carrying out its wishes in +opposition to popular reform. They therefore wrote to him, stating +that the requirement was in violation of their charter, and requesting +him "not to be in too much haste to commence his voyage, but to delay +it until the receipt of further orders." + +It so happened, however, that then the States-General were just on the +eve of hostilities with England. It was a matter of the first +importance that New Netherland should be under the rule of a governor +of military experience, courage and energy. No man could excel +Stuyvesant in these qualities. Yielding to the force of circumstances, +the States-General revoked their recall. Thus narrowly Stuyvesant +escaped the threatened humiliation. + +The English government was angry with Holland for refusing to expel +the royalist refugees, who, after the execution of Charles I., had +taken refuge in Holland. The commerce of the Dutch Republic then +covered every sea. England, to punish the Dutch and to revive her own +decaying commerce, issued, by Parliamentary vote, her famous "Act of +Navigation," which was exultantly proclaimed at the old London +Exchange "with sound of trumpet and beat of drum." + +This Act decreed that no production of Asia, Africa or America should +be brought to England, except in English vessels, manned by English +crews, and that no productions of Europe should be brought to England, +unless in English vessels, or in those of the country in which the +imported cargoes were produced. These measures were considered very +unjust by all the other nations, and especially by the Dutch, then the +most commercial nation on the globe. + +The States-General sent ambassadors to London to remonstrate against +such hostile action; and at the same time orders were issued for the +equipment of one hundred and fifty ships of war. The States-General +had not yet ratified Stuyvesant's treaty of Hartford. The ambassadors +were instructed to urge that an immovable boundary line should be +established between the Dutch and English possessions in America. + +The reply of the English Government was not conciliatory. The English, +it was said, had always been forbidden to trade in the Dutch colonies. +The Dutch ought therefore to find no fault with the recent Navigation +Act, from which measure the Council did not "deem it fitting to +recede." As to the colonial boundary, the ungracious reply was +returned, + + "The English were the first settlers in North America, from + Virginia to Newfoundland. We know nothing of any Dutch + plantations there, excepting a few settlers up the Hudson. + We do not think it necessary at present, to settle the + boundaries. It can be done hereafter, at any convenient + time." + +A naval war soon broke out. England, without warning, seized the ships +of Holland in English ports, and impressed their crews. The Dutch war +fleet was entrusted to Admiral Tromp. He was enjoined to protect the +Dutch vessels from visitation or search by foreign cruisers, and not +to strike his flag to English ships of war. The instructions of the +commanders of the British men of war, were to compel the ships of all +foreign nations whatever, to strike their colors to the British flag. +England thus set up its arrogant claim to "its undoubted right to the +dominion of the surrounding seas." + +The English fleet, under Admiral Blake, met the Dutch fleet in the +Strait of Dover, on the 29th of May, 1632, and a bloody but undecisive +battle ensued. A series of terrible naval conflicts followed, with +victory now on the one side and now on the other. At length Blake, +discomfited, was compelled to take refuge in the Thames. Admiral +Tromp, rather vain-gloriously, placed a broom at his masthead to +indicate that he had swept the channel of all English ships. + +In this state of affairs the Directors wrote to Governor Stuyvesant, +saying, + + "Though we hope that you have so agreed with the colonists + of New England about boundaries that we have nothing to fear + from them, still we consider it an imperious duty to + recommend you to arm and discipline all freemen, soldiers + and sailors; to appoint officers and places of rendezvous; + to supply them with ammunition; and to inspect the + fortifications at New Amsterdam, fort Orange and fort + Casimir. To this end we send you a fresh supply of + ammunition. + + "If it should happen, which we will not suppose, that New + Englanders incline to take part in these broils, then we + should advise your honor to engage the Indians in your + cause, who, we are informed, are not partial to the English. + You will also employ all such means of defence as prudence + may require for your security, taking care that the + merchants and inhabitants convey their property within the + forts. + + "Treat them kindly, so that they may be encouraged to remain + there, and to give up the thought of returning to Holland, + which would depopulate the country. It is therefore + advisable to inclose the villages, at least the principal + and most opulent, with breastworks and palisades to prevent + surprise." + +Looking into the future with prophetic eyes, which discerned the +future glories of the rising republic, the Directors added, + + "When these colonies once become permanently established, + when the ships of New Netherland ride on every part of the + ocean, then numbers, now looking to that coast with eager + eyes, shall be allured to embark for your island." + +This prophecy is now emphatically fulfilled when often one or two +thousand emigrants, from the old world, land at the Battery in a day. +When the prophecy was uttered, New Amsterdam was a small straggling +village of one story huts, containing about seven hundred inhabitants. +The whole island of Manhattan belonged in fee to the West India +Company. A municipal government was soon organized, which about the +year 1653, gave birth to the city of New Amsterdam. + +Holland and England were now in open and deadly warfare. It will +hardly be denied by any one, that England was responsible for the +conflict. The New England colonies wished to avail themselves of the +opportunity to wrest New Netherland from the Dutch, and to extend +their sway from Stamford to the Chesapeake. Governor Stuyvesant +perceived his danger. He could be easily overpowered by the New +England colonies. He wrote very friendly letters to the governors, +urging that, notwithstanding the hostilities between the +mother-countries, commercial intercourse between the colonies should +continue on its former peaceful footing. At the same time he adopted +very vigorous measures to be prepared for defence should he be +assailed. + +Rumors reached New Amsterdam of active military preparations in +progress in New England. It was manifest that some hostile expedition +was contemplated. Fort Amsterdam was repaired. The city was enclosed +by a ditch and palisade, with a breastwork extending from the East +river to the North river. The whole body of citizens mounted guard +every night. A frigate in the harbor was ready at any moment to spread +its sails, and its "guns were kept loaded day and night." The citizens +without exception, were ordered to work upon the defences, under +penalty of fine, loss of citizenship and banishment. + +Thus barbaric war came again to mar all the prosperity of the colony, +and to undermine all its foundations of growth and happiness. The +Mohican Indians, on the east side of the North river, and whose +territory extended to the Connecticut, were allies of the English. +Uncas, the chief of this tribe, declared that Governor Stuyvesant was +plotting to arm the Narragansetts against New England. At the same +time nine chiefs from the vicinity of Manhattan, sent a messenger to +Stamford, who said: + + "The Dutch governor has earnestly solicited the Indians in + these parts, to kill all the English. But we have all + refused to be hired by him, for the English have done us no + harm." + +The New England colonists were by no means satisfied that these +charges were true. Veracity was not an Indian virtue. Cunning was a +prominent trait in their character. An extraordinary meeting of +commissioners was held in Boston, in April, 1653. Two messengers had +been previously sent by the Massachusetts council, to interrogate +three of the principal Narragansett chiefs, respecting the conduct of +Governor Stuyvesant. They reported at the meeting, that the +Narragansett chiefs utterly denied that Governor Stuyvesant had ever +approached them with any such proposition. One of them, Ninigret, +said: + + "It was winter when I visited the Dutch governor. I stood + the great part of a winter's day, knocking at his door. He + would neither open it nor suffer others to open it, to let + me in. I found no proposal to stir me up against the + English, my friends." + +Mixam, another of these chiefs, replied, "I do not know of any plot +that is intended by the Dutch governor against the English, my +friends." + +The third of the chiefs, who was conferred with, Pessacus, was still +more emphatic in his denial. "Though I am far away," he said, "from +the governor of the Dutch, I am not willing for the sake of pleasing +the English, to invent any falsehood against him." + +The result of these investigations led some to suppose that +individuals among the English had originated these rumors, and had +bribed some of the Indian chiefs to false charges that they might +instigate the governors to send out an expedition for the capture of +New Netherland. + +Still the Council was unsatisfied, and retained its suspicions. +Governor Stuyvesant. hearing of the charges against him, wrote at once +to the governors of Massachusetts and New Haven, unequivocally denying +the plot, and offering to come himself to Boston "to consider and +examine what may be charged, and his answers." Should the Council +prefer, he would send a delegate to Boston, or they might send +delegates to Manhattan to investigate the whole affair. + +The Council decided to send three commissioners, men of note, to +Manhattan. At the same time an army of five hundred men was ordered to +be organized "for the first expedition," should "God call the colonies +to make war against the Dutch." + +The New England agents were hospitably received at New Amsterdam. They +urged that the meeting should be held in one of the New England +colonies, where Stuyvesant "should produce evidence to clear himself +from the charges against him." He was to be regarded as guilty until +he proved himself innocent. + +The Puritan agents appear to great disadvantage in the conference +which ensued. "They seem to have visited the Dutch," writes Mr. +Brodhead, + + "as inquisitors, to collect evidence criminating the Dutch + and to collect no other evidence. And, with peculiar + assurance, they saw no impropriety in requiring the + authorities of New Netherland, in their own capital, to + suspend their established rules of law in favor of those of + New England." + +Governor Stuyvesant repressed every expression of impatience, and +urged the most friendly overtures. It may be said that it was +manifestly for his interest to do so, for the Dutch colonies were +quite powerless compared with the united colonies of New England. The +New England agents ungraciously repelled his advances, and at length +abruptly terminated the conference without giving the governor an +opportunity to prove his innocence. At nine o'clock in the evening +they suddenly took leave of New Amsterdam, declining the most friendly +invitations to remain, and "cloaking their sudden departure under +pretence of the day of election to be held this week at Boston." They +left behind them the following menace: + + "The Commissioners conclude their negotiation by declaring + that if you shall offer any injury to any of the English in + these parts, whether by yourselves or by the Indians, either + upon the national quarrel, or by reason of any differences + depending between the United English Colonies and + yourselves, that, as the Commissioners will do no wrong, so + they may not suffer their countrymen to be oppressed upon + any such account." + +The morning after this unfriendly retirement of the agents, Governor +Stuyvesant dispatched a messenger to Boston, with a letter containing +a very full reply to the grievances of which the New England colonists +complained. In this letter, which bears the impress of frankness and +honesty, he says, + + "What your worships lay unto our charge are false reports + and feigned informations. Your honored messengers might, if + they had pleased, have informed themselves of the truth of + this, and might also have obtained more friendly + satisfaction and security, concerning our real intentions, + if they had pleased to stay a day or two with us, to have + heard and considered further of these articles." + +On their way home, the New England agents stopped at Flushing, +Stamford and New Haven, to collect all the evidence they could against +Governor Stuyvesant. The hearsay stories of the Indians they carefully +picked up. Still the only point ascertained, of any moment was, that +Governor Stuyvesant had told an Englishman, one Robert Coe, that if +the English attacked him, he should try to get the Indians to come to +his aid; and that he had said the same to William Alford. + +This was all the evidence the agents could find against the governor. +He had made these declarations without any purpose of concealment. He +had been instructed to pursue this course by the Amsterdam Directors. +The New England colonists had in their Pequod war, set the example of +employing Indian allies. This repulsive feature in the British +colonial administration continued until the close of the war of the +Revolution. + +Captain John Underbill, an Englishman, who had obtained considerable +renown in the Pequod war becoming dissatisfied with some +ecclesiastical censure which he had incurred, petitioned Governor +Stuyvesant for permission to reside, with a few other families in New +Netherland, under the protection of the Dutch, offering to take the +oath of allegiance which was required of all foreigners. His request +was promptly granted. It was the liberal policy of the Dutch +government not to exclude foreigners from any privileges which the +Hollanders themselves enjoyed. Underhill was now residing at +Hempstead, Long Island. His restless spirit, ever eager for change, +seized upon the present moment as a fitting opportunity to wrest from +the Dutch their portion of Long Island, and pass it over to his +countrymen. In violation of his oath he issued a treasonable +proclamation, in which he said, + + "You are called upon to abjure the iniquitous government of + Peter Stuyvesant over the inhabitants residing on Long + Island. His rule is too grievous for any brave Englishman + and good Christian to tolerate any longer. All honest hearts + that seek the glory of God and his peace and prosperity, are + exhorted to throw off this tyrannical yoke. Accept and + submit ye then to the Parliament of England; and beware of + becoming traitors to one another for the sake of your own + quiet and welfare." + +This proclamation did not meet with a cordial response. Underbill fled +to Rhode Island. Here he received from Boston a commission, "to take +all Dutch ships and vessels as shall come into his power, and to +defend himself from the Dutch and all enemies of the commonwealth of +England." + +The report of the agents who had visited Manhattan was such that the +General Court at Boston voted that they were not "called upon to make +a present war with the Dutch." + +There were eight commissioners from the New England colonies in +Boston. Notwithstanding this decision of the General Court, six of +them were in favor of instant war. They sent back to Governor +Stuyvesant an abusive and defiant reply, in which they said, + +"Your confident denials of the barbarous plot with which you are +charged will weigh little in the balance against the evidence, so that +we must still require and seek due satisfaction and security." + +The Connecticut colonists were ever looking with a wistful eye to the +rich lands west of them. The Court at New Haven and that at Hartford +sent messengers to Massachusetts to urge that "by war if no other +means will serve, the Dutch, at and about the Manhattoes, who have +been and still are like to prove injurious, may be removed." The +General Court nobly replied, "We cannot act in so weighty a +concernment, as to send forth men to shed blood, unless satisfied that +God calls for it. And then it must be clear and not doubtful." + +"In speaking of these events Mr. Brodhead says, + + "At the annual meeting of the Commissioners, Massachusetts + maintained her proud position with a firmness which almost + perilled the stability of the confederation. A bitter + altercation, between the representatives of the other + colonies and the General Court, was terminated by an + ambiguous concession which nevertheless averted hostilities. + + "The Connecticut governments seemed animated by the most + vindictive feelings; and their own recent historian laments + the refusal of the Massachusetts authorities to bear part in + an offensive war against New Netherland, as an 'indelible + stain upon their honor as men, and upon their morals as + Christians.'" + +There was a strong party in favor of war as the only means of wresting +the magnificent domain of New Netherland from the Dutch and annexing +it to the New England possessions. The majestic Hudson was greatly +coveted, as it opened to commerce vast and unknown regions of the +interior. + +Hartford and New Haven discussed the question if they were not strong +enough without the aid of Massachusetts to subdue the Dutch. Stamford +and Fairfield commenced raising volunteers on their own account, and +appointed one Ludlow as their leader. A petition was sent to the home +government, the Commonwealth over which Oliver Cromwell was then +presiding, praying + + "that the Dutch be either removed or, so far, at least, + subjected that the colonies may be free from injurious + affronts and secured against the dangers and mischievous + effects which daily grow upon them by their plotting with + the Indians and furnishing them with arms against the + English." + +In conclusion they entreated that two or three frigates be sent out, +and that Massachusetts be commanded to assist the other colonies to +clear the coast "of a nation with which the English cannot either +mingle or set under their government, nor so much as live near without +danger of their lives and all their comforts in this world." + +To fan this rising flame of animosity against the Dutch, a rancorous +pamphlet was published in London, entitled, + + "The second part of the Amboyna Tragedy; or a faithful + account of a bloody, treacherous and cruel plot of the Dutch + in America, purporting the total ruin and murder of all the + English colonists in New England; extracted from the various + letters lately written from New England to different + merchants in London." + +This was indeed an inflammatory pamphlet. The most violent language +was used. The Dutch were accused of the "devilish project" of trying +to rouse the savages to a simultaneous assault upon all the New +England colonists. The crime was to be perpetrated on Sunday morning, +when they should be collected in their houses of worship. Men, women +and children were to be massacred, and the buildings laid in ashes. + +The Amsterdam Directors had this "most infamous and lying libel," +translated into their own language and sent a copy to Governor +Stuyvesant and his council, saying: "We wish that your honors may see +what stratagems that nation employs, not only to irritate the +populace, but the whole world if possible and to stir it up against +us." + +The position of Governor Stuyvesant had become exceedingly +uncomfortable. He was liable at any day to have from abroad war's most +terrible storm burst upon him. And the enemy might come in such force +that he would be utterly unable to make any effectual resistance. On +the other hand the Dutch settlements were composed of emigrants from +all lands. Many Englishmen, dissatisfied with the rigid rule of the +New England colonies, had taken their residence in New Netherland. + +The arbitrary rule of Stuyvesant was obnoxious to the majority of his +subjects, and they were increasingly clamorous for a more liberal and +popular government. On the 16th of December, 1630, a very important +popular convention was held at New Amsterdam, composed of delegates +from eight towns. There were nineteen delegates, ten of whom were +Dutch and nine English. Unanimously they avowed fealty to the +government of Holland. But they remonstrated against the establishment +of an arbitrary government; and complained that laws had been enacted +without the consent of the people. + +"This," said they, + + "is contrary to the granted privilege of the Netherland + government and odious to every free-born man; and especially + so to those whom God has placed in a free state in + newly-settled lands, who are entitled to claim laws not + transcending, but resembling as near as possible those of + the Netherlands." + +There were several minor offences enumerated to which we need not here +refer. The memorial was drawn up by an Englishman, George Baxter. The +imperious Stuyvesant was greatly annoyed by this document. To weaken +its effect, he declared that the delegates had no authority to act or +even to meet upon such questions. He endeavored to rouse national +prejudice against the document by saying: + + "The most ancient colony of Manhattan, the colonies of + Rensselaerswyck and Staten Island and the settlements at + Beaverswyck and on the South river are too prudent to + subscribe to all that has been projected by an Englishman; + as if among the Netherlands' nation there is no one + sagacious and expert enough to draw up a remonstrance to the + Director and council." + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + + + + +ANOTHER INDIAN WAR. + + + + Conflict Between the Governor and the Citizens.--Energy of + the Governor.--His Measures of Defence.--Action of the + English Colonies.--Claims of the Government of Sweden.--Fort + Casimir captured by the Swedes.--Retaliation.--Measures for + the recapture of Fort Casimir.--Shooting a Squaw.--Its + Consequences.--The Ransom of Prisoners.--Complaints of the + Swedish Governor.--Expedition from Sweden.--Its Fate. + + +There was a brief but bitter controversy between the governor and the +convention, when the governor ordered the body to disperse, "on pain +of our highest displeasure." "We derive our authority," said he, "from +God, and from the Company, not from a few ignorant subjects. And we +alone can call the inhabitants together." These decisive measures did +not stifle the popular voice. Petitions were sent to the Company in +Holland, full of complaints against the administration of Stuyvesant, +and imploring its intervention to secure the redress of the grievances +which were enumerated. + +An able man, Francois le Bleuw, was sent to Holland with these +documents, with instructions to do everything in his power to procure +the reforms they urged. Though the citizens of New Amsterdam had, for +a year, enjoyed a limited municipal government, they were by no means +satisfied with what they had thus far attained. What they claimed, and +reasonably claimed, were the larger franchises enjoyed by the cities +in the fatherland. + +The condition of New Netherland, at the commencement of the year 1654, +was very precarious. The troubled times, as is ever the case, had +called out swarms of pirates and robbers, who infested the shores of +Long Island, inflicting the most cruel excesses upon the unprotected +inhabitants. The English residents in the Dutch colonies were +numerous, and they were ripe for revolt. The Dutch themselves were +uttering loud murmurs. The governor acted with his accustomed energy. +Several vessels were fitted out to act against the pirates. Many of +these pirates professed to be privateersmen, serving the Commonwealth +of England. It was suspected that the English residents were +communicating with the freebooters, who were chiefly their own +countrymen. + +A proclamation was issued prohibiting all persons, under penalty of +banishment and the confiscation of goods, from harboring the outlaws. +Every third man was detailed to act as a minute man whenever required; +and the whole population was pledged for the public defence. At the +same time, to prevent any misunderstanding, messengers were sent to +Connecticut to inform the colonial authorities there, that these +measures were adopted solely for the protection of their commerce and +the punishment of robbery. + +In February of this year, a church was organized at Flatbush. Domine +Polhemus was chosen pastor, with a salary of six hundred guilders. A +cruciform wooden church was erected, sixty feet long and twenty-eight +feet wide. This was the first Reformer Dutch Church on Long Island. +The Lutherans had now become quite numerous in New Amsterdam. They +petitioned for liberty to organize a church. Stuyvesant, a zealous +Calvinist, declined, saying that he was bound by his oath to tolerate +no other religion openly than the Reformed. In this intolerance he was +sustained by the Company in Holland. + +Oliver Cromwell now decided to carry the war against Holland into the +New World. He sent word to the governors of the New England Colonists +that he was about to dispatch war ships to the coasts of America, and +he called upon them to give their utmost assistance for gaining the +Manhattoes and other places under the power of the Dutch. + +Four armed ships were soon crossing the Atlantic. The expedition was +entrusted to Major Sedgwick and John Leverett. They were directed to +enter some good port in New England, where they were to ascertain +whether the colonial governments would join in vindicating the English +right and in extirpating the Dutch. + +"Being come to the Manhattoes," wrote secretary Thurlow, + + "you shall, by surprise, open force, or otherwise, endeavor + to take the place. You have power to give fair quarter in + case it be rendered upon summons without opposition. If the + Lord give his blessing, you shall not use cruelty to the + inhabitants, but encourage those who are willing to remain + under the English government, and give liberty to others to + transport themselves to Europe." + +Governor Stuyvesant received early intelligence of the projected +expedition, and immediately convened his council. The danger was +imminent. The Dutch alone could oppose but feeble resistance. The +English in the Dutch colony, though they had sworn allegiance, would +probably join their countrymen. "To invite them," Governor Stuyvesant +said, "to aid us, would be bringing the Trojan horse within our +walls." After much anxious deliberation, it was decided to enlist a +force of seventy men, "silently and without beat of drum," and to lay +in supplies to stand a siege. + +The danger roused the spirit of patriotism. The Dutch rallied with +great unanimity and, spade in hand, worked heartily on the +fortifications. They were all conscious, however, that treason lurked +within their walls. + +Several of the New England colonies responded quite eagerly to the +appeal of Cromwell. New Haven pledged herself to the most zealous +efforts Connecticut promised two hundred men, and even five hundred +rather than that the enterprise should fail. Plymouth ordered fifty +men into the service, entrusting the command to Captain Miles Standish +and Captain Thomas Willett. It is worthy of notice that the Plymouth +people made an apology for this action, saying: "We concur in hostile +measures against our ancient Dutch neighbors only in reference unto +the national quarrel." + +Massachusetts gave a reluctant consent that five hundred volunteers +against the Dutch should be raised within their jurisdiction. + +Just as the fleet was about to sail from Boston, on this expedition, +the result of which could not be doubtful, a ship entered the port +with the announcement that peace had been concluded between England +Holland. This of course put a stop to any farther hostile action. The +welcome news was soon conveyed to Governor Stuyvesant. He was quite +overjoyed in its reception. The glad tidings were published from the +City Hall, with ringing of bell and all other public demonstrations of +satisfaction. + +The 12th of August was appointed as a day of general thanksgiving to +God for his great goodness. In his proclamation, the Governor devoutly +exclaimed: + + "Praise the Lord, O England's Jerusalem and Netherland's + zion, praise ye the Lord! He hath secured your gates and + blessed your possessions with peace, even here where the + threatened torch of war was lighted, where the waves reached + our lips and subsided only through the power of the + Almighty." + +From this moral conflict, which came so near being a physical one, +Stuyvesant emerged very victorious. The Company had ever been disposed +to sympathize with him in his measures. The delegate Le Bleuw, who had +carried charges against him to Holland, was almost rudely repulsed, +and was forbidden to return to New Netherland. The Directors of the +Company wrote to the Governor: + + "We are unable to discover in the whole remonstrance one + single point to justify complaint. You ought to have acted + with more vigor against the ringleaders of the gang, and not + to have condescended to answer protests with protests. It is + therefore our express command that you punish what has + occurred as it deserves, so that others may be deterred in + future, from following such examples." + +To the citizens they wrote, + + "We enjoin it upon you that you conduct yourselves quietly + and peaceably, submit yourselves to the government placed + over you, and in no wise allow yourselves to hold particular + convention with the English or others, in matters of form or + deliberation on affairs of state, which do not appertain to + you, or attempt any alteration in the state and its + government." + +A ferry was established to convey passengers from one side of the +river to the other. The licensed ferryman was bound to keep suitable +boats and also a lodge on each side of the river to protect passengers +from the weather. The toll established by law, was for a wagon and two +horses one dollar; for a wagon and one horse eighty cents; a savage, +male or female, thirty cents; each other person fifteen cents. + +When Stuyvesant was preparing to defend New Netherland from the +English, he encountered another great annoyance. It will be remembered +that the Swedish government claimed the territory on the South, or +Delaware river, upon which the Dutch governor had erected Fort +Casimir. Gerrit Bikker was in command of the fort, with a garrison of +twelve men. On the morning of the first of June, 1654, a strange sail +was seen in the offing. A small party was sent out in a boat, to +reconnoitre. They returned with the tidings that it was a Swedish ship +full of people, with a new governor; and that they had come to take +possession of the place, affirming that the fort was on land belonging +to the Swedish government. + +Bikker with his small garrison, and almost destitute of ammunition, +could make no resistance. Twenty or thirty soldiers landed from the +Swedish ship, entered the open gate of the fort and took possession of +the place. John Rising the commander of the ship, stated that he was +obeying the orders of his government; that the territory belonged to +Sweden, and that neither the States-General of the Netherlands nor the +West India Company had authorized Governor Stuyvesant to erect a fort +upon that spot. + +The garrison was disarmed, two shotted guns were fired over the works +in token of their capture, and the name of the fort was changed to +Trinity, as it was on Trinity Sunday that the fort was taken. A +skilful engineer immediately employed many hands in strengthening the +ramparts. The region was called New Sweden, and John Rising assumed +his office as governor. Courteously he sent word to Governor +Stuyvesant of his arrival and of his capture of the forts. He also +summoned the chiefs of the neighboring tribes and entered into a +treaty of friendship with them. Within a month he announced to the +home government that the population of New Sweden had risen to three +hundred and sixty-eight. "I hope," he added, + + "we may be able to preserve them in order and in duty, and + to constrain them if necessary. I will do in this respect, + all that depends upon me. We will also endeavor to shut up + the river." + +Governor Stuyvesant was very indignant, in view of what he deemed the +pusillanimous conduct of Bikker in "this dishonorable surrender of the +fort." It was in vain for him to attempt its recovery. But with an +eagle eye and an agitated mind he watched for an opportunity to +retaliate. + +About the middle of September, a Swedish ship, the Golden Shark, bound +for the Delaware river, under command of Captain Elswyck, entered +Sandy Hook and anchored behind Staten Island. The captain had made a +mistake and supposed that he had entered the mouth of South river. +Discovering his error, he sent a boat up to Manhattan for a pilot. + +Stuyvesant's long-looked-for hour had come. He arrested the boat's +crew, and sent them all to the guard-house. He also seized the Shark +and transferred her cargo to the Company's magazine on shore. He then +sent a courteous message to Governor Rising, at New Sweden, inviting +him to visit New Amsterdam, "to arrange and settle some unexpected +differences." He promised him a hospitable reception, but declared +that he should detain the Swedish ship and cargo, "until a reciprocal +restitution shall have been made." Governor Rising declined the +invitation, not deeming it judicious to place himself so effectually +in the power of his impetuous antagonist. + +Upon the capture of fort Casimir, Governor Stuyvesant had immediately +sent word of the occurrence to the Amsterdam Directors. In November he +received their reply. It was, in brief, as follows: + + "We hardly know whether we are more astonished at the + audacious enterprise of the Swedes in taking our fort on the + South river, or at the cowardly surrender of it by our + commander, which is nearly insufferable. He has acted very + unfaithfully, yea treacherously. We entreat you to exert + every nerve to avenge that injury, not only by restoring + affairs to their former situation, but by driving the Swedes + from every side of the river. We have put in commission two + armed ships, the King Solomon and the Great Christopher. The + drum is beaten daily in the streets of Amsterdam for + volunteers. And orders are given for the instant arrest of + Bikker." + +Stuyvesant adopted vigorous measures to cooperate with the little +fleet upon its arrival, in its warfare against New Sweden. The 25th of +August, 1655, was set apart as a day of fasting and prayer, + + "to implore the only bountiful God, that it may please him + to bless the projected enterprise, undertaken only for the + greater security, extension and consolidation of this + province, and to render it prosperous and successful to the + glory of his name." + +Enlistments were pushed with great energy. Three North river vessels +were chartered, pilots were engaged and provisions and ammunition laid +in store. A French privateer, L'Esperance, which chanced to enter the +harbor of New Amsterdam at this time, was also engaged for the +service. + +It seems hardly consistent with the religious character of Stuyvesant +and with his prayers for the divine blessing, that the Lord's day +should have been chosen for the sailing of the expedition. But on the +first Sunday in September, after the morning sermon, the sails of the +little squadron of seven vessels were unfurled and the fleet put to +sea, containing a military force of about seven hundred men. Governor +Stuyvesant in person, commanded the expedition. He was accompanied by +the Vice-Governor, De Lille, and by Domine Megapolensis, as chaplain. + +On Friday morning they entered the Delaware river, and with favoring +wind and tide, sailed up beyond fort Casimir, and landed their forces +about a mile above. A flag of truce was promptly sent to the fort, +demanding "the direct restitution of our own property." Some parleying +occupied the time during the day, while Stuyvesant was landing his +batteries. The next morning the Swedish commander, convinced of the +folly of any further attempt at resistance, went on board the Balance +and signed a capitulation. The victor was generous in his terms. The +Swedes were allowed to remove their artillery; twelve men were to +march out with full arms and accoutrements; all the rest retained +their side-arms, and the officers held their personal property. + +At noon the Dutch, with pealing bugles and flying banners again +entered upon possession of the fort. Many of the Swedes took the oath +of allegiance to the New Netherland government. The next day was +Sunday. Chaplain Megapolensis preached a sermon to the troops. But a +short distance above fort Casimir there was another Swedish fort +called Christina. It was not denied that the Swedes had a legitimate +title to that land. Indeed after the Company in Holland had sent +directions to Stuyvesant to drive the Swedes from the river, they sent +to him another order modifying these instructions. In this dispatch +they said: + + "You may allow the Swedes to hold the land on which fort + Christina is built, with a garden to cultivate the tobacco, + because it appears that they made this purchase with the + previous consent of the Company, provided said Swedes will + conduct themselves as good subjects of our government." + +But the Swedish Governor, Rising, having lost fort Casimir, +re-assembled his forces and strengthened his position in Fort +Christina, which was two miles farther up the river. This fort was +about thirty-five miles below the present site of Philadelphia, on a +small stream called Christina creek. The fleet anchored at the mouth +of the Brandywine, and invested the fort on all sides. The Swedes +outside of the fort were ruthlessly pillaged; a battery was erected +and the fort summoned to surrender. Resistance was hopeless. The +articles of capitulation were soon signed between the victor and the +vanquished. + + "The Swedes marched out with their arms, colors flying, + matches lighted, drums beating and fifes playing; and the + Dutch took possession of the fort, hauled down the Swedish + flag and hoisted their own." + +The Swedes, who to the number of about two hundred had settled in that +vicinity, were allowed to remain in the country, if they wished to do +so, upon condition of taking the oath of allegiance to the Dutch +authorities. Thus the Swedish dominion on the South river was brought +to an end. This was the most powerful military expedition which had +ever moved from any of the colonies. The Swedes had held their +independent position on the Delaware but about seventeen years. +Leaving an agent, as temporary commandant, Stuyvesant returned +triumphantly to fort Amsterdam. + +And now for ten years there had been peace with the Indians, when a +gross outrage again roused their savage natures to revenge. The +Indians, ever accustomed to roam the forest, and to gather fruits, +nuts and game wherever they could find them, had not very +discriminating views of the rights of private property. Ensign Van +Dyck, the former treasurer, and one of the most noted men in the +colony, detected an Indian woman in his orchard gathering peaches. +Inhumanly he shot her dead. This roused all the neighboring tribes, +and they united to avenge her death. There was certainly something +chivalrous in this prompt combination of the warriors not to allow, +what they deemed the murder of a sister, to pass unpunished. + +Taking advantage of the absence of Governor Stuyvesant, with nearly +all the military force he could raise, on his expedition to the South +river, sixty-four war canoes, containing nineteen hundred armed +Indians, were at midnight on the fifteenth of September, stealthily +paddled into the waters surrounding fort Amsterdam. They were picked +warriors from eight tribes. The night was dark, and the sighing of the +wind through the tree tops and the breaking of the surf upon the beach +added to the deep repose of the sleepers. + +The Indians landed and stealthily crept through the silent streets; +and yet, from some unexplained cause, they made no attack. Gradually +the inhabitants were awakened, and there was a rapid assembling of the +principal men within the fort. Several of the chiefs were called +before them. They gave no satisfactory account of the object of their +formidable visit, and uttered no threats. On the contrary they +promised to withdraw before night, to Nutten Island, as Governor's +island was then called. Still, watching their opportunity, one of the +warriors pierced the bosom of Van Dyck with an arrow. + +The cry of murder rang through the streets. The inhabitants were +prepared for the not unexpected emergency. The military rushed from +the fort, and a fierce battle ensued. The Indians, leaving three of +their warriors dead in the streets, and having killed five white men +and wounded three others, were driven to their canoes, and crossed +over the North river to the Jersey shore. + +And now their savage natures burst forth unrestrained. The flourishing +little villages of Pavonia and Hoboken were instantly in flames. A +general scene of massacre and destruction ensued. Men, women and +children fell alike before the bullet, the arrow and the tomahawk. The +inhabitants of fort Amsterdam in anguish witnessed the massacre, but +could render no assistance. Nearly all their armed men were far away +on the Delaware. + +The savages, elated with success, crossed over to Staten island. The +scattered settlements there numbered about ninety souls. There were +eleven farms in a high state of cultivation, and several plantations. +The settlers had received warning of their danger, perhaps by the +flames and musketry of Hoboken and Pavonia, perhaps by some messenger +from fort Amsterdam. Sixty-seven of them succeeded in reaching some +stronghold where they were able to defend themselves. The rest, +twenty-three in number, were cut off by the savages. The buildings of +twenty-eight farms and plantations were laid in ashes and the crops +destroyed. + +For three days these merciless Indians had free range, with scarcely +any opposition. During this time one hundred of the Dutch were killed, +one hundred and fifty were taken prisoners, and more than three +hundred were deprived of house, clothes and food. Six hundred cattle +and a vast amount of grain were destroyed. The pecuniary value of the +damage inflicted amounted to over eighty thousand dollars. + +Such were the consequences which resulted from the folly and crime of +one man in shooting an Indian woman who was purloining peaches from +his orchard. Terror spread far and wide. The farmers with their +families, fled from all directions to fort Amsterdam for protection. +The feeble settlements on Long island were abandoned in dismay. +Prowling bands of savages wandered over the island of Manhattan, +burning and destroying. No one dared to venture to any distance from +the fort. An express was dispatched to South river to inform Governor +Stuyvesant of the peril of the colony, and to implore his return. This +led to the hurried close of the transactions on the Delaware, and +probably secured for the Swedes more favorable terms of capitulation +than they would otherwise have obtained. + +The return of Governor Stuyvesant with his military force, reassured +the colonists. In such an hour his imperious nature hesitated not a +moment in assuming the dictatorship. The one man power, so essential +on the field of battle, seemed requisite in these scenes of peril. +There was no time for deliberation. Prompt and energetic action was +necessary. + +The governor sent soldiers to the outer settlements; forbade any +vessel to leave the harbor, forced into the ranks every man capable of +bearing arms, and imposed a heavy tax to meet the expense of +strengthening the fortifications. Several persons, who were about to +sail for Europe, protested against being thus detained. Governor +Stuyvesant fined them each ten dollars for disrespect to the +established authorities, and contemptuously advised them to "possess +their souls in patience." + +The savages found their captives an incumbrance. Winter was +approaching and provisions were scarce. They sent one of their +prisoners, an influential man, captain Pos, who had been +superintendent of the colony on Staten island, to propose the ransom +of those captured for a stipulated amount of powder and balls. As +captain Pos did not return as soon as was expected, another messenger +was sent, and soon one of the chiefs returned to Governor Stuyvesant, +fourteen Dutch men, women and children, as a present in token of his +good will, and asking that a _present_ of powder and ball might be +forwarded to him. + +The governor sent in return some ammunition and two Indian captives +and promised to furnish more ammunition when other Christians should +be brought in. + +Three envoys from New Amsterdam visited the savages bearing these +presents. They were received with the courtesies which civilized +nations accord to a flag of truce. In this way twenty-eight more +captives were ransomed. The promise was given that others should be +soon brought in. Governor Stuyvesant inquired at what price they would +release all the remaining prisoners en masse, or what they would ask +for each individual. They deliberated upon the matter and then replied +that they would deliver up twenty-eight prisoners for seventy-eight +pounds of powder, and forty staves of lead. + +The governor immediately sent the amount, and hoping to excite their +generosity, added as a present in token of friendly feeling, +thirty-five pounds of powder and ten staves of lead. But the savages +did not appreciate this kindness. They returned the twenty-eight +prisoners and no more. + +The governor of the Swedish colony on the Delaware arrived at New +Amsterdam with a numerous suite, awaiting their transportation to +Europe according to the terms of the capitulation. He was in very ill +humor, and Governor Stuyvesant found it impossible to please him. He +entered bitter complaints against the governor, declaring that the +articles of the late treaty had been grossly violated. + +"In Christina," said he, + + "the women were violently driven out of their houses. The + oxen, cows and other animals were butchered. Even the horses + were wantonly shot. The whole country was desolated. Your + men carried off even my own property, and we were left + without means of defence against the savages. No proper + accommodations have been provided for me and my suite at New + Amsterdam, and our expenses have not been defrayed." + +With much dignity Governor Stuyvesant vindicated himself. "I offered," +he said, + + "to leave fort Christina in your possession, but you refused + it. I am not responsible for any property for which I have + not given a receipt. On account of your high station, I + offered more than once to entertain you in my own house. As + this did not satisfy you, you were induced to reside in one + of the principal houses of the city. There you indulged in + unmannerly threats that you would return and destroy this + place. This so annoyed the people of the house that, for + peace sake, they abandoned their lodgings. + + "The rumors of these threats reached the ears of the + captains of the small vessels, and the passengers with whom + you were to embark. They did not deem it safe to take you + and your suite, with such a large number of dependents. They + feared to land you in England or France, unless they should + chance to meet some English or French vessel in the Channel. + We entered into no obligation to defray your expenses or + those of your unusual suite." + +Soon after this Governor Rising and his attendants were embarked for +Europe in two vessels. A narrative was, at the same time, sent to the +fatherland of the recent Indian troubles. The defenceless condition of +the country was explained and assistance earnestly implored. + +There were still a number of captives held by the Indian tribes who +dwelt among the Highlands. The question was anxiously deliberated, in +the Council, respecting the best mode of recovering them. One only, +Van Tienhoven, was in favor of war. But Governor Stuyvesant said, + + "The recent war is to be attributed to the rashness of a few + hot-headed individuals. It becomes us to reform ourselves, + to abstain from all that is wrong, and to protect our + villages with proper defences. Let us build block-houses + wherever they are needed and not permit any armed Indian to + enter the European settlements." + +The Long Island Indians sent a delegation to New Amsterdam declaring +that for ten years, since 1645, they had been the friends of the +Dutch, and had done them no harm, "not even to the value of a dog." +They sent, as a present, a bundle of wampum in token of the friendship +of the chiefs of the Eastern tribes. But the up-river Indians +continued sullen. With their customary cunning or sagacity they +retained quite a number of captives, holding them as pledges to secure +themselves from the vengeance of the Dutch. There was no hope of +liberating them by war, since the Indians would never deliver up a +white captive in exchange for prisoners of their own tribes. And upon +the first outbreak of war the unfortunate Dutch prisoners would be +conveyed to inaccessible depths of the forests. + +The Dutch settlers had scattered widely, on farms and plantations. +Thus they were peculiarly exposed to attacks from the Indians, and +could render each other but little assistance. As a remedy for this +evil, Governor Stuyvesant issued a proclamation ordering all who lived +in secluded places in the country to assemble and unite themselves in +villages before the ensuing spring, "after the fashion," as he said, +"of our New England neighbors." + +In Sweden, before the tidings of the fall of fort Casimir had reached +that country, an expedition had been fitted out for the South river, +conveying one hundred and thirty emigrants. Stuyvesant, on learning of +their arrival, forbade them to land. He dispatched a vessel and a land +force, to capture the Swedish ship the Mercury, and bring it with all +the passengers to fort Amsterdam. Having disposed of her cargo, the +vessel and all the Swedish soldiers it bore, were sent back to Europe. + +In obedience to orders from home, Stuyvesant erected a fort at Oyster +Bay, on the north side of Long island. In the instructions he received +he was enjoined, "to maintain, by force, if necessary, the integrity +of the Dutch province, the boundaries of which have just been formally +confirmed by the States-General." + +The Directors added, + + "We do not hesitate to approve of your expedition on the + South river, and its happy termination. We should not have + been displeased, however, if such a formal capitulation for + the surrender of the forts had not taken place, but that the + whole business had been transacted in a manner similar to + that of which the Swedes set us an example when they made + themselves masters of fort Casimir." + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + + + + +AN ENERGETIC ADMINISTRATION. + + + + New Amsterdam in 1656.--Religious Intolerance.--Persecution + of the Waldenses.--The New Colony on South river.--Wreck of + the Prince Maurice.--The Friendly Indians.--Energetic Action + of the Governor.--Persecution of the Quakers.--Remonstrance + from Flushing.--The Desolation of Staten Island.--Purchase + of Bergen.--Affairs at Esopus.--The Indian + Council.--Generosity of the Indians.--New + Amstel.--Encroachments of the English. + + +War would doubtless have arisen, between Sweden and Holland, in view +of transactions on South river, had not all the energies of Sweden +been then called into requisition in a war with Poland. The Swedish +government contented itself with presenting a vigorous memorial to the +States-General, which for eight years was renewed without +accomplishing any redress. + +The vice-governor resided at fort Orange, in a two story house, the +upper floor of which was used as a court-room. This station was the +principal mart for the fur trade, which had now become so considerable +that upwards of thirty-five thousand beaver skins were exported during +the year 1656. + +A survey of the city of New Amsterdam was made this year, which showed +that there were one hundred and twenty houses, and a population of one +thousand souls. A man like Stuyvesant, the warm advocate of arbitrary +power, would almost of necessity, be religiously intolerant. Zealously +devoted to the Reformed church, and resolved to have unity in +religion, notwithstanding the noble toleration which existed in +Holland, he issued a proclamation forbidding any one from holding a +religious meeting not in harmony with the Reformed church. + +Any preacher, who should violate this ordinance was to be subjected to +a penalty of one hundred pounds. Any one who should attend such a +meeting was to be punished by a penalty of twenty-five pounds. + +This law was rigorously enforced. Recusants were fined and imprisoned. +Complaints were sent to Holland, and the governor was severely rebuked +for his bigotry. + +"We would fain," the Directors wrote to Stuyvesant, + + "not have seen your worship's hand set to the placard + against the Lutherans, nor have heard that you oppressed + them with the imprisonments of which they have complained to + us. It has always been our intention to let them enjoy all + calmness and tranquillity. Wherefore you will not hereafter + publish any similar placards, without our previous consent, + but allow all the free exercise of their religion within + their own houses." + +But Stuyvesant was a man born to govern, not be governed. He was +silent respecting the instructions he had received from home. When the +Lutherans informed him that the Directors of the Company had ordered +that the same toleration should exist in New Netherland which was +practiced in the fatherland, he firmly replied that he must wait for +further explanations, and that in the mean time his ordinance against +public conventicles must be executed. + +At Flushing a cobbler from Rhode Island, a baptist, William Wickendam +by name, ventured to preach, "and even went with the people into the +river and dipped them." He was fined one thousand pounds and ordered +to be banished. As he was a poor man the debt was remitted, but he was +obliged to leave the province. + +It will be remembered that thus far nearly all the operations of the +Dutch, in the New World, had been performed under the authority of +Dutch merchants, called "The West India Company." Their chartered +powers were very great. Only in a subordinate degree were they subject +to the control of the States-General. + +At this time there was a very cruel persecution commenced by the Duke +of Savoy against the Waldenses. Hundreds of them fled to the city of +Amsterdam, in Holland, which was then the refuge for the persecuted of +all nations. They were received with the most noble hospitality. The +city government not only gave them an asylum, but voted large sums +from its treasury, for their support. + +Carrying out this policy, the city decided to establish a colony of +its own in New Netherland, to be composed mainly of these Waldenses. +The municipal authorities purchased of the West India Company, for +seven hundred guilders, all the land on the west side of South river, +from Christina kill to Bombay Hook. This gave a river front of about +forty miles, running back indefinitely into the interior. This region +was named New Amstel. The colonists were offered a free passage, ample +farms on the river, and provisions and clothing for one year. The city +also agreed to send out "a proper person for a schoolmaster, who shall +also read the holy Scriptures in public and set the Psalms." A church +was to be organized so soon as there were two hundred inhabitants in +the colony. + +[Illustration] + +The Company wrote to Stuyvesant saying, + + "The confidence we feel about the success and increase of + this new colony of which we hope to see some prominent + features next spring, when to all appearance, large numbers + of the exiled Waldenses will flock thither, as to an asylum, + induces us to send you orders to endeavor to purchase of the + Indians, before it can be accomplished by any other nation, + all that tract of land situated between the South river and + the Hook of the North river, to provide establishments for + these emigrants." + +On Christmas day of 1656, three vessels containing one hundred and +sixty emigrants, sailed from the Texel. A wintry storm soon separated +them. The principal ship, the Prince Maurice, which had the largest +number of passengers, after a long voyage, was wrecked on the South +coast of Long island, near Fire island inlet, in the neighborhood of +the present town of Islip. It was midnight when the ship struck. As +soon as it was light the passengers and crew succeeded in reaching the +shore in their boats through the breakers and through vast masses of +floating ice. + +They found upon the shore a bleak, barren, treeless waste, "without +weeds, grass or timber of any sort to make a fire." It was bitter +cold. A fierce wind swept the ocean and the land, and the sea ran so +high that it was expected every moment the ship would go to pieces. +These poor emigrants thus suddenly huddled upon the icy land, without +food and without shelter, were in imminent peril of perishing from +cold and starvation. + +Their sufferings were so terrible that they were rejoiced to see some +Indians approaching over the wide plains, though they knew not whether +the savages would prove hostile or friendly. But the Indians came like +brothers, aided them in every way, and dispatched two swift runners +across the island to inform Governor Stuyvesant of the calamity. Some +sails were brought on shore, with which a temporary shelter from the +piercing blast was constructed, and enough food was secured to save +from absolute starvation. + +The energetic governor immediately dispatched nine or ten lighters to +their assistance, and with needful supplies proceeded in person to the +scene of the disaster. Thus nearly all the cargo was saved and the +passengers were transported to New Amsterdam. There were one hundred +and twenty-five passengers on board the Prince Maurice, seventy-six of +whom were women and children. Another ship, the Gilded Beaver, was +chartered at New Amsterdam which conveyed them all safely, after a +five days' passage, to South river. The other vessels, with soldiers +and a few settlers, also soon arrived. + +It is said that at this time the "public," exercises of religion were +not allowed to any sects in Holland except the Calvinists. But all +others were permitted to engage freely in their worship in private +houses, which were in fact, as if public, these places of preaching +being spacious and of sufficient size for any assembly. Under this +construction of the law every religion was in fact tolerated.[9] + +The Lutherans in Holland sent a clergyman, Ernestus Goetwater, to New +Amsterdam, to organize a church. The Directors wrote, + + "It is our intention to permit every one to have freedom + within his own dwelling, to serve God in such manner as his + religion requires, but without authorizing any public + meetings or conventicles." + +This tolerance, so imperfect in the light of the nineteenth century, +was very noble in the dark days of the seventeenth. Upon the arrival +of Goetwater at New Amsterdam, the clergy of the Reformed church +remonstrated against his being permitted to preach. The governor, +adhering to his policy of bigotry, forbade him to hold any meeting, or +to do any clerical service, but to regulate his conduct according to +the placards of the province against private conventicles. Soon after +this the governor ordered him to leave the colony and to return to +Holland. This harsh decree was however suspended out of regard to the +feeble health of Goetwater. + +On the 6th of August, 1657, a ship arrived at New Amsterdam with +several Quakers on board Two of them, women, began to preach publicly +in the streets. They were arrested and imprisoned. Soon after they +were discharged and embarked on board a ship to sail through Hell +Gate, to Rhode Island, "where," writes Domine Megapolensis, "all kinds +of scum dwell, for it is nothing else than a sink for New England." + +One of the Quakers, Robert Hodgson, went over to Long Island. At +Hempstead he was arrested and committed to prison, and was thence +transferred to one of the dungeons of fort Amsterdam. He was brought +before the Council, convicted of the crime of preaching contrary to +the law, and was sentenced to pay a fine of six hundred guilders, +about two hundred and forty dollars, or to labor two years at a +wheelbarrow, with a negro. + +After a few days' imprisonment he was chained to the wheelbarrow and +commanded to work. He refused. A negro was ordered to beat him with a +tarred rope, which he did until the sufferer fell, in utter +exhaustion, almost senseless to the ground. The story of the +persecutions which this unhappy man endured, is almost too dreadful to +be told. But it ought to be told as a warning against all religious +intolerance. + +"Not satisfied," writes O'Callaghan, + + "his persecutors had him lifted up. The negro again beat him + until he fell a second time, after receiving, as was + estimated, one hundred blows. Notwithstanding all this, he + was kept, in the heat of the sun, chained to the + wheelbarrow, his body bruised and swollen, faint from want + of food, until at length he could no longer support himself + and he was obliged to sit down. + + "The night found him again in his cell, and the morrow at + the wheelbarrow, with a sentinel over him, to prevent all + conversation. On the third day he was again led forth, + chained as before. He still refused to work, for he 'had + committed no evil.' He was then led anew before the + director-general, who ordered him to work, otherwise he + should be whipt every day. He was again chained to the + barrow and threatened, if he should speak to any person, + with more severe punishment. But not being able to keep him + silent, he was taken back to his dungeon, where he was kept + several days, 'two nights and one day and a half of which + without bread or water.' + + "The rage of persecution was still unsatiated. He was now + removed to a private room, stripped to his waist, and then + hung up to the ceiling by his hands, with a heavy log of + wood tied to his feet, so that he could not turn his body. A + strong negro then commenced lashing him with rods until his + flesh was cut in pieces. Now let down, he was thrown again + into his loathsome dungeon, where he was kept ten days, in + solitary confinement, after which he was brought forth to + undergo a repetition of the same barbarous torture. He was + now kept like a slave to hard work." + +His case eventually excited so much compassion that Stuyvesant's +sister interfered, and implored her brother so importunately that he +was at last induced to liberate the unfortunate man. Let a firm Quaker +resolve that he will not do something, and let a Governor Stuyvesant +resolve that he shall do it, and it is indeed "Greek meeting Greek." + +Henry Townsend, of Jamaica, ventured to hold prayer-meetings in his +house, in defiance of the ordinance against conventicles. The governor +sentenced him to pay a fine of eight pounds and to leave the province +within six weeks, under pain of corporeal punishment. This sentence +was followed by a proclamation, fining any one fifty pounds who should +entertain a Quaker for a single night, and confiscating any vessels +which should bring a Quaker to the province. + +The inhabitants of Flushing, where Townsend had formerly resided, and +where he was very highly respected, issued a noble remonstrance to +Governor Stuyvesant against this persecution of their former townsman. + +The remonstrance was drawn up by the town clerk, Edward Hart, and was +signed by all the adult male inhabitants, twenty-nine in number. The +memorial said: + + "We are commanded by the law of God to do good unto all men. + The law of love, peace and liberty, extending in the state + to Jews, Turks and Egyptians, forms the glory of Holland. So + love, peace and liberty extending to all in Christ Jesus, + condemn hatred, war and bondage. We desire not to offend one + of Christ's little ones under whatever form, name or title + he may appear, whether Presbyterian, Independent, Baptist or + Quaker. On the contrary we desire to do to all as we could + wish all to do to us. Should any of those people come in + love among us, we cannot lay violent hands upon them. We + must give them free ingress and egress into our houses." + +This remonstrance was carried to New Amsterdam by Tobias Feake, and +presented to the governor. His indignation was roused. Feake was +arrested and committed to prison. The sheriff was sent to Flushing to +bring Hart and two of the magistrates, Farrington and Noble, to the +presence of the enraged governor. It was a fearful thing to fall into +his hands when his wrath was inflamed. They were imprisoned for some +time, and were then released upon their humbly imploring the pardon of +the governor, expressing their deep regret that they had signed the +remonstrance and promising that they would sin in that way, no more. +The town itself was punished by the prohibition in future of all town +meetings, without the permission of the governor. Indeed the mass of +the settlers were no longer to decide upon their local affairs, but a +committee of seven persons was to decide all such questions. All who +were dissatisfied with these arrangements were ordered to sell their +property and leave the town. + +It is not necessary to continue the record of this disgraceful +persecution. The governor was unrelenting. Whoever ventured to oppose +his will felt the weight of his chastising hand. + +New Amsterdam consisted of wooden houses clustered together. The +danger from fire was very great. The governor imposed a tax of a +beaver skin, or its equivalent upon each householder to pay for two +hundred and fifty leather fire buckets and hooks and ladders, to be +procured in Holland. He also established a "rattle watch" to traverse +the streets from nine o'clock in the evening until morning drum-beat. + +Stuyvesant would allow nothing to be done which he did not control. +The education of the young was greatly neglected. Jacob Corlaer opened +a school. The governor peremptorily closed it, because he had presumed +to take the office without governmental permission. To establish a +place of amusement the governor formed a village called Haarlem, at +the northern extremity of Manhattan island. He also constructed a good +road over the island, through the forest, "so that it may be made easy +to come hither, and return to that village on horseback or in a +wagon." A ferry was also established to Long Island. + +Staten Island was a dreary waste. It had not recovered from the +massacre of 1655. Efforts were made to encourage the former settlers +to return to their desolated homes, and to encourage fresh colonists +to take up their residence upon the island. To promote the settlement +of the west side of the North river, Stuyvesant purchased from the +Indians, all the territory now known as Bergen, in New Jersey. + +This purchase comprised the extensive region, + + "beginning from the great rock above Wiehackan, and from + there right through the land, until above the island + Sikakes, and from there to the Kill van Col, and so along to + the Constables Hook, and thence again to the rock above + Wiehackan." + +The settlement at Esopus, was in many respects in a flourishing +condition. But it was so much more convenient for the farmers to have +their dwellings in the midst of the fields they cultivated, instead of +clustering them together in a compact village, that they persisted in +the dangerous practice, notwithstanding all the warnings of the +governor. There were individuals also who could not be restrained from +paying brandy to the savages for their peltries The intoxicated +Indians often committed outrages. One of the settlers was killed. The +house and outbuildings of another were burned. The Dutch retaliated by +destroying the cornfields of the Indians, hoping thus to drive them to +a distance. At this time, in May, 1658, there were about seventy +colonists at Esopus. They had widely extended fields of grain. But the +Indians were becoming daily more inimical, and the alarmed colonists +wrote to Govern or Stuyvesant, saying, + +"We pray you to send forty or fifty soldiers to save Esopus, which, if +well settled, might supply the whole of New Netherland with +provisions." + +The governor ordered a redoubt to be built at Esopus, sent an +additional supply of ammunition, and taking fifty soldiers with him, +went up the river to ascertain, by a personal investigation, the wants +of the people. He urged them strenuously to unite in a village, which +could be easily palisaded, and which would thus afford them complete +protection. The colonists objected that it would be very difficult to +remove from their farms, while their crops were ungathered, and that +it would be impossible to select a site for the village which would +please all. The governor refused to leave the soldiers with them +unless they would immediately decide to concentrate in a village. In +that case he would remain and aid them in constructing the palisade +till it should be completed. + +In the mean time messengers were sent to all the neighboring chiefs +inviting them to come to Esopus to meet "the grand sachem from +Manhattan." Sixty of these plumed warriors were soon assembled, with a +few women and children. The governor, with two followers and an +interpreter, met them beneath the widespread branches of an aged tree. +One of the chiefs opened the interview by a long speech, in which he +recounted all the injuries which he conceived that the Indians had +experienced from the foreigners. The governor listened patiently. He +then replied, + + "These events occurred, as you well know, before my time. I + am not responsible for them. Has any injury been done you + since I came into the country? Your chiefs have asked us, + over and over again, to make a settlement among them. We + have not had a foot of your land without paying for it. We + do not desire to have any more without making you full + compensation. Why then have you committed this murder, + burned our houses and killed our cattle? And why do you + continue to threaten our people?" + +There was a long pause, as though the chiefs were meditating upon the +answer which should be made. Then one of them rose and, with great +deliberation and dignity of manner, said, "You Swannekins," for that +was the name they gave the Dutchmen, + + "have sold our children drink. We cannot then control them, + or prevent them from fighting. This murder has not been + committed by any of our tribe, but by a Minnisinck, who now + skulks among the Haverstraws. 'Twas he who fired the two + houses and then fled. We have no malice. We do not wish to + fight. But we cannot control our young men after you have + sold them drink." + +The best of the argument thus far, was manifestly with the Indians. +The irascible governor lost his temper. "If any of your young +savages," said he, "want to fight, let them come on. I will place man +against man. Nay, I will place twenty against forty of your hotheads. +It is not manly to threaten farmers and women and children who are not +warriors. If this be not stopped I shall be compelled to retaliate on +old and young, women and children. I expect of you that you will +repair all damages and seize the murderer if he come among you. + + "The Dutch are now to live together in one spot. It is + desirable that you should sell us the whole of the Esopus + land and move farther into the interior. It is not well for + you to reside so near the Swannekins. Their cattle may eat + your corn and thus cause fresh disturbance." + +The Council was closed with professions of friendship on both sides. +The Indians promised to take the suggestions of the governor into +careful consideration. The settlers also decided to adopt the counsel +of the governor. They agreed unanimously to form themselves into a +village, leaving it with Governor Stuyvesant to select the site. He +chose a spot at the bend of the creek, where three bides would be +surrounded by water. Two hundred and ten yards of palisades formed the +sufficient enclosure. + +All hands now went to work energetically. While thus employed a band +of Indian warriors, in their most showy attire, was seen approaching. +It was feared that they were on the war path, and the soldiers +immediately stood to their arms. It is undeniable that the Indians +seemed ever disposed to cherish kindly feelings when justly treated. + +These kind hearted savages fifty in number, notwithstanding all the +wrongs which they had endured, came forward and one of them, +addressing the governor, said, + + "In token of our good will, and that we have laid aside all + malice, we request the Grand Sachem to accept as a free + present, the land on which he has commenced his settlement. + We give it to grease his feet, as he has undertaken so long + and painful a journey to visit us." + +The labor of three weeks completed the defences. The buildings were +reared within the enclosure. A strong guard-house, sixteen feet by +twenty-three, was built in the northeast corner of the village. A +bridge was thrown across the creek, and temporary quarters were +erected for the soldiers. The energetic governor having accomplished +all this in a month, left twenty-four soldiers behind him to guard the +village, and returned to Manhattan. + +In 1658, the little settlement of New Amstel presented quite a +flourishing appearance. It had become a goodly town of about one +hundred houses, containing about five hundred inhabitants. As many of +these were Waldenses, Swedes and emigrants from other nationalities, +they seemed to think themselves independent of the provincial +authorities at New Amsterdam. The governor therefore visited the place +in person, and called upon all to take the oath of allegiance. + +There was great jealousy felt by the governor in reference to the +encroachments of the English. They were pressing their claims +everywhere. They were establishing small settlements upon territory +undeniably belonging to the Dutch. English emigrants were crowding the +Dutch colonies and were daily gaining in influence. Though they +readily took the oath of allegiance to the Dutch authorities, all +their sympathies were with England and the English colonies. + +The Directors of the Company wrote to Stuyvesant recommending him + + "to disentangle himself in the best manner possible from the + Englishmen whom he had allowed to settle at New Amstel. And + at all events not to admit any English besides them in that + vicinity, much less to allure them by any means whatever." + +There were many indications that the English were contemplating +pressing up from Virginia to the beautiful region of the Delaware. The +Directors urged Stuyvesant to purchase immediately from the Indians +the tract of land between Cape Henlopen and Bombay Hook. This +contained a frontage on Delaware bay of about seventy miles. + +"You will perceive," they wrote, + + "that speed is required, if for nothing else, that we may + prevent other nations, and principally our English + neighbors, as we really apprehend that this identical spot + has attracted their notice. When we reflect upon the + insufferable proceedings of that nation not only by + intruding themselves upon our possessions about the North, + to which our title is indisputable, and when we consider the + bold arrogance and faithlessness of those who are residing + within our jurisdiction, we cannot expect any good from that + quarter." + +In the autumn of this year a very momentous event occurred. Though it +was but the death of a single individual, that individual was Oliver +Cromwell. Under his powerful sway England had risen to a position of +dignity and power such as the nation had never before attained. A +terrible storm swept earth and sky during the night in which his +tempestuous earthly life came to a close. The roar of the hurricane +appalled all minds, as amid floods of rain trees were torn up by the +roots, and houses were unroofed. The friends of the renowned Protector +said that nature was weeping and mourning in her loudest accents over +the great loss humanity was experiencing in the death of its most +illustrious benefactor. The enemies of Cromwell affirmed that the +Prince of the Power of the Air had come with all his shrieking demons, +to seize the soul of the dying and bear it to its merited doom. + +Scarce six months passed away ere the reins of government fell from +the feeble hands of Richard, the eldest son and heir of Oliver +Cromwell, and Monk marched across the Tweed and paved the way for the +restoration of Charles the Second. + +To add to the alarm of the Dutch, Massachusetts, taking the ground +that the boundary established by the treaty of Hartford, extended only +"so far as New Haven had jurisdiction," claimed by virtue of royal +grant all of the land north of the forty-second degree of latitude to +the Merrimac river, and extending from the Atlantic to the Pacific +ocean. The forty-second parallel of latitude crossed the Hudson near +Red Hook and Saugerties. This boundary line transferred the whole of +the upper Hudson and at least four-fifths of the State of New York to +Massachusetts. + +In accordance with this claim, Massachusetts granted a large section +of land on the east side of the Hudson river, opposite the present +site of Albany, to a number of her principal merchants to open +energetically a trade with the Indians for their furs. An exploring +party was also sent from Hartford to sail up the North river and +examine its shores in reference to future settlements. The English +could not enter the Hudson and pass fort Amsterdam with their vessels +without permission of the Dutch. This permission Stuyvesant +persistently refused. + +"The Dutch," said the inflexible governor, + + "never have forbidden the natives to trade with other + nations. They prohibit such trade only on their own streams + and purchased lands. They cannot grant Massachusetts or any + other government any title to such privilege or a free + passage through their rivers, without the surrender of their + honor, reputation, property and blood, their bodies and + lives." + + + + +CHAPTER X. + + + + +THE ESOPUS WAR. + + + + Outrage at Esopus.--New Indian War.--Its + Desolations.--Sufferings of both Parties.--Wonderful + Energies of the Governor.--Difficulties of his + Situation.--The Truce.--Renewal of the War.--The + Mohawks.--The Controversy with Massachusetts.--Indian + Efforts for Peace.--The Final Settlement.--Claims of the + English upon the Delaware.--Renewed Persecution of the + Quakers. + + +The exploring party from Massachusetts, which had ascended the North +river, found a region around the Wappinger Kill, a few miles below the +present site of Poughkeepsie, which they pronounced to be more +beautiful than any spot which they had seen in New England. Here they +decided to establish their settlement. Stuyvesant, informed of this, +resolved to anticipate them. He wrote immediately to Holland urging +the Company to send out at once as many Polish, Lithuanian, Prussian, +Dutch and Flemish peasants as possible, "to form a colony there." + +It would seem that no experience, however dreadful, could dissuade +individuals of the Dutch Colonists from supplying the natives with +brandy. At Esopus, in August, 1659, a man by the name of Thomas +Chambers employed eight Indians to assist him in husking corn. At the +end of their day's work he insanely supplied them with brandy. This +led to a midnight carouse in which the poor savages, bereft of reason, +howled and shrieked and fired their muskets, though without getting +into any quarrel among themselves. + +The uproar alarmed the garrison in the blockhouse. The sergeant of the +guard was sent out, with a few soldiers, to ascertain the cause of the +disorder. He returned with the report that it was only the revelry of +a band of drunken savages. + +One of the soldiers in the fort, Jansen Stot, called upon some of his +comrades to follow him. Ensign Smith, who was in command, forbade them +to go. In defiance of his orders they left the fort, and creeping +through the underbrush, wantonly took deliberate aim, discharged a +volley of bullets upon the inebriated savages, who were harming nobody +but themselves. One was killed outright. Others were severely wounded. +The soldiers, having performed this insane act, retreated, with the +utmost speed to the fort. There never has been any denial that such +were the facts in the case. They help to corroborate the remark of Mr. +Moulton that "the cruelty of the Indians towards the whites will, when +traced, be discovered, in almost every case, to have been provoked by +oppression or aggression." + +Ensign Smith, finding that he could no longer control his soldiers, +indignantly resolved to return down the river to New Amsterdam. The +inhabitants of Esopus were greatly alarmed. It was well known that the +savages would not allow such an outrage to pass unavenged. The +withdrawal of the soldiers would leave them at the mercy of those so +justly exasperated. To prevent this the people hired every boat in the +neighborhood. Ensign Smith then decided to send an express by land, to +inform Governor Stuyvesant of the alarming state of affairs and to +solicit his immediate presence. + +A party of soldiers was sent to escort the express a few miles down +the river banks. As these soldiers were returning, they fell into an +ambuscade of the Indians, and thirteen of them were taken prisoners. +War, horrible war, was now declared. The war-whoop resounded around +the stockade at Esopus from five hundred savage throats. Every house, +barn and corn-stack within their reach was burned. Cattle and horses +were killed. The fort was so closely invested day and night that not a +colonist could step outside of the stockade. The Indians, foiled in +all their attempts to set fire to the fortress, and burnt ten of their +prisoners at the stake. For three weeks this fierce warfare continued +without interruption. + +When the tidings of this new war, caused by so dastardly an outrage, +reached Manhattan, it created a terrible panic. It could not be +doubted that all the Indians would sympathize with their outraged +brethren. The farmers, apprehending immediate attack, fled from all +directions, with their families, to the fort, abandoning their homes, +grain and cattle. Even many villages on Long Island were utterly +deserted. + +The administrative energies of Governor Stuyvesant were remarkably +developed on this occasion. In the following terms, Mr. O'Callaghan, +in his admirable history of New Netherland, describes the difficulties +he encountered and his mode of surmounting them: + + "Governor Stuyvesant, though laboring under severe + indisposition, visited in person all the adjoining villages, + encouraging the well-disposed, stimulating the timid and + urging the farmers everywhere to fortify and defend their + villages. He summoned next the burgomasters, schepens,[10] + and officers of the militia of New Amsterdam, and laid + before them the distressing situation of Esopus. They + proposed to enlist by beat of drum, a sufficient number of + men, and to encourage volunteers by resolving that whatever + savages might be captured should be declared 'good prizes.' + + "Stuyvesant, however, was opposed to this mode of + proceeding. It would cause, in his opinion, too great a + delay, as those at Esopus were already besieged some nine or + ten days. He was left, notwithstanding, in a minority. Two + more days were thus irretrievably lost; for at the end of + that time only six or eight had enlisted, 'such a terrible + horror had overpowered the citizens.' + + "Captain Newton and Lieutenant Stillwell were now dispatched + to all the English and Dutch villages, and letters were + addressed to fort Orange and Rensselaerswyck, ordering out + the Company's servants, calling for volunteers and + authorizing the raising of a troop of mounted rangers. The + half-dozen servants in fort Amsterdam, every person + belonging to the artillery, all the clerks in the public + offices, four of the Director-General's servants, three of + the hands belonging to his brewery and five or six new + comers, were put under requisition." + + "Nothing could overcome the reluctance of the burghers. The + one disheartened the other; the more violent maintaining + that they were obliged to defend only their own homes, and + that no citizen could be forced to jeopardize his life in + fighting barbarous savages. + + "Discouraged and almost deprived of hope by this opposition, + the Director-General again summoned the city magistrates. He + informed them that he had now some forty men, and that he + expected between twenty and thirty Englishmen from the + adjoining villages. He therefore ordered that the three + companies of the city militia be paraded next day in his + presence, armed and equipped, in order that one last effort + might be made to obtain volunteers. If he should then fail + of success, he announced his intention to make a draft. + + "The companies paraded before the fort on the following + morning according to orders. Stuyvesant addressed them in + most exciting terms. He appealed to their sense both of + honor and of duty, and represented to them how ardently they + would look for aid, if they unfortunately were placed in a + situation similar to that in which their brethren of Esopus + now found themselves. He concluded his harangue by calling + upon all such as would accompany him either for pay or as + volunteers, to step forward to the rescue. + + "Few came forward, only twenty-four or twenty-five persons. + This number being considered insufficient, lots were + immediately ordered to be drawn by one of the companies and + those on whom they fell were warned to be ready on the next + Sunday, on pain of paying fifty guilders. 'However,' said + the governor, 'if any person is weak-hearted or discouraged + he may procure a substitute provided he declares himself + instantaneously.'" + +In this way the governor raised a force of one hundred and eighty men. +Of this number one hundred were drafted men, sixty-five volunteers, +twenty-five of whom were Englishmen, and there were also twenty +friendly Indians from Long Island. + +With this force the governor embarked on Sunday evening, October 10th, +after the second sermon, for the rescue of Esopus. Upon his arrival at +that place he found that the savages, unable to penetrate the fort, +had raised the siege and retired beyond the possibility of pursuit. +They had doubtless watched the river with their scouts, who informed +them of the approach of the troops. The governor, leaving a sufficient +force to protect the village, returned with the remainder of the +expedition to Manhattan. + +During the siege the loss of the Dutch was one man killed and five or +six wounded. The Indians also succeeded, by means of burning arrows, +in firing one dwelling house and several stacks of corn within the +palisades. As the troops were re-embarking the governor witnessed an +occurrence which he declares "he blushes to mention." As all the +troops could not go on board at once, a portion waited until the first +division had embarked. Some of the sentinels hearing a dog bark, fired +one or two shots. This created a terrible panic. The citizens, whose +ears had been pierced by the shrieks of their countrymen, whom the +Indians had tortured at the stake, were so terror-stricken that they +lost all self-possession. "Many of them threw themselves into the +water before they had seen an enemy." + +The most friendly relations existed between the Mohawks and the +settlers in the vicinity of Albany. A very extensive trade, equally +lucrative to both parties, was there in operation. The Indians, being +treated justly, were as harmless as lambs. When they heard of the +troubles at Esopus they declared that they would take no part in the +war. They could not but feel that the Indians had been deeply +outraged. But with unexpected intelligence they decided that they +would not retaliate by wreaking vengeance upon their long-tried +friends. To confirm their friendly alliance, the authorities at fort +Orange sent an embassy of twenty-five of their principal inhabitants +to the Indian settlement at Caughnawaga. This was about forty miles +west of Albany on the north bank of the Mohawk river and near the site +of the present shire town of Montgomery county. + +A large number of chiefs, from all the neighboring villages, attended. +The council fire was lighted, and the calumet of peace was smoked. One +of the Dutch delegation thus addressed the assembly! + + "Brothers, sixteen years have now passed away, since + friendship and fraternity were first established between you + and the Hollanders. Since then we have been bound to each + other by an iron chain. That chain has never been broken by + us or by you. We hope that the Mohawks will remain our + brothers for all time. + + "Our chiefs are very angry that the Dutch will sell brandy + to your people. They have always forbidden them to do so. + Forbid your people also. Eighteen days ago you asked us not + to sell any brandy to your people. Brothers, if your people + do not come to buy brandy of us, we shall not sell any to + them. Two days ago twenty or thirty kegs came to us, all to + be filled with brandy. Are you willing that we should take + from your people their brandy and their kegs. If so, say + this before all here present." + +With this speech there was presented to the chiefs several bundles of +wampum, seventy pounds of powder, a hundred pounds of lead, fifteen +axes two beavers worth of knives. The chiefs were highly pleased with +the presents and eagerly gave their consent that the Dutch should +seize the liquor kegs of the Indians. + +The authorities at fort Orange, having secured the friendship of the +Mohawks, endeavored to obtain an armistice with the Indians at Esopus, +and a release of the captives they had taken. Several Mohawk and +Mohegan chiefs, as mediators, visited Esopus, on this mission of +mercy. They were partially successful. An armistice was reluctantly +assented to, and two captives were liberated. The Indians, however, +still retained a number of children, they having killed all the +adults. Those who had agreed to the armistice were not the principal +chiefs, and the spirit of the war remained unbroken. + +Under these circumstances Stuyvesant wrote to Holland for aid. In his +letter he said, + + "If a farmer cannot plough, sow or reap, in a newly settled + country, without being harassed; if the citizens and + merchants cannot freely navigate the streams and rivers, + they will doubtless leave the country and seek a residence + in some place where they can find a government to protect + them.'" + +The Directors wrote back urging him to employ the Mohawks and other +friendly tribes against the Esopus Indians. The governor replied, + + "The Mohawks are, above all other savages, a vain-glorious, + proud and bold tribe. If their aid be demanded and obtained, + and success follow, they will only become the more inflated, + and we the more contemptible in the eyes of the other + tribes. If we did not then reward their services, in a + manner satisfactory to their greedy appetites, they would + incessantly revile us, and were this retorted, it might lead + to collision. It is therefore safer to stand on our own feet + as long as possible." + +The governor had a long controversy with the Massachusetts authorities +in reference to its claim to the upper valley of the Hudson. In this +he expressed very strongly the title of Holland to the North river. + +"Printed histories," he writes, + + "archives, journals, and registers prove that the North + river of New Netherland was discovered in the year 1609, by + Hendrick Hudson, captain of the Half Moon, in the service + and at the expense of the Dutch East India Company. Upon the + report of the captain several merchants of Amsterdam sent + another ship, in the following year, up the said river. + These merchants obtained from the States-General a charter + to navigate the same. For their security they erected in + 1614, a fort on Castle Island, near fort Orange New + Netherland, including the North river, was afterwards + offered to the West India Company, who, in the year 1624, + two years before Charles I. ascended the throne of England, + actually and effectually possessed and fortified the country + and planted colonies therein. The assertion that the Hudson + river is within the Massachusetts patent granted but + thirty-two years ago, therefore, scarcely deserves a serious + answer." + +Notwithstanding the undeniable strength of his argument, Governor +Stuyvesant felt very uneasy. To his friends he said, + +"The power of New England overbalances ours tenfold. To protest +against their usurpations would be folly. They would only laugh at +us." + +As hostilities still continued with the Esopus Indians, Governor +Stuyvesant again visited that post, hoping to obtain an interview with +the chiefs, and to arrange a peace. Ensign Smith, with a very strong +party of forty men, had utterly routed and put to flight two bands of +Indians, one containing fifty warriors, the other one hundred. He took +twelve warriors prisoners. They were sent to fort Amsterdam. In the +mean time Stuyvesant had succeeded in renewing a treaty of alliance +with the Indian tribes on Long Island, Staten Island, and at +Hackensack, Haverstraw and Weckquaesgeek. The Long Island Indians +consented to send some of their children to fort Amsterdam to be +educated. + +The Esopus Indians were now left in a very deplorable condition. Their +brethren, on the upper Hudson, had refused to co-operate with them. +Their routed bands were being driven across the mountains and many of +their warriors were captives. To use the contemptuous language of the +times, "they did nothing now but bawl for peace, peace." + +There had never been a more favorable opportunity to secure a lasting +peace, and to win back the affections of the Indians. By universal +admission the colonists were outrageously in the wrong in provoking +the conflict. They had given the Indians brandy until they had become +intoxicated. And then half a dozen drunken soldiers had discharged a +volley of bullets upon them as they were revelling in noisy but +harmless orgies. + +Had the governor frankly acknowledged that the colonists were in the +wrong; had he made full amends, according to the Indian custom, for +the great injury inflicted upon them, they would have been more than +satisfied. Even more friendly relations than had ever before existed +might have been established. + +But instead of this the governor assumed that the Indians were +entirely in the wrong; that they had wantonly commenced a series of +murders and burnings without any provocation. The Esopus chiefs were +afraid to meet the angry governor with proposals for peace. They +therefore employed three Mohegan chiefs as their mediators. They +offered to cease all hostilities, to abandon the Esopus country +entirely, and surrender it to the Dutch if the Indian captives, whom +the Dutch held, might be restored to them. These very honorable +proposals were rejected. The Mohegan chiefs were told that the +governor could not enter into any treaty of peace with the Esopus +Indians unless their own chiefs came to fort Amsterdam to hold a +council. And immediately the Indian captives received the awful doom +of consignment to life-long slavery with the negroes, upon a tropical +island, which was but a glowing sandbank in the Caribbean sea. + +"On the next day," writes Mr. O'Callaghan, + + "an order was issued, banishing the Esopus savages, some + fifteen or twenty, to the insalubrious climate of Curacoa, + to be employed there or at Buenaire with the negroes in the + Company's service. Two or three others were retained at fort + Amsterdam to be punished as it should be thought proper. By + this harsh policy Stuyvesant laid the foundations of another + Esopus war, for the Indians never forgot their banished + brethren." + +It was ascertained that several miles up the Esopus creek the Indians +were planting corn. It was the 20th of May, 1660. Ensign Smith took a +party of seventy-five men and advanced upon them. The barking of dogs +announced his approach just as his band arrived within sight of the +wigwams. They all made good their retreat with the exception of one, +the oldest and best of their chiefs. His name was Preumaker. We know +not whether pride of character or infirmity prevented his escape. It +is said, however, that he received the soldiers very haughtily, aiming +his gun at them and saying, "What are you doing here, you dogs?" + +The weapon was easily wrenched from his feeble hands. A consultation +was held as to what should be done with the courageous but powerless +old chief. "As it was a considerable distance to carry him," writes +Ensign Smith, "we struck him down with his own axe." + +At length the sufferings of the Esopus Indians became so great from +the burning of the villages and the trampling down of their +cornfields, the loss of their armies and the terrified flight of their +starving women and children, that they were constrained to make +another effort for peace. + +On the 11th of July, Governor Stuyvesant left New Amsterdam for +Esopus. Messengers were dispatched to summon the Esopus chiefs to his +presence. Appalled by the fate of their brethren, who had been sent as +slaves to the West Indies, they were afraid to come. After waiting +several days the governor sent envoys to the chiefs of other tribes, +urging them "to bring the Esopus savages to terms." + +At length four Esopus chiefs appeared before the gate of the village. +Delegates from other tribes also appeared, and a grand council was +held. It is very evident from this interview, that many of the more +delicate feelings of the civilized man had full sway in the hearts of +these poor Indians. Instead of imploring peace themselves, the Esopus +Indians employed two chiefs, one of the Mohawk and the other of the +Mingua tribe, to make the proposition in their behalf. + +Governor Stuyvesant assented to peace upon condition that the Mohawks +and the Minguas would stand as security for the faithful observance of +the terms exacted. The chiefs of these tribes agreeing to this, in a +formal speech admonished the Esopus chiefs to live with the Dutch as +brothers. And then, turning to the Dutch, in a speech equally +impressive, they warned them not to irritate the Indians by unjust +treatment. The Indians were compelled to yield to such terms as +Stuyvesant proposed. + +All the lands of Esopus were surrendered to the Dutch. The starving +Indians were to receive eight hundred schepels of corn as ransom for +the captive christians. The Indian warriors sent as slaves to the West +Indies, were to be left to their awful fate. The mediators were held +responsible for the faithful execution of the treaty. Should the +Esopus Indians break it, the mediators were bound to assist the Dutch +in punishing them. No spirituous liquors were to be _drank_ near the +houses of the Dutch. No _armed_ Indians to approach a Dutch +plantation. Murderers were to be mutually surrendered, and damages +reciprocally paid for. + +Thus were the Esopus Indians driven from their homes, deprived of +their independence and virtually ruined. Having thus triumphantly +though cruelly settled this difficulty, Stuyvesant went up to fort +Orange, where he held another grand council with the chiefs of all the +tribes in those regions. + +A clergyman was sent to Esopus and a church organized of sixteen +members. In September, 1660, Domine Selyus was installed as the +clergyman of Brooklyn, where he found one elder, two deacons and +twenty-four church members. There were, at that time thirty-one +families in Brooklyn, containing a population of one hundred and +thirty-four persons. They had no church but worshipped in a barn. +Governor Stuyvesant contributed nearly eighty dollars annually to the +support of this minister, but upon condition that he should preach +every Sunday afternoon, at his farm or bouwery upon Manhattan Island. + +The last of May, Charles the Second, the fugitive King of England, was +returning from his wanderings on the continent to ascend the throne of +his ancestors. He was a weak man, of imperturbable good nature. On his +way to London he stopped at the Hague, where he was magnificently +entertained. In taking leave of the States-General he was lavish of +his expressions of friendship. He declared that he should feel jealous +should the Dutch prefer the friendship of any other state to that of +Great Britain. + +At that time Holland was in commercial enterprise, the most prosperous +nation upon the globe; decidedly in advance of England. The British +parliament envied Holland her commercial supremacy. "The Convention +Parliament," writes Mr. Brodhead, + + "which had called home the king, took early steps to render + still more obnoxious one of England's most selfish measures. + The Navigation Act of 1651 was revised; and it was now + enacted that after the first day of December, 1660, no + merchandise should be imported into, or exported from any of + his majesty's plantations or territories in Asia, Africa or + America, except in English vessels of which the master and + three-fourths of the mariners at least are English." + +Immediately after this, Lord Baltimore demanded the surrender of New +Amstel and all the lands on the west side of Delaware bay. "All the +country," it was said by his envoy, + + "up to the fortieth degree, was granted to Lord Baltimore. + The grant has been confirmed by the king and sanctioned by + parliament. You are weak, we are strong, you had better + yield at once." + +A very earnest and prolonged discussion ensued. The Dutch Company +said, + + "We hold our rights by the States-General. We are resolved + to defend those rights. If Lord Baltimore will persevere and + resort to violent measures, we shall use all the means which + God and nature have given us to protect the inhabitants and + preserve their possessions." + +This was indeed an alarming state of affairs for New Amstel. Various +disasters had befallen the colony, so that it now numbered but thirty +families. The garrison had been reduced, by desertion, to twenty-five +men; and of these but eight or ten were in the principal fort. The +English were in such strength upon the Chesapeake, that they could +easily send five hundred men to the Delaware. Very earnest diplomatic +intercourse was opened between the States-General and the British +Parliament upon these questions. + +Governor Stuyvesant, whose attention had been somewhat engrossed by +the Indian difficulties, now renewed his persecution of the Quakers. +Notwithstanding the law against private conventicles, Henry Townsend +at Rustdorp, who had been already twice fined, persisted in holding +private meetings in his house. He was arrested with two others, and +carried to fort Amsterdam. Townsend and Tilton were banished from the +colony. Two magistrates were appointed as spies to inform of any +future meetings, and some soldiers were stationed in the village to +suppress them. Whatever Governor Stuyvesant undertook to do he +accomplished very thoroughly. The following paper was drawn up which +the inhabitants were required to sign: + + "If any meetings or conventicles of Quakers shall be held in + this town of Rustdorp, that we know of, we will give + information to the authority set up by the governor, and we + will also give the authorities of the town such assistance + against any such persons as needs may require." + +A few refused to sign this paper. They were punished by having the +soldiers quartered upon them. + +Fort Orange was, at this time, the extreme frontier post, in the north +and west of New Netherland. Though the country along the Mohawk river +had been explored for a considerable distance, there were no +settlements there, though one or two huts had been reared in the +vicinity of the Cohoes Falls. This whole region had abounded with +beavers and wild deer. But the fur trade had been pushed with so much +vigor that the country was now almost entirely destitute of peltries. +The colonists wished to purchase the fertile lands in the valley of +the Mohawk, and the Indians manifested a willingness to sell them. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + + + + +THE DISASTROUS YEAR. + + + + Purchase of Staten Island.--The Restoration cf Charles + Second.--Emigration Invited.--Settlement of Bushwick.--The + Peculiar People.--Persecution of John Brown.--The Governor + Rebuked.--Cumulation of Disasters.--The Outbreak at + Esopus.--The Panic.--Measures of the Governor.--The Indian + Fort.--The expedition to Mamaket.--Capture of the + Fort.--Annihilation of the Esopus Indians. + + +In the year 1661, the Company purchased of Melyn, the patroon, for +about five hundred dollars, all his rights to lands on Staten Island. +Thus the whole island became the property of the Company. Grants of +lands were immediately issued to individuals. The Waldenses, and the +Huguenots from Rochelle in France, were invited to settle upon the +island. A block-house was built which was armed with two cannon and +garrisoned by ten soldiers. Fourteen families were soon gathered in a +little settlement south of the Narrows. + +Upon the restoration of Charles the Second, in England, the Royalists +and churchmen insisted upon the restoration of the hierarchy. The +Restoration was far from being the unanimous act of the nation. The +republicans and dissenters, disappointed and persecuted, were disposed +in ever increasing numbers, to take refuge in the New World. The West +India Company of Holland being in possession of a vast territory, +between the Hudson and the Delaware, which was quite uninhabited, save +by a few tribes of Indians, availed themselves of this opportunity to +endeavor to draw emigrants from all parts of Europe, and especially +from England, to form settlements upon their lands. + +They issued proclamations inviting settlers and offering them large +inducements. The country, which embraced mainly what is now New +Jersey, was described in glowing terms as if it were a second Eden. +And yet there was no gross exaggeration in the narrative. + +"This land," they wrote, + + "is but six weeks' sail from Holland. It is fertile in the + extreme. The climate serene and temperate, is the best in + the world. The soil is ready for the plough, and seed can be + committed to it with scarcely any preparation. The most + valuable timber is abundant. The forest presents in + profusion, nuts and wild fruit of every description. The + richest furs can be obtained without trouble. Deer, turkeys, + pigeons and almost every variety of wild game, are found in + the woods, and there is every encouragement for the + establishment of fisheries." + +Having presented this view of the region, to which emigrants were +invited, and having also announced an exceedingly attractive charter +of civil and religious privileges which would be granted them, in the +following terms the invitation to emigrate was urged: + + "Therefore if any of the good Christians, who may be assured + of the advantages to mankind of plantations in these + latitudes, shall be disposed to transport themselves to said + place, they shall have full liberty to live in the fear of + the Lord upon the aforesaid good conditions and shall be + likewise courteously used. + + "We grant to all Christian people of tender conscience, in + England or elsewhere oppressed, full liberty to erect a + colony between New England and Virginia in America, now + within the jurisdiction of Peter Stuyvesant." + +Twenty-three families, most of them French, established a settlement +on Long Island, at the place now called Bushwick. The village grew +rapidly and in two years had forty men able to bear arms. + +The proclamation issued by the Company, inviting emigrants to settle +upon the lands between the Hudson and the Delaware, attracted much +attention in Europe. Committees were sent to examine the lands which +it was proposed thus to colonize. The region between New Amstel and +Cape Henlopen, being quite unoccupied, attracted much attention. A +company, the members of which may be truly called a peculiar people, +decided to settle there. An extraordinary document was drawn up, +consisting of one hundred and seventeen articles for the government of +the association. In this singular agreement it is written: + + "The associates are to be either married men or single men + twenty-four years old, who are free from debt. Each one is + bound to obey the ordinances of the society and not to seek + his own advancement over any other member. No clergyman is + to be admitted into the society. Religious services are to + be as simple as possible. Every Sunday and holiday the + people are to assemble, sing a Psalm and listen to a chapter + from the Bible, to be read by one of the members in + rotation. After this another Psalm is to be sung. At the end + of these exercises the court shall be opened for public + business. The object of the association being to establish a + harmonious society of persons of different religious + sentiments, all intractable people shall be excluded from + it, such as those in communion with the Roman See usurious + Jews, English stiff-necked Quakers, Puritans, fool-hardy + believers in the Millenium and obstinate modern pretenders + to revelation." + +While the Company in Holland, were inviting emigrants to their +territory of the New World, with the fullest promises of religious +toleration, their governor, Stuyvesant, was unrelentingly persecuting +all who did not sustain the established religion. + +A very quiet, thoughtful, inoffensive man, John Brown, an Englishman, +moved from Boston to Flushing. He was a plain farmer, very retiring in +his habits and a man of but few words. From curiosity he attended a +Quaker meeting. His meditative spirit was peculiarly impressed with +the simplicity of their worship. He invited them to his house, and +soon joined their society. The magistrates informed Stuyvesant that +John Brown's house had become a conventicle for Quakers. Being +arrested, he did not deny the charge, and was fined twenty-five pounds +and threatened with banishment. + +The next week a new proclamation was issued, saying, + + "The public exercise of any religion but the Reformed, in + houses, barns, ships, woods or fields, will be punished by a + fine of fifty guilders; double for the second offence; and + for the third quadruple with arbitrary correction." + +John Brown, either unable or refusing to pay his fine, was taken to +New Amsterdam, where he was imprisoned for three months. An order was +then issued announcing his banishment. + +"For the welfare," it was written, + + "of the community, and to crush as far as possible, that + abominable sect who treat with contempt both the political + magistrate, and the ministers of God's holy word, and who + endeavor to undermine the police and religion, John Brown is + to be transported from this province in the first ship ready + to sail, as an example to others." + +He was sent to Holland in the "Gilded Fox." Stuyvesant wrote to the +Company, "The contumacious prisoner has been banished as a terror to +others who, if not discouraged by this example, will be dealt with +still more severely." + +The Company in Holland, was not at all in sympathy with its intolerant +governor. The exile was received by them respectfully. The following +dispatch, condemnatory of the severe measures of Stuyvesant, was +forwarded to him: + + "Although it is our cordial desire that similar and other + sectarians may not be found there, yet, as the contrary + seems to be the fact, we doubt very much whether vigorous + proceedings against them ought not to be discontinued; + unless indeed, you intend to check and destroy your + population, which, in the youth of your existence, ought + rather to be encouraged by all possible means. + + "Wherefore it is our opinion that some connivance is useful, + and that at least the consciences of men, ought to remain + free and unshackled. Let every one remain free so long as he + is modest, irreproachable in his political conduct, and so + long as he does not offend others or oppose the government. + This maxim of moderation has always been the guide of our + magistrates in this city. The consequence has been that + people have flocked from every land to this asylum. Tread + thus in their steps and we doubt not you will be blessed." + +From this time persecution ceased in New Netherland. Either Governor +Stuyvesant was convinced by the argument in the above dispatch, or he +was intimidated by his rebuke. After two years of absence John Brown +returned to New Netherland, and it is said that the governor received +him as though he were ashamed of what he had done. + +The year 1663 was a year of many disasters. Early in the year an +earthquake shook severely the whole of New Netherland and of the +adjacent regions. The melting of the snow in the spring, and the +falling rains caused a desolating freshet, which inundated all the +meadow lands of the rivers, utterly destroying the crops. This +calamity was followed by the small-pox, which spread with a like +rapidity and fatality among the Europeans and the Indians. Of the +Iroquois Indians over a thousand died. In addition to these calamities +came, worst of all, war with its indescribable horrors. + +At Esopus the hand of industry had been very successfully employed. +Quite a crowded population filled the houses, within the palisades, +and the rapidly increasing numbers had rendered it necessary to +commence another village, which was called Wildwyck, on a fertile +plain at a little distance from the fort. Under the blessings of +peace, wealth had increased. The church numbered sixty members. Most +of the garrison had been withdrawn as no longer needed. + +But the Indians could not forget their brethren sent to life-long +slavery at Curacoa. It was increasingly evident that the peace, into +which they had entered, was not cordial. It was a compulsory peace. An +unendurable outrage had driven them into the war. And by the terms of +peace, while they had been compelled to return all the captives they +held, fifteen of their warriors were doomed to perpetual slavery. + +Murmurings were heard which foreboded an outbreak. Some of the +settlers became alarmed and communicated their fears to Governor +Stuyvesant. He sent word that he would soon visit Esopus, to +investigate the state of affairs. The Indian chiefs, hearing of this, +returned the message, that if he were coming to renew their treaty of +friendship they should expect him to come unarmed and they would be +happy to meet him in council, according to their custom, in the open +field outside of the gate. + +It was a pleasant morning of the 7th of June. The governor had not yet +arrived. The settlers, thrown off their guard by the friendly message +which the chiefs had returned, were scattered about in the fields +engaged in their daily avocations. Between eleven and twelve o'clock +at noon, an unusual number of savages spread themselves through the +villages and entered the dwellings. They were apparently, as usual, +entirely unarmed, though it afterwards appeared that they had +concealed weapons. They brought corn, beans, and other trifling +articles for sale. + +Suddenly the war-whoop was uttered from one savage throat as a signal, +and was instantly re-echoed by a hundred others. Tomahawks and knives +and battle-axes gleamed in the air, and the work of extermination was +instantly and energetically commenced. The settlers were taken +entirely by surprise. Every Indian had marked his man. Neither women +nor children were spared. Those who could not easily be captured were +struck down. Many of the Indians speedily regained their guns which +they had concealed in the grass. Houses were plundered and set on +fire. + +But the colonists did not submit to their fate without valiant +resistance. For several hours the most deadly battle raged. The yells +of the savages, and the shrieks of wounded women and children, +devoured by the flames which consumed their dwellings, were awful +beyond any power of the pen to describe. + +Roelof Swartwout was entrusted with the municipal government at +Esopus. His office of Schout somewhat resembled that of a mayor in one +of our modern cities. He displayed much presence of mind and bravery +on this occasion. Rallying a few bold men around him, he at length +succeeded in driving the savages from within the palisades and in +shutting the gates. Several hours of this awful conflict had now +passed. Evening had come. Devastation, ruin, death surrounded them. +The outer village was in ashes. The fields were strewn with the bodies +of the dead. The half-burned corpses of women and children were to be +seen amidst the smoking cinders of their former homes. + +The village within the palisades had been set on fire. A few houses +had been burned, consuming the mangled remains of those who had fallen +beneath the tomahawk and battle-axe of the Indian. Fortunately a +change of the wind had saved most of the village from destruction. +Swartwout and his brave little band, protected by the palisades, were +able through the loop-holes, to strike down any Indian, who should +appear within reach of their bullets. They were now safe. + +But this awful storm of war, which had passed over their beautiful +valley had, in three short hours of a summer's afternoon, converted +the whole scene into a spectacle of almost unearthly misery. Every +dwelling outside of the palisades was in ashes. Several within the +enclosure were consumed, and the charred bodies of the dead were +intermingled with the blackened timbers. Twenty-one of the settlers +had been killed outright. Nine were severely wounded. Forty-five, +mostly women and children, were taken captive, to be carried into +bondage more dreadful than death. + +A night of woe ensued, during which the yells of the savages, in their +triumphal orgies dancing around their captives, and probably exposing +some to the torture, fell appallingly upon the ears of the sleepless +survivors within the gates. Was this God's allowed retribution for the +crime of sending the Indians into slavery? It certainly was the +consequence. + +The intelligence of this dreadful calamity was immediately transmitted +to Governor Stuyvesant at New Amsterdam. Through all the settlements +the tidings spread, creating universal panic. Mothers and maidens +turned pale as they thought of another Indian war. The farmers and +their families, abandoning everything, fled from all directions to the +forts within their reach. Every able-bodied man was put to work in +strengthening the defences. + +The governor promptly dispatched forty-two well-armed men to Esopus. +Large bounties were offered to all who would enlist. Forty-six +friendly Indians from Long Island offered their services and were +accepted as auxiliaries. Ample supplies were forwarded to the +devastated village. Scouting parties were sent up the river to search +out the savages in their hiding-places. The Mohawks interposed their +friendly mediation in behalf of peace, and succeeded in recovering and +restoring to the Dutch several captives. + +They also informed the governor that the Indians had taken the +remaining captives to one of their villages about thirty miles +southwest of Esopus, and that they refused to release them unless the +governor would send them rich presents and make a peace without any +compensation for what had transpired at Esopus. It seems that the +Indians regarded the massacre there simply as the just atonement which +they had exacted for the enslavement of their brethren, and that now +their rude sense of justice being satisfied, they were ready to enter +into a solid peace. But the governor was not at all disposed to regard +the matter in this light. He deemed it necessary, under the +circumstances, that the Indians should feel the full weight of the +white man's avenging hand. + +Just then a woman, Mrs. Van Imbrock, who had succeeded in effecting +her escape from the Indians, reached Esopus, having traversed the +wilderness through a thousand perils. She was a woman of great energy, +intelligent and observing, and her heart was bleeding in view of the +friends she had left behind her in captivity. She was eager to act as +a guide to lead a war-party for the rescue of her friends in the +retreat of the savages. She estimated their number at about two +hundred warriors. They occupied a square fort, very strongly built of +timber. And still they adopted the precaution of sending the prisoners +every night under strong guard, to some distant place in the +mountains. The Indians had a very clear appreciation of the value of +their captives as hostages. + +Governor Stuyvesant sent a force of two hundred and ten men, under +Captain Crygier, to attack them. Forty-one of these were Indians and +seven were negroes. They took with them two small cannon, with which +at a safe distance, they could soon open a breach through the Indian +ramparts, which were merely bullet-proof. A garrison of about seventy +men was left behind for the protection of Esopus. + +At four o'clock in the afternoon of the 26th of July, this little band +commenced its march through the trails of the wilderness, towards the +setting sun. The path was a rugged one over high hills and across +mountain streams. They had traversed but a few miles when night came +on and they bivouacked until daybreak. The next morning they pressed +forward with all vigor until they were within about six miles of the +fort. One hundred and sixteen men were then sent forward to attack the +Indians by surprise, while the remainder prudently followed close +after as a reserve. + +But the wary Indians, through their scouts, had ascertained the +approach of the foe and had fled with their prisoners to the +mountains. The Dutch were astonished at the strength of the fort and +at the scientific skill with which it was constructed. The Indians had +evidently learned not a little of military art from the Europeans. +Three parallel rows of palisades enclosed a large square, with +loopholes through which unobstructed aim could be taken at assailants. +Within the palisades there were strong block-houses, provided also +with loopholes, to which houses the warriors could retreat, as to +citadels, in case the outer works were taken. Between the houses and +the outworks there was a creek. The whole fortress would have been no +disgrace to an European engineer. + +The party found very comfortable quarters in the fort for the night, +and an ample supply of provisions. An Indian woman, not being aware +that the white men were in the fort, came back for some article she +had left behind. She was taken prisoner and informed her captors of +the direction in which the Indians had fled. As it is necessary for +such a party of two or three hundred, to keep together and as the +trail through meadows, across streamlets and over mountains is narrow, +it is not difficult having once found their track to follow it. + +It was determined, after a brief consultation, to pursue them. The +next morning at daybreak, the pursuit was commenced. Twenty-five men +were left to keep possession of the fort. After several hours of very +fatiguing travel, they reached the spot, on a high mountain, where the +squaw supposed that the Indians had established their camp. But not an +Indian was there. They had probably left their spies on the path, who +had informed them that the foe was at hand. + +The woman now said that they must have gone on to another stronghold +they had, at the distance of about six miles. The march was continued +through great difficulties. But it was fruitless. Not an Indian was to +be found. They had another stronghold about twelve miles farther on. +It was possible that they might be found there. But all were fatigued +and discouraged, and were disposed to give up the hopeless chase. At +one time they caught sight of nine savages in the distance, but they +fled like deer. + +Captain Crygier, deeming all further attempt to overtake the savages +hopeless, decided to return to the Indian fort. Having reached it, all +hands engaged in the work of destruction. The savages had collected +there a large supply of provisions for the approaching winter. The +colonists took all they could carry away with them and destroyed the +rest. They then utterly demolished the buildings and palisades, +committing all to the flames. The works must have cost the Indians an +immensity of labor. There were two hundred acres of corn, waving +richly in the summer breeze, giving promise of an abundant harvest. +All was trampled down. It was a fearful calamity to the wretched +Indians. Probably not a few perished of famine the next winter. There +was by no means a sufficient supply of game in the forest to meet +their wants. Their main reliance was upon their cornfields. + +While they were engaged in this work of destruction four savages +appeared upon a hill near some of the colonists, and cried out to them +"To-morrow we will come and fight you, for we must all now die of +hunger." + +The next morning the colonists commenced their return. They showed +their respect for the prowess of the savages, by forming their little +army in strong military array, with the advance, the centre and the +rear guard. At nine o'clock in the evening of August 1st, 1663, they +reached their anxious friends at Esopus, without the loss of a man. + +Ere long news reached Esopus, that the savages were building another +fort, which they called a castle, about thirty-six miles southwest of +Esopus, probably near the present town of Mamakating, Sullivan county. +An expedition of one hundred and twenty five men, under Captain +Crygier, was immediately organized to destroy the works. A young +Indian guided the party. Several horses were taken with them to bring +back those who might be wounded. + +At one o'clock in the afternoon of September third, the party set out +from Esopus. A march of nine miles brought them to a creek, which was +so swollen by recent rains, that they were delayed for several hours +until they could construct a rude bridge across it. In the meantime +the rain was falling in torrents. It was not until four o'clock in the +afternoon of the next day that the party effected its passage across +the stream. They then pressed forward twelve miles farther and +bivouacked for the night. + +At daybreak they were again upon the move, and about two o'clock in +the afternoon emerged from the forest in view of the fort. It stood +upon an elevated plain. Like the one we have already described, it +consisted of a square enclosure, surrounded by two rows of strong +palisades, and a third had already been commenced. These posts, +pointed at the top, were firmly planted in the ground, and were of the +thickness of a man's body, and rose fifteen feet into the air. + +Captain Crygier, after carefully scrutinizing the works, divided his +force into two sections for the attack. He was well aware that he had +a foe to encounter who would fight with the utmost desperation behind +his intrenchments. One party of the assailants crept cautiously along, +beneath the covert of a hill, until, coming to the open plain, they +were discovered by a squaw, who uttered a terrible cry which roused +the whole garrison of Indians. + +A sudden onslaught was then made by both parties pouring, like an +inundation, through the unfinished works into the fort. The savages, +taken by Surprise, and many of them without their arms, were thrown +into a panic. Many of them rushed out of the fort, leaving their guns +in the houses behind. The Dutch followed close upon their heels, +shooting them, and with keen sabres cutting them down. Just beyond the +fort there was a creek. The terrified Indians precipitated themselves +into it, and by wading and swimming forced their way across. Here they +attempted to rally and opened fire upon the pursuing Dutch. The fire +was returned with so much vigor that the Indians were driven with loss +from their position. The assailants soon crossed the creek, and the +discomfited Indians, in hopeless rout, fled wildly into the trackless +wilderness. + +In the impetuous assault the chief of the tribe, Papoquanchen, was +slain, and fourteen of his warriors with four Indian women and three +children Twenty-two Christian prisoners were recovered, and fourteen +Indians were taken captive. The Dutch lost but three killed and six +were wounded. The houses were all plundered by the victors. There was +found in them eighty guns, and "bearskins, deerskins, blankets, elk +hides and peltries sufficient to load a shallop." Forty rolls of +wampum and twenty pounds of powder were also taken. The colonists +loaded themselves with such plunder as they could carry. The rest was +destroyed. + +The return of the victors with the rescued Christian captives, gave +great joy at Esopus. We regret to record that, on the march home, +there was one of the Indian prisoners, an old man, who refused to go +any farther. Captain Crygier had him led a few steps out of the path +and shot. In unfeeling terms the captain writes, "We carried him a +little aside and then gave him his last meal." + +The remainder of the month of September was employed in sending out +small scouting parties, and in protecting the farmers while gathering +their harvests. Though the Esopus Indians were pretty thoroughly +crushed by these disasters which had befallen them, they showed no +sign of submission. It was estimated that not more than twenty-eight +warriors, with fourteen women and a few children survived. And these +were without homes and almost in a state of starvation. Still it was +decided to fit out a third expedition against them to effect their +utter overthrow. + +It was thought most probable that the dispersed Indians would rally +again within the fort at Mamakating, which had been captured and +sacked but not as yet destroyed. It was perhaps left as a lure to draw +the Indians to that point where they could be surrounded and +annihilated. + +A strong well-armed party of one hundred and sixty-four soldiers set +out on this expedition. Forty six of these were friendly Indians from +a tribe called Marespincks, whose home was on Long Island. The +soldiers were familiar with the route which they had so recently +traversed. A weary but rapid march of twenty hours brought them to the +scene of their recent victory. Not an Indian was there. All was +silence and awful desolation. Even the colonists were appalled by the +spectacle which opened before them. The Indians were so thoroughly +panic stricken that they had not ventured back even to bury their +dead. The decaying corpses lay scattered around, many of them half +consumed by vultures and wolves. The birds and beasts, with wild +cries, were devouring their prey. Parties were sent out to scour the +woods. But no signs of the savages could be found. In fact the Esopus +tribe was no more. It was afterwards ascertained that the wretched +remnant had fled south and were finally blended and lost among the +Minnisincks and other southern tribes. + +The fort was so strong that it required not a little labor to destroy +it. It was necessary to cut down or dig up the palisades, which were +composed of trunks of trees twenty feet long and eighteen inches in +diameter. Several cornfields were found in the vicinity wherever an +opening in the forest and fertile soil invited the labor of the +indolent Indian. Two days were occupied in cutting down the corn, +already beautiful in its golden ripeness, and in casting the treasure +into the creek. The palisades were then piled around the dwellings and +in a few hours nothing remained of the once imposing fortress but +smoking embers. + +This Indian fort or castle, it is said, stood on the banks of what is +now called the Shawangunk kill, in the town of the same name, at the +southwestern extremity of Ulster county. It seems as though it were +the doom of armies on the march, ever to encounter floods of rain. +Scarcely had the troops commenced their return ere the windows of +heaven seemed to be opened and the fountains of the great deep to be +broken up. + +At ten o'clock on the morning of the 5th of October, 1664, the march +was commenced. The rain came on like that of Noah's deluge. The short +afternoon passed away as, threading ravines and climbing mountains, +they breasted the flood and the gale. The drenched host was soon +enveloped in the gloom of a long, dark, stormy night. Weary and +shelterless, the only couch they could find was the dripping sod, the +only canopy, the weeping skies. The weeping skies! yes, nature seemed +to weep and mourn over the crimes of a lost race,--over man's +inhumanity to man. It was not until the evening of the next day, the +rain still continuing, that these weary soldiers reached their home at +Esopus. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + + + + +ENCROACHMENTS OF THE ENGLISH. + + + + Annihilation of the Esopus Tribe.--The Boundary + Question.--Troubles on Long Island. The Dutch and English + Villages.--Petition of the English.--Embarrassments of + Governor Stuyvesant.--Embassage to Hartford.--The + Repulse.--Peril of New Netherland.--Memorial to the + Fatherland.--New Outbreak on Long Island.--John Scott and + his High-handed Measures.--Strengthening the Fortifications. + + +All but three of the captives carried away by the Esopus Indians, were +eventually recovered. The fate of those three is lost in hopeless +obscurity. The revelations of the day of Judgment can alone make known +their tragic doom. To them, as to thousands of others, this earthly +life, if this be all, must have been an unmitigated calamity. But this +is not all. After death cometh the judgment. It will be easy for God, +in the future world, to compensate his children a thousand-fold for +all the ills they are called to suffer in this life. There is true +Christian philosophy in the beautiful poetry of Bryant, + + "Oh, deem not they are blest alone + Whose lives an even tenor keep. + For God, who pities man, hath shown + A blessing for the eyes that weep. + + "For God has marked each sorrowing day + And numbered every secret tear, + And heaven's long age of bliss shall pay + For all his children suffer here." + +Peace was now restored by the annihilation of the hostile Indians. +Most of the Dutch soldiers returned to New Amsterdam. Still it was +deemed important to enlarge and strengthen the fortifications at +Esopus. + +The boundary line between the British colonies in New England, and the +Dutch settlements in New Netherland, still continued in dispute. The +English, in numerical strength, were in the vast ascendency, and could +easily overpower the Dutch. Very strenuous efforts had been made, by +the States-General, to lead the British government to accept some +boundary line. But all was in vain. It was very evident that the +English intended to claim the whole. And it was also evident that +their colonies were increasing so rapidly that, in a short time, they +would be able to take possession of all the territory so strongly that +it would be hopeless for the Dutch to attempt any resistance. + +Governor Stuyvesant now received intelligence from Holland that there +was no hope of any settlement being effected through the two +governments, and that he must do everything in his power to strengthen +the boundary lines the Dutch claimed, and to enter into such friendly +relations with the New England colonists that they should not be +tempted to undertake any encroachments. To add to the governor's +embarrassments very many Englishmen had taken up their residence in +the Dutch settlements, particularly on Long Island. Though they had, +of necessity, taken the oath of allegiance to the constituted +authorities, their sympathies were with the New England colonists; and +they would welcome any revolution which should transfer the territory +to Great Britain, and thus absolve them from their oaths. + +In accordance with the instructions received from Holland, the +governor repaired to Boston to enter into a friendly conference with +the authorities there. Scarcely had he left New Amsterdam, when an +English emissary, James Christie, visited Gravesend, Flushing, +Hempstead and Jamaica, with the announcement that the inhabitants of +those places were no longer under the Dutch government, but that their +territory was annexed to the Connecticut colony. This important +movement took place on the sixth of September, 1663. + +Only about six weeks before, the Connecticut council, on the 20th of +July, had sent Captain John Talcott with an armed force of eighteen +soldiers, to that portion of New Netherland now called West. Chester, +to declare that the inhabitants were absolved from their allegiance to +the Dutch government, to dismiss the old magistrates and to appoint +others in their stead. These were high-handed measures, apparently +inexcusable. + +When John Christie reached Gravesend, he summoned the whole village +together and read to them the dispatch. The British element was there +strongly in the ascendency, even the magistrates being mainly on that +side. As Christie was reading the treasonable document, one of the +Dutch magistrates, sheriff Stillwell, faithful to his oath, arrested +him. The other magistrates ordered the arrest of Stillwell. His life +was in danger from the passions of the mob. He succeeded in sending +word to New Amsterdam of the peril of his condition. A sergeant and +eight soldiers were dispatched, who arrested Christie again and held +him under their guard. + +News of these agitations spread rapidly through the adjoining +villages. It was rumored that a large mob was gathering to rescue +Christie from the soldiers. Consequently, two hours after midnight, +under protection of darkness and without the knowledge of the +community, Christie was secretly removed from sheriff Stillwell's +house to New Amsterdam. During the next day the tidings of his removal +spread through the streets. It created great exasperation. At night a +mob of one hundred and fifty men surrounded the house of sheriff +Stillwell, shouting that they would have him, dead or alive. + +He succeeded in the darkness, in escaping by the back door, and in +finding his way to the house of his son-in-law. The mob broke in, +ransacked his house in every corner, poured down their own thirsty +throats a large quantity of brandy which they found there, and +dispersed without committing any further depredations. + +Stillwell hastened to New Amsterdam, to enter his complaints there, +and to seek protection. The other magistrates wrote, throwing all the +blame upon him, accusing him of having acted in a violent manner and +of causing "a great hubbub in the town." "We are," they wrote, "the +loyal subjects of the Dutch government, but not of sheriff Stillwell, +who is the greatest disturber of the peace who ever came among us." + +The excitement was great. Threats were uttered of retaliation if +Christie were not released. But the Dutch council in New Amsterdam +approved of the conduct of its sheriff. Christie was held firmly. +Dispatches were sent to all the towns in western Long Island, where +there was a considerable English population, ordering that any +seditious persons who should visit their settlements, should be +arrested and sent to New Amsterdam. They then sent an express to +Governor Stuyvesant in Boston, that he might bring the question of +these disorderly measures before the General Assembly there. + +But the governor could obtain no redress and no promises of amendment. +The Massachusetts authorities would not hold themselves bound to the +faithful observance of the treaty of 1650. They said that it was +subject to his Majesty's approval and to any limitations which might +be found in the charter granted to Connecticut. They refused to submit +the question to any arbitrators whatever. The New England colonists +were conscious that the power was in their own hands, and they were +disposed to use it. + +In the meantime the English residents in the settlements on western +Long Island were not idle. The following very emphatic petition was +got up and signed by twenty-six individuals: + + "The humble petition of us the inhabitants of Jamaica, + Middleborough and Hempstead, Long Island, whose names are + subscribed, to the honored General Court, to be assembled at + Hartford on the 8th of October 1663, humbly showeth, + + "That forasmuch as it has pleased the all-disposing + Providence to appoint unto us our dwellings in these parts + of the country, under the Dutch government, in which + government we meet with several inconveniences, which do + much to trouble us, and which we find very uncomfortable, + and forasmuch as we have received information how it hath + pleased the Highest Majesty to move the heart of the King's + Majesty to grant unto your colony such enlargements as + comprehend the whole island, thereby opening a way for us, + as we hope, from our present bondage, to such liberties and + enlargements as your patent affords, + +"Our humble petition is that, as we are already, according to our best +information, under the skirts of your patent, so you would be pleased +to cast over us the skirts of your government and protection; for +assuredly if you should leave us now, which we hope we have not cause +to fear, our lives, comforts and estates will be much endangered, as +woful experience makes manifest. For a countryman of ours, for +carrying a message to a neighbor plantation, from some of yourselves, +has been imprisoned for several weeks, and how long it will be +continued we know not." + +This last sentence had reference to John Christie. It must be admitted +that this was a very mild way of putting the question, when it is +remembered that he came, commissioned by the Connecticut authorities, +at least so he represented it, to announce to the people in the Dutch +settlements, that they were no longer under the Dutch government, but +under that of Hartford. + +This petition was speedily followed by vigorous measures, which were +undoubtedly countenanced, if not authorized, by the Connecticut +authorities. One Richard Panton, "whose commission was his sword and +whose power his pistol," threatened the people of Flatbush and other +Dutch villages in the neighborhood, with the pillage of their property +unless they would take the oath of allegiance to the Hartford +government and take up arms against the Dutch provincial authorities. + +Such were the news which first greeted Governor Stuyvesant when he +returned, not a little dispirited, from his unsuccessful mission to +Boston. He was fully aware that he could bring forward no physical +power which could resist the encroachments of his unscrupulous +neighbors. He had no weapon to which he could resort but diplomatic +skill. He accordingly immediately sent a deputation of four of his +principal men to Hartford, still to make another attempt with the +authorities there to settle the boundary question, "so that all +further disputes may, for the welfare of our mutual subjects, be +prevented." + +The commissioners sailed from New Amsterdam and after two days landed +at Milford. Thence they took horses and rode to New Haven, where they +passed the night. The next day they rode to Hartford. The road through +the almost unbroken wilderness was rough and the journey very +fatiguing. It took our fathers four days to traverse the space over +which we can now easily pass in four hours. The General Assembly at +Hartford appointed three persons as a committee of conference to meet +the delegation from New Amsterdam. A long negotiation followed. John +Winthrop, son of Governor Winthrop of Massachusetts, was then governor +of Connecticut. He seems to have been the worthy son of his noble +sire. His sense of justice disposed him to respect the claims of the +Dutch delegation. He admitted that the patent issued by the king of +England could by no justice rob the Dutch of their territory, and that +it was not so intended. But the Hartford commissioners were +inexorable. "The opinion of the governor," they said, + + "is but the opinion of one man. The grant of the king of + England includes all the land south of the Boston line to + Virginia and to the Pacific Ocean. We do not know any New + Netherland, unless you can show a patent for it from the + king of England." + +"But did you not," said the Dutch delegates + + "agree by the treaty of 1650, that the boundary line on Long + Island should run from the western part of Oyster bay + straight across the island to the sea; and that the land + east of that line should belong to the English and west to + the Dutch? + + "And did you not agree that, on the mainland, the boundary + line between the Dutch and English possessions should begin + upon the west side of Greenwich bay, running twenty miles + into the unknown interior, and that the region west of that + should belong to the Dutch?" + +The emphatic reply to those questions was, + + "We regard that treaty as an absolute nullity--of no force. + We shall govern ourselves entirely by the patent granted us + by his majesty the king of England. The Dutch may hold as + much as they now actually occupy. But that shall not hinder + us from taking possession of any territory not occupied by + them." + +The Dutch then proposed, by way of compromise, that for the present, +Westchester should remain in possession of Connecticut, while the +towns on western Long Island should remain under the government of New +Netherland. To this the Hartford commissioners replied: + + "We do not know of any province of New Netherland. There is + a Dutch governor over a Dutch plantation, on the island of + Manhattan. Long Island is included in our patent, and we + shall possess and maintain it."[11] + +Thus repulsed at every point, the Dutch agents commenced their return. +They bore a letter to Stuyvesant from the General Assembly, in which, +withholding from him the title of governor of New Netherland, they +discourteously addressed him simply as "Director General at +Manhattan." + +As we have mentioned, there were many English settlers in the Dutch +towns on the western end of Long Island. In some of them it is not +improbable that the English element predominated. In the letter sent +by the General Court to Governor Stuyvesant, it was stated that +Westchester and Stamford belonged to Connecticut; that, for the +present, the General Court would forbear from exercising any authority +over the English plantations on Long Island; but that, should the +Dutch molest the English there, the Connecticut authorities would use +all just and lawful means for their protection. + +The situation of the Dutch province was now alarming in the extreme, +and Governor Stuyvesant was environed by difficulties which no mortal +sagacity or energy could surmount. His treasury was exhausted. The +English settlers in the Long Island villages, were in determined and +open revolt. And his English neighbors, whom he was altogether too +feeble to resist, were crowding upon him in the most merciless +encroachments. + +Under these circumstances, he called a Convention, to consist of two +delegates from all the neighboring villages, to meet at New Amsterdam +on the 22d of October, 1663. Eight towns were represented. + +The Convention adopted an earnest remonstrance to the authorities in +Holland, in which the disastrous situation of the province was mainly +attributed to their withholding that aid which was essential to the +maintenance of the colony. + +"The people of Connecticut," the remonstrance stated, + + "are enforcing their unlimited patent according to their own + interpretation, and the total loss of New Netherland is + threatened. The English, to cloak their plans, now object + that there is no proof, no legal commission or patent, from + their High Mightinesses, to substantiate and justify our + rights and claims to the property of this province, and + insinuate that through the backwardness of their High + Mightinesses to grant such a patent, you apparently intended + to place the people here on slippery ice, giving them lands + to which your honors had no right whatever." + +Governor Stuyvesant sent with this remonstrance a private letter to +the home government, in which he urged that the boundary question +should be settled by the national authorities of the two countries. +"It is important," he said, + + "that the States-General should send letters to the English + villages on Long Island, commanding them to return to their + allegiance. And that the objections of Connecticut may be + met, the original charter of the West India Company should + be solemnly confirmed by a public act of their High + Mightinesses, under their great seal, which an Englishman + commonly dotes upon like an idol." + +Scarcely were these documents dispatched when new and still more +alarming outbreaks occurred. Two Englishmen, Anthony Waters of +Hempstead, and John Coe of Middlebury, with an armed force of nearly +one hundred men, visited most of what were called the English +villages, convoked the people, told them that their country belonged +to the king of England, and that they must no longer pay taxes to the +Dutch. They removed the magistrates and appointed their own partisans +in their stead. They then visited the Dutch towns and threatened them +with the severest vengeance if they did not renounce all allegiance to +the Dutch authorities, and take the oath of fealty to the king of +England. + +Only four weeks after this, another party of twenty Englishmen from +Gravesend, Flushing and Jamaica, secretly entered Raritan river, in a +sloop, and sailing up the river several miles, assembled the chiefs of +some of the neighboring tribes, and endeavored to purchase of them a +large extent of territory in that region. They knew perfectly well not +only that they were within the bounds which had been the undisputed +possession of New Netherland for nearly half a century, but that the +Dutch had also purchased of the Indians all their title to these +lands. + +Stuyvesant, being informed of this procedure, promptly sent Ensign +Crygier, with an armed force, in a swift sailing yacht, to find the +English and thwart their measures. At the same time he sent Hans, a +friendly Indian, in whom he could repose confidence, to warn the +sachems against selling over again, lands to which they no longer had +any title. The Dutch party reached the spot where the Englishmen and +the Indians were in council, just in time to stop the sale. The +Indians were shrewd enough to know that all they could give was a +"quit claim" title, and they were very willing to give that in view of +the rich remuneration which was offered them. + +The English thus baffled, again took their sloop and sailed down the +bay, to a point between Rensselaer's Hook and Sandy Hook, where they +were about to renew their endeavors when Ensign Crygier again overtook +them. "You are traitors," he exclaimed. "You are acting against the +government to which you have taken the oath of fidelity." "This whole +country," they replied, "has been given to the English by his Majesty +the king of England." + +Thus the antagonistic parties separated. The Dutch sloop returned to +New Amsterdam. The next day a number of sachems came to New Amsterdam +and sold to Governor Stuyvesant the remainder of the lands on the +Raritan, which had not previously been transferred to the Dutch. + +One John Scott, an Englishman of turbulent character, and a zealous +royalist, petitioned king Charles Second to bestow upon him the +government of Long Island. In his petition, which was referred to the +Council for Foreign Plantations, he said: + + "The Dutch have of late years, unjustly obtruded upon and + possessed themselves of certain places on the mainland of + New England, and some islands adjacent, as in particular on + Manhattan and Long Island, being the true and undoubted + inheritance of his Majesty." + +In reply to this petition, Scott with two others, was appointed a +committee to prepare + + "a statement of the English title to those lands; with an + account of the Dutch intrusion, their deportment since and + management of that possession, their strength, trade and + government there, and of the means to make them acknowledge + and submit to his Majesty's government or by force to + expulse them." + +Armed with this authority, Scott came to America, where he was very +cordially received by the authorities in New Haven. Connecticut +invested him with the powers of a magistrate throughout the whole of +Long Island, and Governor John Winthrop administered to him the oath +of office. Scott entered vigorously upon his work of wresting western +Long Island from the dominion of the Dutch, whom he denounced as +"cruel and rapacious neighbors who were enslaving the English +settlers." + +He visited most of the villages, where large numbers of the English +resided, but found that there was strong opposition to being annexed +to Connecticut. Many of them, particularly the Baptists and the +Quakers, were very unwilling to come under the rule of the Puritan +government. + +Consequently, six of the towns, Hempstead, Gravesend, Flushing, +Middlebury, Jamaica and Oyster Bay, formed a combination to govern +themselves independently of Connecticut, and empowered Scott to act as +their President, until the king of England should establish a +permanent government among them. Scott in his pride now unfurled an +almost imperial banner. Placing himself at the head of one hundred and +seventy armed men, horse and foot, he set out to compel the +neighboring Dutch villages to renounce their allegiance to Holland and +to subject themselves to his sway. + +He first marched upon Brooklyn. Summoning the citizens, he told them +that the soil they occupied belonged to the king of England, and that +he now claimed it as his own, and that they were consequently absolved +from all further allegiance to the Dutch government and were required +to take the oath of submission to the new government, now about to be +established over them. + +Scott was accompanied by so powerful an armed force that the +magistrates could not arrest him. One of them, however, Secretary Van +Ruyven, invited him to cross the river to New Amsterdam and confer +with the governor there. Scott replied, "Let Stuyvesant come here with +a hundred men; I will wait for him and run my sword through his body." + +There was no disposition manifested whatever, on the part of the +people, to renounce the government of their fathers and accept of that +of Scott in its stead. There was a little boy standing by, whose proud +and defiant bearing arrested the attention of Scott. He was a son of +the heroic Crygier, of whom we have before spoken. Scott ordered him +to take off his hat and bow to the flag of England. The boy refused. +Scott struck him. A bystander scornfully said, "If you have blows to +give, you should strike men, not boys." + +Four of Scott's soldiers fiercely assailed the man, and though for a +moment he defended himself with an axe, he was soon compelled to fly. +Scott demanded his surrender and threatened to lay the town in ashes +unless he were given up. He was not surrendered, and Scott did not +venture to execute his barbarous threat. + +From Brooklyn Scott went to Flatbush. He there unfurled the flag of +England in front of the house of the sheriff. Curiosity assembled a +large concourse to witness what was transpiring. Scott addressed them +at much length. "He jabbered away," writes a Dutch historian, "in +English, like a mountebank." + +"This land," said he, + + "which you now occupy, belongs to his Majesty, king Charles. + He is the right and lawful lord of all America, from + Virginia to Boston. Under his government you will enjoy more + freedom than you ever before possessed. + + "Hereafter you shall pay no more taxes to the Dutch + government, neither shall you obey Peter Stuyvesant. He is + no longer your governor, and you are not to acknowledge his + authority. If you refuse to submit to the king of England, + you know what to expect." + +His harangue produced no effect. The Dutch remained unshaken in their +loyalty. Some of the magistrates ventured to tell him that these were +matters which he ought to settle with Governor Stuyvesant. He replied, + + "Stuyvesant is governor no longer. I will soon go to New + Amsterdam, with a hundred men, and proclaim the supremacy of + his Majesty, king Charles, beneath the very walls of the + fort." + +The next day he went to Flatbush, where there was a renewal of the +scenes which we have above described. Though the people could present +no resistance, he found no voice to cheer him. The want of success +exasperated Scott. He went to New Utrecht. There was a block fort +there, armed with cannon, and over which floated the Dutch flag. He +hauled down that banner and raised in its stead the flag of England. +Then, with Dutch cannon and Dutch powder, he fired a salute in honor +of his victory. All passers-by were ordered to uncover their heads and +bow in submission to the English flag. Those who refused to do so were +pursued by his soldiers and cruelly beaten. + +Governor Stuyvesant, upon being informed of these transactions, +immediately sent three of his principal men to Long Island, to seek +some arrangement with Scott for the termination of such disorders. +They met him at Jamaica. After much discussion they entered into a +partial agreement, which was to be submitted to the approval of +Governor Stuyvesant. As the Dutch deputies took their leave, Scott +said to them, + + "This whole island belongs to the king of England. He has + made a grant of it to his brother, the duke of York. He + knows that it will yield him an annual revenue of one + hundred and fifty thousand dollars. He is soon coming with + an ample force, to take possession of his property. If it is + not surrendered peaceably he is determined to take, not only + the whole island, but also the whole province of New + Netherland." + +With these alarming tidings, the Dutch envoys returned to New +Amsterdam. Disorders were now rapidly multiplying. Scott rallied +around him all the most turbulent of the English population, and the +Dutch towns were menaced with violence. The Dutch families in the +English villages, were many of them compelled to abandon their houses, +and repair to the Dutch villages for protection. Frequent collisions +occurred. There was no longer any happiness or peace to be found in +these dwellings agitated by the approaching tempests of revolution. + +The inhabitants of New Amsterdam became greatly alarmed from fear that +their rich and beautiful city would be attacked or plundered by the +English. The burgomasters and principal men drew up a petition to the +authorities urging additional fortifications for the city and the +enlistment of an increased armed force. + +In this petition they said, + + "this capital is adorned with so many noble buildings, at + the expense of so many good and faithful inhabitants, + principally Netherlanders, that it nearly excels any other + place in North America. Were it duly fortified it would + instil fear into any envious neighbors. It would protect + both the East and the North rivers, the surrounding villages + and farms, as well as full ten thousand inhabitants who + would soon flock to this province, where thousands of acres + of land remain wild and uncultivated. It would become the + granary of fatherland. Yes, if permitted to abide in peace + this land will become an emporium to fatherland by its + growing plantations." + +In accordance with this memorial, heavy taxes were imposed and large +contributions subscribed to enlarge and strengthen the fortifications. +A militia of two hundred men was organized, and one hundred and sixty +were enlisted as regular soldiers. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + + + + +HOSTILE MEASURES COMMENCED. + + + + John Scott and his Movements.--Losses of the Dutch.--The + First General Assembly.--Action of the Home + Government.--Peace with the Indians.--Arrest of John + Scott.--Governor Winthrop's visit to Long Island.--Sailing + of the Fleet.--Preparations for War.--The False + Dispatches.--Arrival of the Fleet.--The Summons to + Surrender. + + +Governor Stuyvesant, with much anxiety of mind, kept a vigilant eye +upon the proceedings of John Scott, on Long Island. Some praised the +governor for the forbearance he had exhibited under the provoking +circumstances. Others severely blamed him for his course, which they +pronounced to be cowardly and disgraceful to the nation. + +By the terms of the Convention, concluded between the Dutch delegates +and John Scott, it was agreed that the English villages, on the +western part of Long Island, should remain unmolested under English +rule, for the space of one year, until the king of England and the +States-General of Holland should have time to settle the question in +dispute. In the meantime the English were to have free access to all +the Dutch towns on the island, and on the mainland, for purposes of +trade; and the Dutch were to enjoy the same privilege in visiting the +English towns. + +These terms were to be presented to Governor Stuyvesant for his +rejection or approval. Deciding to ratify them he took with him an +escort of ten men, and proceeded to Hempstead, on the third day of +March, 1664. Here he met the President, John Scott, with delegates +from the English towns, and the agreement was ratified. + +The Dutch had now lost, one after another, every portion of territory +which the English had assailed. The whole valley of the Connecticut +river had been surrendered to the English. Westchester was entirely in +their possession. And now the important towns of Flushing, Jamaica, +Hempstead and Gravesend were yielded up to them. The whole of Long +Island was also peremptorily claimed by the English, with the +declaration that if any resistance were made to their taking +possession of it, they would seize the valley of the Hudson and the +whole of New Netherland. + +The conjuncture was gloomy indeed. Governor Stuyvesant was conscious +that he was utterly powerless. He then decided it to be necessary to +call to his aid popular representation. A General Assembly of +delegates from all the towns was convoked to take into consideration +the state of the province. This important meeting was held in the City +Hall of New Amsterdam, on the 10th of April, 1664. Twenty-four +delegates were present from twelve towns. + +Immediately there arose an unfriendly controversy between the governor +and the assembly which was fatal to any harmonious or efficient +action. The assembly refused to grant the governor the supplies, in +money or in men, which he called for, and adjourned for a week. In the +meantime Governor Stuyvesant had received dispatches from Holland. The +West India Company had acted energetically upon the subject urged in +his memorial. They had presented to the States-General a very earnest +petition. + +In this memorial they laid before that August body, a detailed account +of the aggressions committed by the English, and of the repulse with +which the Dutch overtures for an amicable settlement had been met at +Boston and Hartford. + +"Out of respect," said they, + + "to the alliance recently entered into with England, they + had hitherto abstained from hostilities. But, as it now + seemed absolutely necessary to repel aggression by force, + they implored such military and pecuniary aid as the + occasion required. They also urged that, in conformity with + Governor Stuyvesant's request, an act should be passed under + the great seal, confirming their original charter; and that + letters might be sent to the revolted towns on Long Island, + requiring them, under the severest penalties, to return to + their allegiance. In conclusion they asked that the whole of + the aggressions of which they complained might be + communicated to the king of England, with the request that + he would order his English subjects to restore, on the + instant, the places they had seized, and to abstain from all + further innovations, pending the negotiations for a boundary + line." + +These requests were complied with by the States-General. They sent +sixty soldiers to New Amsterdam, with orders to Governor Stuyvesant to +resist any further encroachments of the English, and to reduce the +revolted villages to allegiance. It was easy for the States-General to +issue such an order, but it was not so easy for Governor Stuyvesant to +execute it. The Assembly was immediately called together again, and +the documents from Holland presented to them. After much deliberation +it was decided to be impossible, with the force at the governor's +command, to subdue the English villages. In those villages it was said +that the Dutch were outnumbered six to one; and that upon the outbreak +of hostilities, the flourishing settlements on the Connecticut would +immediately send such a force to Long Island, as would enable them to +overcome and take possession of all the other villages. + +It will be remembered that the Esopus Indians had been completely +humbled, and almost annihilated. The tribe living in the immediate +vicinity of the village of Esopus, had been slaughtered or driven from +their lands. The survivors had taken refuge with other neighboring +tribes, who were more or less in sympathy with them. Thus while there +was a cessation of actual war, hostility continued. No terms of peace +had been agreed to, and there could be no friendly intercourse. + +News reached Governor Stuyvesant that the Connecticut people, in their +intrigues to get possession of New Netherland, were tampering with +these river Indians, endeavoring to enter into a treaty of alliance, +offensive and defensive with them. It was consequently deemed +desirable immediately to secure a general peace with these Indians. + +The sachems of several tribes were invited to assemble in the Council +Chamber at fort Amsterdam. The governor with nine of his council, met +them. It is worthy of special notice that, the preliminaries being +settled, one of the Indian chiefs offered an earnest prayer. First he +called several times, with a loud voice, upon the Great Spirit to hear +him In his language Bachtamo was the name for God. + +"Oh Bachtamo," he said, + + "help us to make a good treaty with the Dutch. And may the + treaty we are about to negotiate be like the stick I hold in + my hand. Like this stick may it be firmly united, the one + end to the other." + +Then turning to the governor, he said, "We all desire peace. I have +come with my brother sachems, in behalf of the Esopus Indians, to +conclude a peace as firm and compact as my arms, which I now fold +together." + +Then presenting his hand to Governor Stuyvesant he added, "What I now +say is from the fullness of my heart. Such is my desire, and that of +all my people." + +A solemn treaty was soon negotiated. It was signed the next day, and +the event was celebrated by salvos of artillery. On the whole, the +terms were fair, but rather hard for the Indians. The treaty is +concisely given by O'Callaghan in the following words: + + "By its terms all that had passed was to be forever + forgotten and forgiven. The land, already given to the Dutch + as an indemnity, and now again conquered by the sword, the + two forts belonging to the Indians included, became the + property of the Christians. The savages were not to return + thither to plant, nor to visit the village, or any remote + Dutch settlements with or without arms. But as it was not + intended to expel them altogether from the country, they + were permitted to plant near their new fort, and this year + only, by their old castle, as they had already placed some + seed in the ground there. But the lands, in the neighborhood + of these forts, having been conquered, were to belong to the + Dutch. + + "To prevent all future collision, no savage should hereafter + approach the place where the Christians were ploughing, + pasturing, sowing or engaged in agricultural labor. The + violation of this article was to subject them to arrest. + They might sell meat or maize at the Ronduit, in parties of + three canoes at a time, but only on condition that they sent + a flag of truce beforehand to give notice of their approach. + For their accommodation, on such occasions, a house was to + be built beyond the kill. + + "Should a Dutchman kill an Indian, or an Indian a Dutchman, + no war was to be declared. A complaint was to be lodged + against the murderer, who should be hanged in the presence + of both the contracting parties. All damages, by the killing + of cattle, were to be paid for; and this treaty was to be + annually ratified by the Esopus Indians. The Hackingsack and + Staten Island sachems were security for the faithful + observance of this contract; and were bound to co-operate + against either the Esopus Indians or the Dutch, whichever + might violate its terms." + +The peace thus secured gave universal satisfaction in the Dutch +settlements. Governor Stuyvesant devoutly proclaimed a day of general +thanks giving to God for the great blessing. + +It will be remembered that John Scott had received a commission from +Connecticut, and it was expected that, as their agent, he would cause +the English towns on western Long Island to be annexed to the +Connecticut province. Instead of this, those towns declared themselves +independent, and Scott allowed himself to be chosen their president. +The Court at Hartford, upon being made acquainted with these facts, +was very indignant. A proclamation was soon issued by the Assembly of +Connecticut, charging Scott with various high crimes and misdemeanors, +and ordering his arrest. A party of soldiers was sent under the +command of John Allyn, secretary, "to seize on the body of John +Scott." Mr. Allyn returned to the Honorable Court the following +interesting report of his procedure on the occasion: + + "When we came within sight of the house of John Scott we saw + him draw forth those men which came from New Haven to aid + him, with some others, unto a body. When we came up towards + the house, within twenty or thirty rods thereof. John Scott + commanded us, in his Majesty's name to stand, upon our + peril. John Scott charged us in his Majesty's name, to get + off from his land. John Scott desired to know what our + business was. + + "Then it was replied, by Nathaniel Seely, that he desired a + parley. John Scott granted a parley, and we met, each of us + with a couple of musketeers. Then Nathaniel Seely told him + that he had come to arrest him, and read the commission unto + him. When it was read Seely demanded of him whether he would + surrender himself according to commission? + + "John Scott replied that he would sacrifice his heart's + blood on the ground, before he would yield to him or any of + Connecticut jurisdiction. With that the New Haven men + answered, 'So will we.' John Scott said, 'Stay awhile and I + will fetch you a letter, from under Governor Winthrop's + hand, which I do not question much will satisfy you.' So he + went into the house and fetched it forth and read it before + us, bearing date as he said, of March 25, 1664. + + "It was concerning the governor's desiring him to meet him + to end some difference in the Narragansett country about a + tract of land. John Scott said, 'If you will return to your + body, I will fetch a commission under his Majesty's hand, + which shall command you all.' Whereupon he made a flourish + and said that he would go down unto the face of the company + and read it, and he would see if the proudest of them all + dared to lay hands upon him. 'Let them,' said he, 'take me + if they dare.' + + "Then he came down to the head of the company, and read the + commission, which he said had the seal manual upon it. + Whereupon he renewed his challenge that he would see if the + proudest of them all dared to lay hands upon him. Then + Nathaniel Seely arrested him in his Majesty's name to go + with him according to law." + +Scott was taken to Hartford and thrown into jail, where, it is said, +he experienced much harsh usage. Soon after this Governor John +Winthrop, from Hartford, visited the English Long Island towns, +removed the officers appointed by Scott, and installed others who +would be devoted to the interests of Connecticut. + +Governor Stuyvesant being informed of his presence, immediately +crossed the East river to Long Island, to meet the Connecticut +governor, who was thus encroaching upon the Dutch domains. He urged +upon Governor Winthrop the claims of Holland upon New Netherland, by +the apparently indubitable title of discovery, purchase and +possession, as well as by the clearly defined obligations of the +Hartford treaty of 1650. It will be remembered that by that treaty it +was expressly agreed that, + + "Upon Long Island a line run from the westernmost part of + Oyster Bay, in a straight and direct line to the sea, shall + be the bounds between the English and the Dutch there; the + easterly part to belong to the English, the westernmost part + to the Dutch." + +But here was Governor Winthrop, in total disregard of this treaty, +many miles west of this line, endeavoring to wrest several towns from +the Dutch dominion, and to annex them to the Connecticut colony. All +Governor Stuyvesant's arguments were unavailing. Governor Winthrop +paid no heed to them. He knew very well that the Dutch governor had no +military power with which to enforce his claims. Governor Winthrop +therefore contented himself with simply declaring that the whole of +Long Island belonged to the king of England. + +"All Governor Stuyvesant could address, writes O'Callaghan, + + "was of no avail. The country was the king's, the people his + subjects. When priority of title from the Indians was + invoked, those from whom the Dutch purchased were, it was + replied, not the right owners and had no right to sell. But + when deeds which the English held from natives, happened to + be older than those of their opponents, then the title could + not be gainsayed. All must be received without + contradiction. + + "The truth is, the Directors in Holland were mistaken in + their reliance upon Winthrop's friendship. He now manifested + the greatest hostility to the Dutch, and was the head and + front of all the opposition they experienced. He was no + doubt well-advised of the designs of the Duke of York, and + of his brother the king of England, which were about to + develop themselves against this province." + +While New Netherland was thus fearfully menaced by England, the +internal affairs of the province were in a state of prosperity. The +rich soil was producing abundant harvests and farms were extending in +all directions. Emigrants were continually arriving and were delighted +with their new homes. The population of the province now amounted to +full ten thousand. New Amsterdam was a flourishing city, containing +fifteen hundred inhabitants. + +This prosperity excited both the jealousy and the covetousness of the +British court. The king resolved, by one bold blow, to rob Holland of +all her American possessions. On the 12th of March, 1664, the king of +England granted to his brother James, the Duke of York, the whole of +Long Island, all the islands in its neighborhood, and all the lands +and rivers from the west side of Connecticut river to the east side of +Delaware Bay. This sweeping grant included the whole of New +Netherland. This was emphatically expelling the Dutch from the New +World. + +The first intimation Governor Stuyvesant received of this alarming +movement came to him from Boston. A young man, named Ford, brought the +tidings to New Amsterdam that a fleet of armed ships had sailed from +the naval depot in Portsmouth, England, to enter the Hudson river and +take possession of the whole territory. This intelligence created not +a little panic. The governor summoned his council, and it was decided +to exert every energy in fortifying the city. The hostile fleet might +make its appearance any day. + +Money was raised. Powder was ordered from the forts on the Delaware. +Agents were sent to New Haven to purchase provisions. As it was +expected that the fleet would come through the Sound, agents were +stationed along the shore, to transmit the tidings of its approach, so +soon as the sails should be seen in the distant horizon. Several +vessels on the point of sailing with supplies to Curacoa were +detained. + +So secretly had the British government moved in this enterprise, that +the governmental authorities, in Holland, had not the slightest +suspicion of the peril to which their colony in New Netherland was +exposed. At the moment when all was agitation in New Amsterdam, and +every hand was busy preparing for the defence, Governor Stuyvesant +received dispatches from Holland, assuring him that no apprehension of +danger from England need be entertained. + +"The king of England," it was said, + + "is only desirous of reducing his colonies to uniformity in + Church and State. With this view he has dispatched some + commissioners with two or three frigates, to New England, to + introduce Episcopacy in that quarter." + +It was supposed in Holland, that this intolerant policy would +strengthen the Dutch interests in America; that the religious freedom, +which the States-General insisted upon, would invite to New Netherland +from all the countries of Europe, those who were not willing to +conform to the doctrines and ritual of the Church of England. + +Governor Stuyvesant, upon receiving these dispatches from the home +government, felt relieved of all anxiety. He had no doubt that the +previous rumor which had reached him was false. Neither he nor his +council anticipated any difficulty. The whole community indulged in +the sense of security. The work on the fortifications was stopped; the +vessels sailed to Curacoa, and the governor went up the river to fort +Orange. A desolating war had broken out between the Indian tribes +there, which raged with such ferocity that the colonists were full of +alarm for their own lives and property. + +But the English fleet was rapidly approaching. It consisted of four +frigates, containing in all an armament of ninety-four guns. This was +a force to which defenceless New Amsterdam could present no +resistance. + +The fleet put into Boston the latter part of July, and the +commissioners applied to both Massachusetts and Connecticut for aid in +their military expedition against the Dutch. But the Puritans of +Massachusetts found innumerable obstacles in the way of rendering any +assistance. They feared that the king of England, having reduced the +Dutch, would be induced to extend his arbitrary sway, both civil and +religious, over those colonists who were exiles from their native +land, simply that they might enjoy freedom to worship God. + +Connecticut, however, hoped that the conquest of New Netherland might +annex the magnificent domain to their own region. Governor Winthrop, +of Hartford, manifested so much alacrity in the cause, that he was +invited to meet the British squadron, at the west end of Long Island, +to which point it would sail with the first fair wind. + +Colonel Richard Nicholls was in command of the expedition. Three +commissioners were associated with him. They had received instructions +to visit the several New England colonies, and to require them, "to +join and assist vigorously in reducing the Dutch to subjection." The +Duke of York, soon after the departure of the squadron, conveyed to +Lord Berkeley and Sir George Carteret all the territory between the +Hudson and Delaware rivers, from Cape May north to forty-one degrees +and forty minutes of latitude, "hereafter to be called Nova Caesarea or +New Jersey." + +A friend of Governor Stuyvesant, in Boston, sent word to New Amsterdam +of the arrival of the fleet and its destination. An express was +instantly dispatched to Albany to recall the Governor. He hurried back +to the capitol, much chagrined by the thought that he had lost three +weeks. Every able-bodied man was immediately summoned to work at the +city defences, "with spade, shovel and wheelbarrow." This working +party was divided into three classes, one of which was to labor every +day. A permanent guard was organized. The brewers were forbidden to +malt any more grain, that it all might be reserved for food. Six +pieces of cannon were added to the fourteen already mounted. The +garrison at Esopus was summoned to the defence. + +About the 20th of August, the English squadron anchored in Nyack Bay, +just below the Narrows, between New Utrecht and Coney Island. A strict +blockade of the river was established. All communication between Long +Island and Manhattan was cut off. Several vessels were captured. Upon +Staten Island, about three miles from where the frigates rode at +anchor, there was a small fort, a block-house, about twenty feet +square. It had been constructed for defence against the savages. For +its armament it had two small guns, carrying one pound balls, and a +garrison of six old invalid soldiers. A party was sent on shore, in +the boats, which captured the fort and also a lot of cattle. + +The next morning, which was Saturday, Colonel Nicholls sent a +delegation of four men up to fort Amsterdam, with a summons for the +surrender of "the town situated on the island commonly known by the +name of Manhattoes, with all the forts thereunto belonging." At the +same time proclamations were scattered abroad, forbidding the farmers +from furnishing any supplies to the Dutch garrison, under penalty of +having their houses fired. All the inhabitants of the surrounding +villages, who would quietly submit to his Britannic Majesty, were +promised the safe possession of their property. Those who should +otherwise demean themselves were threatened with all the miseries of +war. + +Governor Stuyvesant had but one hundred soldiers in garrison. He could +not place much reliance upon the aid of undisciplined citizens. Still +his brave spirit was disposed to present a desperate resistance. He +called his council together, but was unwilling to have the people know +the nature of the summons, lest they should clamor for a surrender. + +But the citizens held a meeting, voted in favor of non-resistance, and +demanded an authentic copy of the communication, which had been +received from the commander of the English fleet. They adjourned to +meet on Monday morning to receive the reply. Governor Stuyvesant was +greatly distressed. After the Sabbath he went to the meeting in +person, and endeavored to convince those present of the impropriety of +their demands. But the citizens, trembling in view of the bombardment +of the town, were in no mood to listen to his persuasions. + +It was not needful for the English to be in any hurry. The prey was +entirely within their grasp. It will be remembered that Governor +Winthrop of Hartford, had joined the expedition. Colonel Nicholls +addressed a letter to Governor Winthrop, requesting him to visit the +city under a flag of truce, and communicate the contents to Governor +Stuyvesant. The Dutch governor came out of the fort to receive the +letter, and then returned into the fort to read it. The following was +the letter: + +"Mr. Winthrop:-- + +"As to those particulars you spoke to me, I do assure you that if the +Manhadoes be delivered up to his Majesty, I shall not hinder but any +people from the Netherlands may freely come and plant there or +thereabouts. And such vessels of their own country, may freely come +thither. And any of them may as freely return home, in vessels of +their own country; and this and much more is contained in the +privilege of his Majesty's English subjects. This much you may, by +what means you please, assure the governor from, Sir, your +affectionate servant, + +"Richard Nicholls. + +"August 22, 1664. O.S." + +The Council demanded that this letter should be exhibited to the +people. The governor refused, saying that it would be quite +unfavorable to the defence to communicate such intelligence to the +inhabitants. As the council persisted, the governor, in a passion, +tore up the letter and trampled it beneath, his feet. The rumor spread +rapidly that a flag of truce had come. + +The citizens collected in a large and excited gathering, and sent a +delegation of three persons to demand of the governor the +communication which he had received from the hostile fleet. Threats +were uttered. Curses were heard. Resistance was declared to be +madness. The universal voice clamored for the letter. The community +was upon the eve of mutiny. + +At length Stuyvesant yielded. A copy of the letter was made out from +the fragments, and it was read to the people. This increased their +disposition to capitulate. Still the indomitable governor could not +endure the thought of surrendering the majestic province of New +Netherland to a force of four frigates. He regarded the movement, on +the part of the English, as an atrocious act of highway robbery. But +he was well aware that there was no escape from the sacrifice. + +In the night he sent a vessel, "silently through Hell Gate," to the +Directors in Holland, with the following laconic dispatch. "Long +Island is gone and lost. The capitol cannot hold out long." When a +man's heart is broken his words are few. + +Much of the night the governor spent in drawing up a strong +remonstrance, in answer to the message of Colonel Nicholls. All the +argument was with the Dutch. All the force was with the English. But +when argument and force come into collision in this wicked world, +argument must generally yield. + +In the very able manifesto of the governor, he traced the history of +the country from the earliest period to the present time. He deduced +the title of the Dutch, to the territory, from the three great +principles of Discovery, Settlement, and Purchase from the Indians. He +severely denounced the pretence, now put forth by the English, that +his, "Britannic Majesty had an indisputable right to all the lands in +the north parts of America." Courteously he added that he was +confident that if his Majesty had been well informed in the premises, +his high sense of justice would have dissuaded him from authorizing +the present hostile demonstration. In conclusion he said, + + "In case you will act by force of arms, we protest before + God and man, that you will perform an act of unjust + violence. You will violate the articles of peace solemnly + ratified by his Majesty of England, and my Lords the + States-General. Again for the prevention of the spilling of + innocent blood, not only here but in Europe, we offer you a + treaty by our deputies. As regards your threats we have no + answer to make, only that we fear nothing but what God may + lay upon us. All things are at His disposal, and we can be + preserved by Him with small forces as well as by a great + army." + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + + + + +THE CAPTURE OF NEW AMSTERDAM. + + + + The Approach of the Fleet.--The Governor Unjustly + Censured.--The Flag of Truce.--The Haughty Response.--The + Remonstrance.--The Defenceless City.--The Surrender.--The + Expedition to the Delaware.--Sack and Plunder.--Change of + Name.--Testimony to the Dutch Government.--Death of the + Governor.--His farm, or Bouwerie.--War Between Holland and + England.--New York Menaced by the Dutch. + + +The only response which Colonel Nicholls deigned to make to the +remonstrance of Governor Stuyvesant, was to put his fleet in motion. A +party of soldiers, infantry and cavalry, was landed on Long Island, +and they advanced rapidly through the forest, to the little cluster of +huts which were scattered along the silent and solitary shores of +Brooklyn. These troops were generally volunteers from Connecticut and +from the English settlements on Long Island. + +The fleet then ascended through the Narrows, and two of the frigates +disembarked a number of regular troops just below Brooklyn, to support +the volunteers. Two of the frigates, one mounting thirty-six guns, and +the other thirty, coming up under full sail, passed directly within +range of the guns of the fort, and cast anchor between the fort and +Nutten or Governor's Island. + +Stuyvesant stood at one of the angles of the fortress as the frigates +passed by. It was a critical moment. The fate of the city and the +lives of its inhabitants trembled in the balance. The guns were loaded +and shotted, and the gunners stood by with their burning matches. A +word from the impetuous Stuyvesant would have opened upon the city all +the horrors of a bombardment. There were but about twenty guns in the +fort. There were sixty-six in the two frigates, whose portholes were +opened upon the city; and there were two other frigates just at hand, +prepared to bring twenty-eight guns more into the fray. + +As Governor Stuyvesant stood at that point, burning with indignation, +with the word to fire almost upon his lips, the two clergymen of the +place, Messrs. Megapolensis and son, came up and entreated him not to +be the first to shed blood in a hopeless conflict. Their persuasions +induced the governor to leave the rampart, and intrusting the defence +of the fort to fifty men, to take the remainder of the garrison, one +hundred in number, to repel if possible, the English, should they +attempt a landing. The governor still cherished a faint hope that some +accommodation could yet be agreed upon. + +The Directors in Holland subsequently, with great severity and, as we +think, with great injustice, censured Governor Stuyvesant for his +conduct on this occasion. The whole population of the little city was +but fifteen hundred. Of them not more than two hundred and fifty were +able to bear arms, in addition to the one hundred and fifty regular +troops in garrison. And yet the Directors in Holland wrote, in the +following cruel terms, to the heroic governor: + + "It is an act which can never be justified, that a Director + General should stand between the gabions, while the hostile + frigates pass the fort, and the mouths of twenty pieces of + cannon, and yet give no orders to prevent it. It is + unpardonable that he should lend his ear to preachers, and + other chicken-hearted persons, demeaning himself as if he + were willing to fire, and yet to allow himself to be led in + from the bulwark between the preachers. When the frigates + had sailed past, he became so troubled that he must then + first go out to prevent their landing. The excuse, that it + was resolved not to begin hostilities, is very poor, for the + English had committed every hostile act." + +The governor immediately sent to Colonel Nicholls a flag of truce +conveyed by four of the most distinguished officers of State. Through +them he said: + + "I feel obliged to defend the city, in obedience to orders. + It is inevitable that much blood will be shed on the + occurrence of the assault. Cannot some accommodation yet be + agreed upon? Friends will be welcome if they come in a + friendly manner." + +The laconic, decisive and insulting response of Colonel Nicholls was: + + "I have nothing to do but to execute my mission. To + accomplish that I hope to have further conversation with you + on the morrow, at the Manhattans. You say that friends will + be welcome, if they come in a friendly manner. I shall come + with ships and soldiers. And he will be bold indeed who will + dare to come on board my ships, to demand an answer or to + solicit terms. What then is to be done? Hoist the white flag + of surrender, and then something may be considered." + +When this imperious message became known it created the greatest +consternation throughout the city. Men, women and children flocked to +the governor, and, with tears in their eyes, implored him to submit. A +brief bombardment would cause the death of hundreds, and would lay the +city in ashes. "I had rather," the governor replied, "be carried a +corpse to my grave, than to surrender the city." + +The civic authority, the clergy and the commanders of the Burgher +corps, promptly assembled in the City Hall and drew up the following +earnest remonstrance, which was immediately presented to the governor +and his council. We give it slightly abbreviated. + + * * * * * + + "Right Honorable! We, your sorrowful subjects, beg to + represent, in these sad circumstances, that having maturely + weighed what was necessary to be done, we cannot foresee, + for this fort and city of Manhattans, in further resistance, + aught else than misery, sorrow, and conflagration; the + dishonor of women, the murder of children, and in a word the + absolute ruin of fifteen hundred innocent souls, only two + hundred and fifty of whom are capable of bearing arms. + + "You are aware that four of the English king's frigates are + now in the roadstead, with six hundred soldiers on board. + They have also commissions to all the governors of New + England, a populous and thickly inhabited country, to + impress troops, in addition to the forces already on board, + for the purpose of reducing New Netherland to his Majesty's + obedience. + + "These threats we would not have regarded, could we expect + the smallest aid. But, God help us, where shall we turn for + assistance, to the north or to the south, to the east or to + the west? 'Tis all in vain. On all sides we are encompassed + and hemmed in by our enemies. If, on the other hand, we + examine our internal strength, alas! it is so feeble and + impotent that unless we ascribe the circumstance to the + mercy of God, we cannot sufficiently express our + astonishment that the foe should have granted us so long a + reprieve. He could have delivered us a prey to the soldiery + after one summons. + + "We shall now examine your Honors' fortress. You know that + it is incapable of making head three days, against so + powerful an enemy. Even could it hold out one, two, three, + four, five or six months, which to our sorrow it cannot do, + it is still undeniable that it cannot save the smallest + portion of our entire city, our property and what is dearer + to us, our wives and children, from total ruin. And after + considerable bloodshed the fort itself could not be + preserved. + + "Wherefore, to prevent the aforesaid misfortunes, we humbly, + and in bitterness of heart, implore your Honors not to + reject the conditions of so generous a foe, but to be + pleased to meet him in the speediest, best and most + reputable manner. Otherwise, which God forbid, we are + obliged to protest before God and the world; and to call + down upon your Honors the vengeance of Heaven for all the + innocent blood which shall be shed in consequence of your + Honors' obstinacy; inasmuch as the commissioners have this + day informed us that the English general has stated that he + shall not wait any longer than this day. + + "We trust your Honors will not question that to God, who + seeks not the death of the sinner, belongs obedience rather + than to man. We feel certain that your Honors will exhibit + yourselves, in this pressing exigency and sorrowful season, + as men and christians, and conclude with God's help, an + honorable and reasonable capitulation. May the Lord our God + be pleased to grant this to us, Amen." + + * * * * * + +The above memorial was signed by ninety-four of the most prominent +citizens of New Amsterdam. One of these signers was the governor's +son. All our readers will perceive that the situation of the governor +had become one of extreme difficulty. A fleet and army of great +strength for the time and the occasion were before him. This force +held in reserve the whole military power of New England. The civic +officers and citizens of New Amsterdam, headed by the governor's own +son, were loud in their remonstrance against any defence, and were +almost in a state of mutiny. + +The condition of the city was such that the idea of standing a siege +was not for a moment to be thought of. Along the banks of the North +and East rivers, the village, for the little cluster of three hundred +houses was but a village, was entirely exposed. Upon the land side, +running from river to river, there was a slight fence composed of old +and decayed palisades, which scores of years before had been a +protection against the savages. In front of this fence there were the +remains of a storm-washed breastwork, about three feet high and two +feet wide. + +The crumbling fort was pronounced by all to be untenable. It was +originally constructed as a retreat from the savages, who could only +assail it with arrows and hatchets and a few musket balls. It was +surrounded by an earthen rampart, about ten feet high and three or +four feet thick. In all, there were twenty-four cannons within the +enclosure, which was unprotected by any ditch or palisades. In the +rear, where the throngs of Broadway now press along, there was a +series of forest-crowned eminences whose solitary summits were +threaded by an Indian trail. These hills commanded the fort. From +their crests the soles of the feet, it was said, of those walking in +the squares within, could be seen. There were not five hundred pounds +of powder in store fit for use. The gunners declared that a few hours +of fighting would exhaust it all. The stock of provisions was equally +low, and there was not a well of water within the fort. + +It is probable that the majority of common soldiers, in almost any +regular army, is composed of dissolute worthless men. There are but +few persons but the lost and the reckless who will enlist to spend +their days in shouldering a musket. A young man of good character can +do better than convert himself into a part of such a military machine. +The garrison at New Amsterdam was composed of the off-scouring of +Europe. They were ready to fight under any banner which would pay +them. They were eager for the conflict with the English. At the first +volley they would throw aside their guns and join the English in the +plunder. One of them was heard saying to an applauding group: + + "Now we hope for a chance to pepper these devilish Dutch + traders. They have salted us too long. We know where their + booty is stored. And we know also where the young girls live + who wear gold chains." + +Under these circumstances the governor was compelled to yield. He +appointed six commissioners to confer with the same number of the +English. The parties met at Governor Stuyvesant's residence on his +farm or bouwerie, at eight o'clock in the morning of August 27th. The +terms were speedily settled, for the English would enforce any demands +which they were disposed to make. There were twenty-three articles of +agreement, entering into many details. The substance was that New +Netherland passed over entirely to the English. The Dutch retained +their property. If any chose to leave the country they could do so. +The ships of the Dutch merchants could, for the six months next +ensuing, trade freely with the Netherlands, as heretofore. The people +were to be allowed liberty of conscience in divine worship and church +discipline. No Dutchman should be impressed to serve in war against +any nation whatever. All the inferior civil officers were allowed to +continue in office until the next election, when they would be +required to take the oath of allegiance to the king of England. + +The next day was Sunday. These articles were therefore not ratified +until eight o'clock Monday morning. It was agreed that within two +hours after the ratification, "the fort and town called New Amsterdam, +upon the island of Manhatoes," should be delivered up. The military +officers of the fort, and the soldiers were to be permitted to march +from their intrenchments with their arms, drums beating and colors +flying. + +Colonel Nicholls took possession of the government. He changed the +name of the city from New Amsterdam to New York, in honor of the Duke +of York, the brother of the King of England. The fort was called fort +James. Colonel Nicholls became the deputy governor for James, the Duke +of York, in administering the affairs of the extended realms which the +British government had thus perfidiously seized. We regret to say, but +history will bear us out in the assertion, that there is no government +in Christendom whose annals are sullied with so many acts of +unmitigated villany as the government of Great Britain. + +Colonel Nicholls immediately sent an armed force up the river, to take +possession of fort Orange; and another to the Delaware, to unfurl the +English flag over New Amstel. The name of fort Orange was changed to +fort Albany, the second title of the Duke of York. Three frigates were +sent to the Delaware. The severest punishment was denounced against +the Dutch and Swedes there, should they make any resistance. The same +terms were offered them which were granted to the people at New +Amsterdam. + +The command of this expedition was entrusted to Sir Robert Carr. +Notwithstanding the sacred stipulations into which Carr had entered, +he trampled them all beneath his feet. Governor Stuyvesant writes, + + "At New Amstel, on the South river, notwithstanding they + offered no resistance, but demanded good treatment, which + however they did not obtain, they were invaded, stript bare, + plundered, and many of them sold as slaves in Virginia." + +This testimony is corroborated by a London document, which says, + + "From the city and the inhabitants thereabout were taken one + hundred sheep, thirty or forty horses, fifty or sixty cows + and oxen, between sixty and seventy negroes, the brew-house + still-house and all the material thereunto belonging. The + produce of the land, such as corn, hay, etc., was also + seized for the king's use, together with the cargo that was + unsold, and the bills of what had been disposed of, to the + value of four thousand pounds sterling. + + "The Dutch soldiers were taken prisoners, and given up to + the merchant-man that was there, in payment for his + services; and they were transported into Virginia to be + sold. All sorts of tools for handicraft tradesmen, and all + plough gear, and other things to cultivate the ground, which + were in store in great quantity, were likewise seized, + together with a sawmill ready to set up, and nine sea buoys + with their iron chains. + + "Even the inoffensive Menonists, though thoroughly + non-combatant from principle, did not escape the sack and + plunder to which the whole river was subjected by Carr and + his co-marauders. A boat was dispatched to their settlement, + which was stripped of everything, even to a very nail." + +At New Amsterdam, Colonel Nicholls paid more respect to the terms of +the treaty. Citizens, residing there, were not robbed of their private +property. But the gentlemen of the West India Company, in Holland, +found all their property mercilessly confiscated. Colonel Nicholls +seized on everything upon which he could lay his hand. He seemed +anxious to eradicate every vestige of the former power. This property +was sold at auction that it might thus be distributed among a large +number of individual owners. The Colonel shrewdly imagined that he +might thus interest all these persons in the maintenance of the new +power. + +History has but one voice, and that of the severest condemnation, in +reference to these transactions on the part of the English government. +Mr. O'Callaghan writes: + + "Thus was fitly consummated an act of spoliation which, in a + period of profound peace, wrested this province from the + rightful owners, by violating all public justice and + infringing all public law. The only additional outrage that + remained was to impose on the country the name of one + unknown in history, save as a bigot and a tyrant, the enemy + of religious and political freedom wherever he ruled. New + Netherland was accordingly called New York." + +Hon. Benjamin F. Butler, in his outline of the State of New York +writes, "In the history of the royal ingrates by whom it was planned +and for whose benefit it was perpetrated, there are few acts more +base, none more characteristic." + +Mr. Brodhead, in his admirable History of the State of New York, says, + + "The flag of England was, at length, triumphantly displayed + where for half a century that of Holland had triumphantly + waved; and from Virginia to Canada, the king of Great + Britain was acknowledged as sovereign. Whatever may have + been its ultimate consequences, this treacherous and violent + seizure of the territory and possessions of an unsuspecting + ally, was no less a breach of private justice than of public + faith. It may indeed be affirmed that, among all the acts of + selfish perfidy which royal ingratitude conceived and + executed, there have been few more characteristic and none + more base." + +Thus the Dutch dominion in North America passed forever away. I cannot +refrain from quoting the just tribute to the Dutch government +contained in Mr. Brodhead's History. "Holland," he writes, + + "has long been the theme for the ridicule of British + writers; and even in this country the character and manners + of the Dutch have been made the subjects of an unworthy + depreciation. Yet, without undervaluing others, it may + confidently be claimed that, to no nation in the world is + the Republic of the West more indebted than to the United + Provinces, for the idea of the confederation of sovereign + States; for noble principles of constitutional freedom; for + magnanimous sentiments of religious toleration; for + characteristic sympathy with subjects of oppression; for + liberal doctrines in trade and commerce; for illustrious + patterns of public integrity and private virtue, and for + generous and timely aid in the establishment of + independence. Nowhere among the people of the United States + can men be found excelling in honesty, industry, courtesy or + accomplishment, the posterity of the early Dutch settlers of + New Netherland." + +Soon after the surrender, Governor Stuyvesant was recalled to Europe +to vindicate his conduct. The severest charges were brought against +him. He addressed to the States-General an "Account of the +Circumstances preceding the surrender of New Netherland." It was a +triumphant vindication of his conduct. But the unfortunate are rarely +treated with justice. The pride of Holland was deeply touched by the +loss of its North American possessions. Governor Stuyvesant soon +returned to New York, and lived in much seclusion in his spacious +house on his farm, until he died, in the year 1672. The governor's +remains were entombed at his chapel in the Bouwery, now St. Mark's +Church. + +There were two roads which led from the fort at the Battery, to the +northern part of the island. One of these followed along the present +line of Broadway to what is now the Park, which was at that time a +large unenclosed open field far out of town called the Common. The +road then wound along by the southeastern side of the common and by +the line of Chatham street and the Bouwery out to Harlaem. This became +eventually the "Old Post Road" to Boston. Governor Stuyvesant's +Bouwery consisted of many acres of land. The farm embraced the land in +the region of Third avenue and Thirteenth street. In the spring of +1647, a pear tree was planted upon this spot, which was long known as +"Stuyvesant's pear tree." For more than two centuries it continued to +bear fruit. In its latter years, this venerable relic of the past was +cherished with the utmost care. It presented many touching indications +of its extreme old age. In its two hundred and twentieth year it +bloomed for the last time. "Since the fall of the tree," writes Mr. +Stone, "a promising shoot from the ancient stock has taken its place, +and shows a hardy vigor which may yet enable it to rival its +progenitor in age." + +In the year 1665, the year which followed the capture of the city, war +broke out between England and Holland. It was then generally expected +that the States of Holland would make an attempt to recover the lost +territory of New Netherland. It was rumored that De Ruyter, one of the +Dutch Admirals, had actually set sail, with a large squadron, for New +York. The rumor caused great commotion in the city. The national +spirit of the Dutch residents was roused to intensity. De Ruyter had +indeed sailed with the object of recapturing the province. + +Colonel Nicholls was a man of great energy. He immediately commenced +with all vigor, the work of repairing the crumbling fortifications, +and of erecting new ones. But he found none to co-operate heartily +with him, save the few English soldiers, whose bayonets held the +conquered province in subjection. A meeting of all the Dutch +inhabitants was called to ascertain the tone of public sentiment, and +to endeavor to inspire the community with some enthusiasm for the +defence. + +But no enthusiasm was elicited. The Dutch were not at all unwilling +that their countrymen should come back and reclaim their own. Even to +defend themselves from the humiliation of conquest, by their English +assailants, they had not been willing to submit to a bombardment. Much +less were they now willing to subject themselves to the horrors of +war, when the flag of Holland was approaching for their deliverance. +They did not venture however, openly to oppose the ruler whom the +fortunes of war had set over them, or to express sympathy for the +success of the approaching fleet, which might be pronounced treason, +and might expose them to severe punishment. + +They contented themselves with manifesting entire indifference, or in +offering sundry excuses. They very sensibly assumed the ground that +they were a feeble defenceless colony, far away in the wilderness, +entirely unable to cope with the forces which the great maritime +powers of England or Holland might send against them. When an English +fleet opened the portholes of its broadsides upon their little +village, they could do nothing but surrender. Should a fleet from +Holland now anchor in their waters they must let events take their +natural course. + +Colonel Nicholls, as governor, had gifts of honor and opulence in his +hands. As was to have been expected, there were a few Dutch citizens +who were eager to gratify the governor by co-operating with him in all +his plans. This number, however, was small. The great mass of the +citizens assumed an air of indifference, while, in heart, they longed +for the appearance of the Dutch fleet in such strength as to render +resistance impossible. + +But either the storms of the ocean, or some other engagements, +arrested the progress of the squadron, until after the rupture between +England and Holland was temporarily healed. Colonel Nicholls remained +in command at New York about four years. His administration was as +popular as could reasonably have been expected under the +circumstances. He gradually relaxed the severity of his rule, and +wisely endeavored to promote the prosperity of the colony. The +conquest had retarded the tide of emigration from Holland, and had +given a new impulse to that from England. The Dutch gradually became +reconciled to his rule. They enjoyed all the rights and immunities +which were conferred upon any of the subjects of England in her +American colonies. Out of respect to the governor they organized two +militia companies, the officers of which were from the most +distinguished of the Dutch citizens, and they received their +commissions from him. + +In August of 1668, Colonel Nicholls, at his own request, was recalled, +and he returned to England. The Dutch did not love him, for they never +could forget the circumstances under which he had conquered their +province. But he had won their respect. As he embarked for the shores +of England the great body of the citizens complimented him by a +respectful leave-taking. + +Colonel Nicholls was succeeded in the government of the province, by +Colonel Francis Lovelace. He was an English officer of respectable +abilities, and of worthy character. Under his sway, New York for five +years, until 1673, enjoyed prosperity and peace. New agitations then +took place. + +The peace, of which we have spoken, between England and Holland, was +of but transient duration. In 1672 war was again declared by England. +The conflict which ensued was mainly upon the ocean. New York had so +grown since its conquest by the English, and could so easily be +reinforced by almost any number of men from populous New England, that +the Dutch did not think that there was any chance of their then being +able to regain the colony. They, however, fitted out a fleet of five +ships, to cruise along the coast of North America, destroy the +English, and inflict such injury upon any and all of the English +colonies as might be in their power. + +Governor Lovelace had no idea that any Dutch ships would venture +through the Narrows. He made no special effort to strengthen the +defences of New York. Early in February he went to Westchester county, +to visit at the residence of his friend Mr. Pell. This was quite a +journey in those days. The command of the fort was entrusted, during +his absence to Captain John Manning. + +A vessel entered the port, bringing the intelligence that a Dutch +fleet had been seen off the coast of Virginia, sailing in the +direction of New York. This created great commotion. A dispatch was +sent, in the utmost haste, to the governor, summoning his return. He +promptly mustered, for the defence, all the forces he could raise in +the city and neighboring counties, and soon five hundred armed men +were parading the streets of New York. + +It proved a false dream. No enemy appeared. The troops were disbanded. +They returned to their homes. The community was lulled into a very +false sense of security. In July, the governor again was absent, on a +visit to Connecticut. On the 29th of July the Dutch fleet appeared at +Sandy Hook, and, learning from some of the inhabitants of Long Island, +whose sympathies were still cordially with the fatherland, that the +city was entirely defenceless and could easily be taken, ventured to +try the experiment. They had not approached the bay with any such +design. They had supposed their force entirely inadequate for so +important a capture. The fleet quietly sailed up the bay and, as the +English fleet had done but a few years before, anchored opposite the +Battery, and turned their broadsides towards the city. + +Colonel Manning sent a hurried despatch to the governor, who could by +no possibility return for several days, and fluttered about in the +attempt to beat up recruits. But no recruits were forthcoming. The +sight of the flag of Holland, again triumphantly floating in the +harbor, was joyful to many eyes. + +The great majority of the people, in the city and in the country, were +of Dutch descent. Consequently the recruiting parties which were +raised, were in no mood to peril their lives in defence of the flag of +England. Indeed it is said that one party of the recruits marched to +the Battery and deliberately spiked several of the guns, opposite the +City-hall. + +It was a most singular revolution of the wheel of fortune. Captain +Manning had but fifty soldiers within the fort. None of these were +willing to fight. One-half of them were such raw recruits that captain +Manning said that they had never put their heads over the ramparts. A +few broadsides from the Dutch fleet would dismount every gun in the +fort, and put to flight all the defenders who should survive the +volley. This was alike obvious to the assailants and the assailed. + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + + + + +THE FINAL SURRENDER. + + + + The Summons.--The Bombardment.--Disembarkation of the Land + Force.--Indecision of Captain Manning.--The + Surrender.--Short Administration of the Dutch.--Social + Customs.--The Tea Party.--Testimony of Travellers.--Visit to + Long Island.--Fruitfulness of the Country.--Exploration of + Manhattan Island. + + +The Dutch ships, having anchored and prepared themselves for the +immediate opening of the bombardment, a boat was sent on shore with a +flag of truce, to demand the surrender of the city. At the same time a +boat was sent by Colonel Manning, from the fort to the ships. The +boats passed each other without any interchange of words. Colonel +Manning's boat bore simply the message to the Dutch Admirals, "Why do +you come in such a hostile manner to disturb his Majesty's subjects in +this place?" As England and Holland were then engaged in open war, one +would hardly think that such an inquiry was then called for. When +Colonel Nicholls came to New Amsterdam with his English fleet, the two +nations were in friendly alliance. Such a question then would have +been very appropriate. + +The boat from the Dutch fleet bore a flag of truce at its stern, and +was accompanied by a trumpeter, who asked for the English officer in +command and presented the following message to Colonel Manning: + + "The force of war, now lying in your sight, is sent by the + High and Mighty States-General and his serene Highness the + Prince of Orange, for the purpose of destroying their + enemies. We have sent you therefore, this letter, together + with our trumpeter, to the end that, upon the sight hereof, + you surrender unto us the fort called James, promising good + quarter; or by your refusal we shall be obliged to proceed, + both by land and water, in such manner as we shall find to + be most advantageous for the High and Mighty States." + +Captain Manning returned an answer simply acknowledging the receipt of +the message, and informing the Dutch Admirals that he had already +dispatched officers to communicate with him. He promised upon the +return of those messengers to give a definite reply to his summons. + +The Dutch Admirals, Benckes and Evertson, were not disposed to waste +any time in parleying. They probably remembered the circumstances +under which the province of New Netherland had been wrested from them +by its present possessors, and they rejoiced that the hour of +retribution had thus unexpectedly come. + +They therefore sent back word that their batteries were loaded and +shotted and ready to open fire; that one half hour and one half hour +only, would be granted for deliberation; that immediately upon the +arrival of the boat at the fort the half hour glass would be turned +up; and that if, when its last sands fell, the white flag of surrender +were not raised upon the fort, the bombardment would be commenced. + +The last sands fell and no white flag appeared. Instantly the thunder +of a cannon echoed over the bay, and a storm of iron hail came +crashing upon the frail fort, killing and wounding a number of men. +Volley after volley succeeded without any intermission. Captain +Manning made no attempt to return the fire. He and his powerless +garrison hurried to places of safety, leaving the ramparts to be +ploughed up and the barracks to be battered down without any +resistance. + +While this cannonade was going on, the Dutch Admirals manned their +boats with a land force of six hundred men, and they were disembarked +upon the shore of the island without encountering any foe. The little +band of English soldiers was powerless, and the Dutch inhabitants were +much more disposed to welcome their countrymen as deliverers than to +oppose them as enemies. These Dutch troops were armed with hand +grenades and such other weapons as were deemed necessary to take the +place by storm. Rapidly they marched through the fields to the Common, +now called the Park. It was, as we have mentioned, nearly a mile north +from the fort. + +Here they formed in column to march upon the town, under their leader, +Captain Colve. The English commander, Captain Manning, sent three of +his subordinate officers, without any definite message, to Captain +Colve, to talk over the question of a capitulation. It would seem that +Captain Manning was quite incompetent for the post he occupied. He was +bewildered and knew not what to do. As his envoys had no proposals to +make, two of them were detained and held under the Dutch standard, +while the third, Captain Carr, was sent back to inform the English +commander that if in one quarter of an hour the place were not +surrendered, it would be taken by storm. In the meantime the troops +were put upon the march. + +Captain Carr, aware of the indecision of Captain Manning and of the +personal peril he, as an Englishman, would encounter, with six hundred +Dutch soldiers sweeping the streets, burning with the desire to avenge +past wrongs, did not venture back into the town with his report, but +fled into the interior of the island. The troops pressed on to the +head of Broadway, where a trumpeter was sent forward to receive the +answer to the summons which it was supposed had been made. He speedily +returned, saying that the commander of the fort had, as yet, obtained +no answer from the commissioners he had sent to receive from the Dutch +commander his propositions. + +Captain Colve supposed that he was trifled with. Indignantly he +exclaimed "They are not to play the fool with us in this way, forward +march." With the beat of drums and trumpet peals and waving banners +his solid columns marched down the Broadway road to the little cluster +of about three hundred houses, at the extreme southern point of the +island. An army of six hundred men at that time and place presented a +very imposing and terrible military array. In front of his troops the +two commissioners who had been detained, were marched under guard. + +As they approached the fort, Captain Manning sent another flag of +truce to the Dutch commander, with the statement that he was ready to +surrender the fort with all its arms and ammunition, if the officers +and soldiers were permitted to march out with their private property +and to the music of their band. These terms were acceded to. The +English troops, with no triumphal strains, vacated the fort. The Dutch +banners soon waved from the ramparts, cheered by the acclaim of the +conquerors. + +Captain Manning was, in his turn, as severely censured by the people +of the English colonies in America, and by the home government, as +Governor Stuyvesant had been on the day of his misfortune. English +pride was grievously mortified, that the commandant of an English fort +should allow himself to be fired upon for hours without returning a +shot. + +The unfortunate captain was subsequently tried by court-martial for +cowardice and treachery. He was condemned. His sword was broken over +his head and he was declared incompetent forever to hold any station +of trust or authority under the government. Governor Lovelace was +condemned for neglect of duty. He received a severe reprimand, and all +his property was confiscated to the Duke of York. + +The victorious Dutch commanders appointed Captain Colve as governor of +recaptured New Netherland. With great energy he commenced his rule. +The name of New York was changed to New Orange, and fort James became +fort Hendrick. Work was immediately commenced upon the fortifications, +and large sums of money were expended upon them, so that within two +months they were deemed so strong that it was thought that no English +fleet would dare to venture within range of their guns. The whole city +assumed the aspect of a military post. Nearly every citizen was +trained to arms. The Common, now the Park, was the parade ground where +the troops were daily drilled. It was very firmly resolved that the +city should not again surrender without the firing of a gun. + +The municipal institutions were all re-organized to conform to those +of the fatherland. This second administration of the Dutch was of but +short duration. On the 9th of January, 1674, but about three months +after the re-capture of the city, a treaty of peace was signed between +England and Holland. The sixth article of this treaty read as follows, + + "Whatsoever countries, islands, ports, towns, castles or + forts have been taken on both sides, since the time that the + late unhappy war broke out, either in Europe or elsewhere, + shall be restored to the former lord or proprietor in the + same condition they shall be in when peace itself shall be + proclaimed." + +Several months however transpired before the actual re-surrender of +the city to the English. On the 10th of November 1674, a little more +than one year after the capture of the city by the Dutch, this change +took place. Mr. David V. Valentine writes: + + "This event was not distasteful to the great body of the + citizens, whose national sentiment had, in a measure, given + way before the obvious advantages to their individual + interests of having a settled authority established over + them, with the additional privilege of English institutions + which were then considered of a liberal tendency." + +In conclusion, we have but a few words to say respecting the manners +and customs in the thriving little village of New York, in these +primitive days. People were then, to say the least, as happy as they +are now. Food was abundant, and New York was far-famed for its cordial +hospitality. Days of recreation were more abundant than now. The +principal social festivals were "quilting," "apple paring" and +"husking." Birthdays, christenings, and marriage anniversaries were +also celebrated with much festivity. Upon most of these occasions +there was abundant feasting. Dancing was the favorite amusement, with +which the evening was almost invariably terminated. In this busy +community the repose of the night was necessary to prepare for the +labors of the ensuing day. The ringing of the nine o'clock bell was +the signal for all to retire. + +A mild form of negro slavery existed in those days. The slaves danced +to the music of their rude instruments in the markets. The young men +and maidens often met on the Bowling green and danced around the May +pole. Turkey shooting was a favorite amusement, which usually took +place on the Common. New Year's Day was devoted to the interchange of +visits. Every door was thrown open, and all guests were welcome, +friends as well as strangers, as at a Presidential levee. This custom +of olden time has passed down to us from our worthy Dutch +predecessors. Dinner parties were unknown. But tea-parties, with the +ladies, were very common. + +"To take tea out," writes Mr. William L. Stone, in his interesting +History of New York, + + "was a Dutch institution, and one of great importance. The + matrons, arrayed in their best petticoats and linsey + jackets, home-spun by their own wheels, would proceed on the + intended afternoon visit. They wore capacious pockets, with + scissors, pin-cushion and keys hanging from their girdle, + outside of their dress; and reaching the neighbor's house + the visitors industriously used knitting needles and tongues + at the same time. The village gossip was talked over; + neighbors' affairs settled, and the stockings finished by + tea-time, when the important meal appeared on the table, + precisely at six o'clock. + + "This was always the occasion for the display of the family + plate, with the Lilliputian cups, of rare old family china, + out of which the guests sipped the fragrant herb. A large + lump of loaf sugar invariably accompanied each cup, on a + little plate, and the delightful beverage was sweetened by + an occasional nibble, amid the more solid articles of + waffles and Dutch doughnuts. The pleasant visit finished, + the visitors donning cloaks and hoods, as bonnets were + unknown, proceeded homeward in time for milking and other + necessary household duties. + + "The kitchen fire-places were of immense size large enough + to roast a whole sheep. The hooks and trammels sustained + large iron pots and kettles. In the spacious chimney-corners + the children and negroes gathered, telling stories and + cracking nuts by the blazing pine-knots, while the + industrious _vrows_ turned the merry spinning-wheel, and + their lords, the worthy burghers, mayhap just returned from + an Indian scrimmage, quietly smoked their long pipes, as + they sat watching the wreaths curling above their heads. At + length the clock with its brazen tongue having proclaimed + the hour of nine, family prayers were said, and all retired, + to rise with the dawn." + +In the summer of 1679, but five years after the final accession of New +Netherland by the English, two gentlemen from Holland, as the +committee of a religious sect, visited the Hudson river, to report +respecting the condition of the country, and to select a suitable +place for the establishment of a colony. They kept a minute journal of +their daily adventures. From their narrative one can obtain a very +vivid picture of New York life two hundred years ago. + +On Saturday, the 23d day of September, they landed at New York, and +found it a very strange place. A fellow passenger, whose name was +Gerritt, and who was on his return from Europe, resided in New York. +He took the travellers to the house of one of his friends, where they +were regaled with very luscious peaches, and apples far better than +any they had seen in Holland. They took a walk out into the fields and +were surprised to see how profusely the orchards wore laden with +fruit. They took up lodgings with the father-in-law of their +fellow-traveller, and in the evening were regaled with rich milk. The +next day was Sunday. + +"We walked awhile," they write, + + "in the pure mountain air, along the margin of the clear + running water of the sea, which is driven up this river at + every tide. We went to church and found truly there a wild + worldly people. I say wild, not only because the people are + wild, as they call it in Europe, but because most all the + people who go there, partake somewhat of the nature of the + country; that is peculiar to the land where they live." + +The preacher did not please them. "He used such strange gestures and +language," writes one of them, "that I think I never in my life heard +anything more miserable. As it is not strange in these countries, to +have men as ministers, who drink, we could imagine nothing else than +that he had been drinking a little this morning. His text was _Come +unto me all ye, etc._; but he was so rough that the roughest and most +godless of our sailors were astonished. + + "The church being in the fort, we had an opportunity to look + through the latter, as we had come too early for preaching. + The fort is built upon the point formed by the two rivers, + namely the East river, which is the water running between + the Manhattans and Long Island, and the North river, which + runs straight up to fort Orange. In front of the fort there + is a small island called Nut Island. Around the point of + this vessels must sail in going out or in, whereby they are + compelled to pass close by the point of the fort, where they + can be flanked by several of the batteries. It has only one + gate and that is on the land side, opening upon a broad lane + or street, called the Broadway." + +They went to church again in the afternoon. "After preaching," they +write, + + "the good old people with whom we lodged, who, indeed if + they were not the best on all the Manhattan, were at least + among the best, especially the wife, begged we would go with + their son Gerrit, to one of their daughters who lived in a + delightful place and kept a tavern, where we would be able + to taste the beer of New Netherland. So we went, for the + purpose of seeing what was to be seen. But when we arrived + there we were much deceived. On account of its being, to + some extent, a pleasant spot, it was resorted to on Sundays + by all sorts of revellers and was a low pothouse. It being + repugnant to our feelings to be there, we walked into the + orchard, to seek pleasure in contemplating the innocent + objects of nature. A great storm of rain coming up in the + evening, we retraced our steps in the dark, exploring our + way through a salt meadow, and over water upon the trunk of + a tree." + +On Thursday the 26th, our two travellers, at two o'clock in the +afternoon, crossed East river to visit Long Island. The fare in the +ferry-boat, which was rowed across, was three stivers, less than half +a cent of our money, for each person. They climbed the hill and walked +along through an open road and a little woods to "the first village, +called Breukelen, which has a small and ugly little church in the +middle of the road." The island was then mostly inhabited by Indians. +There were several flourishing farms in the vicinity of Brooklyn, +which they visited and where they were bountifully regaled with milk, +cider, fruit, tobacco and "first and most of all, miserable rum, +brought from Barbadoes, and which is called by the Dutch _kill +devil_." + +The peach orchards were breaking down beneath the burden of luscious +fruit. They often could not step without trampling upon the peaches, +and yet the trees were full as they could bear. Though the swine were +fattened upon them, still large numbers perished upon the ground. In +the evening they went on to a place called Gouanes, where they were +very hospitably entertained. It was a chill evening, and they found a +brilliant fire of hickory wood crackling upon the hearth. + +"There had already been thrown upon it," they write, + + "a pail full of Gouanes oysters, which are the best in the + country. They are large, some of them not less than a foot + long, and they grow, sometimes ten, twelve and sixteen + together, and are then like a piece of rock. We had for + supper a roasted haunch of venison which weighed thirty + pounds, and which he had bought of the Indians for fifteen + cents. The meat was exceedingly tender and good and quite + fat. We were served also with wild turkey, which was also + fat and of a good flavor, and a wild goose. Everything we + had was the natural production of the country. We saw lying + in a heap, a hill of watermelons as large as pumpkins. It + was late at night when we went to rest, in a Kermis bed, as + it is called, in the corner of the hearth, alongside of a + good fire." + + "The next morning they threaded their way through the + forest, and along the shore to the extreme west end of the + island, where fort Hamilton now stands. They passed through + a large plantation, of the Najack Indians, which was waving + with corn. A noise of pounding drew them to a place where a + very aged Indian woman was beating beans out of the pods + with a stick, which she did with amazing dexterity. Near by + was the little cluster of houses of the dwindling tribe. The + village consisted of seven or eight huts, occupied by + between twenty and thirty Indians, men, women and children. + + "These huts were about sixty feet long and fifteen wide. The + floor was of earth. The posts were large limbs of trees, + planted firmly in the ground. The sides were of reeds and + the bark of trees. An open space, about six inches wide, ran + along the whole length of the roof, for the passage of + smoke. On the sides the roof was so low that a man could not + stand under it. + + "They build their fire in the middle of the floor, according + to the number of families which live in the hut; not only + the families themselves, but each Indian alone, according as + he is hungry, at all hours morning, noon and night. They lie + upon mats with their feet towards the fire. All in one + house, are generally of one stock, as father and mother, + with their offspring. Their bread is maize, pounded by a + stone, which is mixed with water and baked under the hot + ashes. + + "They gave us a small piece when we entered; and although + the grains were not ripe, and it was half-baked and coarse + grains, we nevertheless had to eat it, or at least not throw + it away before them, which they would have regarded as a + great sin, or a great affront. We chewed a little of it with + long teeth, and managed to hide it so that they did not see + it. + + "On Wednesday a farmer harnessed his horse to a wagon and + carried them back to the city. The road led through the + forest and over very rough and stony hills, making the ride + quite uncomfortable. Passing again through the little + village of _Breukelen_, they crossed the ferry and reached + home about noon. On Friday they took an exploring tour + through the island of Manhattan. Their pleasant description + is worth transcribing. + + "This island is about seven hours distance in length, but it + is not a full hour broad. The sides are indented with bays, + coves and creeks. It is almost entirely taken up, that is + the land is held by private owners, but not half of it is + cultivated. Much of it is good woodland. The west end, on + which the city lies, is entirely cleared, for more than an + hour's distance, though that is the poorest ground; the best + being on the east and north side. There are many brooks of + fresh water running through it, pleasant and proper for man + and beast to drink; as well as agreeable to behold, + affording cool and pleasant resting places, but especially + suitable places for the construction of mills, for though + there is no overflow of water, it can be used. + + "A little east of New Harlaem, there are two ridges of very + high rocks, with a considerable space between them, + displaying themselves very majestically, and inviting all + men to acknowledge in them the grandeur, power and glory of + the Creator, who has impressed such marks upon them. Between + them runs the road to _Spuyt den Duyvel_. The one to the + north is the most apparent. The south ridge is covered with + earth on its north side, but it can be seen from the water + or from the mainland beyond to the south. The soil between + these ridges is very good, though a little hilly and stony. + It would be very suitable, in my opinion, for planting + vineyards, in consequence of its being shut off on both + sides, from the winds which would most injure them; and it + is very warm. We found blue grapes along the road, which + were very good and sweet, and as good as any I have tasted + in the fatherland. + + "We went from the city, following the Broadway, over the + valley or the fresh water. Upon both sides of this way there + were many habitations of negroes, mulattoes and whites. The + negroes were formerly the slaves of the West India Company. + But, in consequence of the frequent changes and conquests of + the country, they have obtained their freedom, and settled + themselves down where they thought proper, and thus on this + road, where they have grown enough to live on with their + families. We left the village called Bowery on the right + hand, and went through the woods to Harlaem, a tolerably + large village situated directly opposite the place where the + northeast creek and the East river come together. It is + about three hours' journey from New Amsterdam." + +From the account which these gentlemen give, the morals of the people +certainly do not appear to have been essentially better than now. They +passed the night at the house of the sheriff. "This house was +constantly filled with people all the time drinking, for the most +part, that execrable rum. He had also the best cider we have tasted. +Among the crowd we found a person of quality, an Englishman, named +Captain Carteret, whose father is in great favor with the king. The +king has given his father, Sir George Carteret, the entire government +of the lands west of the North river in New Netherland, with power to +appoint as governor whom he pleases. + + "This son is a very profligate person. He married a + merchant's daughter here, and has so lived with his wife + that her father has been compelled to take her home again. + He runs about among the farmers and stays where he can find + most to drink, and sleeps in barns on the straw. If he + conducted himself properly, he could be, not only governor + here, but hold higher positions, for he has studied the + moralities and seems to have been of a good understanding. + But that is all now drowned. His father, who will not + acknowledge him as his son, allows him yearly as much only + as is necessary for him to live on." + +Saturday morning they set out from Harlaem village to go to the +northern extremity of the island. + + "Before we left we did not omit supplying ourselves with + peaches, which grew in an orchard along the road. The whole + ground was covered with them and with apples lying upon the + new grain with which the orchard was planted. The peaches + were the most delicious we had yet eaten. We proceeded on + our way and when we were not far from the point of _Spuyt + den Duyvel_, we could see on our left the rocky cliffs of + the mainland, and on the other side of the North river these + cliffs standing straight up and down, with the grain just as + if they were antimony. + + "We crossed over the _Spuyt den Duyvel_ in a canoe, and paid + nine stivers fare for us three, which was very dear.[12] We + followed the opposite side of the land and came to the house + of one Valentyn. He had gone to the city; but his wife was + so much rejoiced to see Hollanders that she hardly knew what + to do for us. She set before us what she had. We left after + breakfasting there. Her son showed us the way, and we came + to a road entirely covered with peaches. We asked a boy why + he let them lie there and why he did not let the hogs eat + them. He answered 'We do not know what to do with them; + there are so many. The hogs are satiated with them and will + not eat any more.' + + "We pursued our way now a small distance, through the woods + and over the hills, then back again along the shore to a + point where an English man lived, who was standing ready to + cross over. He carried us over with him and refused to take + any pay for our passage, offering us at the same time, some + of his rum, a liquor which is everywhere. We were now again + at Harlaem, and dined with the sheriff, at whose house we + had slept the night before. It was now two o'clock. Leaving + there, we crossed over the island, which takes about + three-quarters of an hour to do, and came to the North + river. We continued along the shore to the city, where we + arrived in the evening, much fatigued, having walked this + day about forty miles." + +The rather singular record for the next day, which was Sunday, was as +follows: + + "We went at noon to-day to hear the English minister, whose + service took place after the Dutch service was out. There + were not above twenty-five or thirty people in the church. + The first thing that occurred was the reading of all their + prayers and ceremonies out of the prayer-book, as is done in + all Episcopal churches. A young man then went into the + pulpit, and commenced preaching, who thought he was + performing wonders. But he had a little book in his hand, + out of which he read his sermon which was about quarter of + an hour or half an hour long. With this the services were + concluded; at which we could not be sufficiently + astonished." + +Though New York had passed over to British rule, still for very many +years the inhabitants remained Dutch in their manners, customs and +modes of thought. There was a small stream, emptying into the East +river nearly opposite Blackwell's Island. This stream was crossed by a +bridge which was called Kissing Bridge. It was a favorite drive, for +an old Dutch custom entitled every gentleman to salute his lady with a +kiss as he crossed. + +The town wind-mill stood on a bluff within the present Battery. Pearl +street at that time formed the river bank. Both Water street and South +street have been reclaimed from the river. The city wall consisted of +a row of palisades, with an embankment nine feet high. Upon the +bastions of this rampart several cannon were mounted. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + + + + +THE OLDEN TIME. + + + + Wealth and Rank of the Ancient Families.--Their Vast Landed + Estates.--Distinctions in Dress.--Veneration for the + Patroon.--Kip's Mansion.--Days of the Revolution.--Mr. John + Adams' Journal.--Negro Slavery.--Consequences of the + System.--General Panic. + + + +Many of the families who came from the Old World to the Hudson when +New Netherland was under the Dutch regime, brought with them the +tokens of their former rank and affluence. Valuable paintings adorned +their walls. Rich plate glittered upon their dining table. Obsequious +servants, who had been accustomed in feudal Europe to regard their +masters as almost beings of a superior order, still looked up to them +in the same reverential service. The social distinctions of the old +country very soon began to prevail in the thriving village of New +York. The governor was fond of show and was fully aware of its +influence upon the popular mind. His residence became the seat of +quite a genteel little court. + +"The country was parcelled out," writes Rev. Bishop Kip, + + "among great proprietors. We can trace them from the city of + New Amsterdam to the northern part of the State. In what is + now the thickly populated city were the lands of the + Stuyvesants, originally the _Bouwerie_ of the old governor. + Next above were the grant to the Kip family, called Kip's + Bay, made in 1638. In the centre of the island was the + possessions of the De Lanceys. Opposite, on Long Island, was + the grant of the Laurence family. We cross over Harlaem + river and reach Morrisania, given to the Morris family. + Beyond this on the East river, was De Lancey's farm, another + grant to that powerful family; while on the Hudson to the + west, was the lower Van Courtland manor, and the Phillipse + manor. Above, at Peekskill, was the upper manor of the Van + Courtlands. Then came the manor of Kipsburg, purchased by + the Kip family from the Indians in 1636, and made a royal + grant by governor Dongan two years afterwards. + + "Still higher up was the Van Rensselaer manor, twenty-four + miles by forty-eight; and above that the possession of the + Schuylers. Farther west, on the Mohawk, were the broad lands + of Sir William Johnson, created a baronet for his services + in the old French and Indian wars, who lived in a rude + magnificence at Johnson Hall." + +The very names of places in some cases show their history. Such for +instance, is that of Yonkers. The word _Younker_, in the languages of +northern Europe, means the nobly born, the gentleman. In Westchester, +on the Hudson river, still stands the old manor house of the Phillipse +family. The writer remembers in his early days when visiting there, +the large rooms and richly ornamented ceilings, with quaint old formal +gardens about the house. When before the revolution, Mr. Phillipse +lived there, lord of all he surveyed, he was always spoken of by his +tenantry as the Yonker, the gentleman, _par excellence_. In fact he +was the only person of social rank in that part of the country. In +this way the town, which subsequently grew up about the old manor +house, took the name of Yonkers. + +The early settlement of New England was very different in its +character. Nearly all the emigrants were small farmers, upon social +equality, cultivating the fields with their own hands. Governors +Carver and Bradford worked as diligently with hoe and plough as did +any of their associates. They were simply first among equals. + +"The only exception to this," writes Mr. Kip, + + "which we can remember was the case of the Gardiners of + Maine. Their wide lands were confiscated for their loyalty. + But on account of some informality, after the Revolution, + they managed to recover their property and are still seated + at Gardiner." + +For more than a century these distinguished families in New Netherland +retained their supremacy undisputed. They filled all the posts of +honor and emolument. The distinctions in society were plainly marked +by the dress. The costume of the gentleman was very rich. His coat of +glossy velvet was lined with gold lace. His flowing sleeves and +ruffled cuffs gave grace to all the movements of his arms and hands. +Immense wigs adorned his brow with almost the dignity of Olympian +Jove. A glittering rapier, with its embossed and jewelled scabbard, +hung by his side. + +The common people in New Netherland, would no more think of assuming +the dress of a gentleman or lady, than with us, a merchant or mechanic +would think of decorating himself in the dress of a Major-General in +the United States army. There was an impassable gulf between the +peasantry and the aristocracy. The laborers on these large Dutch +estates were generally poor peasants, who had been brought over by the +landed proprietors, passage free. They were thus virtually for a +number of years, slaves of the _patroon_, serving him until, by their +labor, they had paid for their passage money. In the language of the +day they were called Redemptioners. Often the term of service of a +man, who had come over with his family, amounted to seven years. + +"This system," writes Mr. Kip, + + "was carried out to an extent of which most persons are + ignorant. On the Van Rensselaer manor, there were at one + time, several thousand tenants, and their gathering was like + that of the Scottish clans. When a member of the family died + they came down to Albany to do honor at the funeral, and + many were the hogsheads of good ale which were broached for + them. They looked up to the _Patroon_ with a reverence which + was still lingering in the writer's early day, + notwithstanding the inroads of democracy. And before the + Revolution this feeling was shared by the whole country. + When it was announced, in New York, a century ago, that the + Patroon was coming down from Albany by land, the day he was + expected to reach the city, crowds turned out to see him + enter in his coach and four." + +The aristocratic Dutchmen cherished a great contempt for the +democratic Puritans of New England. One of the distinguished members +of a colonial family in New York, who died in the year 1740, inserted +the following clause in his will: + + "It is my wish that my son may have the best education that + is to be had in England or America. But my express will and + directions are, that he never be sent for that purpose, to + the Connecticut colonies, lest he should imbibe in his + youth, that low craft and cunning, so incidental to the + people of that country, which is so interwoven in their + constitutions, that all their acts cannot disguise it from + the world; though many of them, under the sanctified garb of + religion, have endeavored to impose themselves on the world + as honest men." + +Usually once in a year the residents in their imposing manorial homes +repaired, from their rural retreats, to New York to make their annual +purchases. After the country passed into the hands of the English, +several men of high families came over. These all held themselves +quite aloof from the masses of the people. And there was no more +disposition among the commonalty to claim equality with these +high-born men and dames, than there was in England for the humble +farmers to deny any social distinction between themselves and the +occupants of the battlemented castles which overshadowed the peasant's +lowly cot. + +Lord Cornbury was of the blood royal. The dress and etiquette of +courts prevailed in his spacious saloons. "About many of their old +country houses," writes Mr. Kip, + + "were associations gathered often coming down from the first + settlement of the country, giving them an interest which can + never invest the new residences of those whom later times + elevated through wealth. Such was the Van Courtland + manor-house, with its wainscotted room and guest chamber; + the Rensselaer manor-house, where of old had been + entertained Talleyrand, and the exiled princes from Europe; + the Schuyler house, so near the Saratoga battle-field, and + marked by memories of that glorious event in the life of its + owner; and the residence of the Livingstons, on the banks of + the Hudson, of which Louis Philippe expressed such grateful + recollections when, after his elevation to the throne, he + met, in Paris, the son of his former host." + +At Kip's Bay there was a large mansion which for two centuries +attracted the admiration of beholders. It was a large double house +with the addition of a wing. From the spacious hall, turning to the +left, you entered the large dining-saloon. The two front windows gave +you a view of the beautiful bay. The two rear windows opened upon a +pleasant rural landscape. In this dining-room a large dinner party was +held, in honor of Andre the day before he set out upon his fatal +excursion to West Point. In Sargent's, "Life of Andre," we find a very +interesting description of this mansion, and of the scenes witnessed +there in olden time. + +"Where now in New York is the unalluring and crowded neighborhood of +Second avenue and Thirty-fifth street, stood, in 1780, the ancient +Bowerie or country seat of Jacobus Kip. Built in 1655, of bricks +brought from Holland, encompassed by pleasant trees and in easy view +of the sparkling waters of Kip's Bay, on the East river, the mansion +remained, even to our own times, in the possession of one of its +founder's line. + + "When Washington was in the neighborhood, Kip's house had + been his quarters. When Howe crossed from Long Island on + Sunday, September 15th, 1776, he debarked at the rocky point + hard by, and his skirmishers drove our people from their + position behind the dwelling. Since then it had known many + guests. Howe, Clinton, Kniphausen, Percy were sheltered by + its roof. The aged owner, with his wife and daughter, + remained. But they had always an officer of distinction + quartered with them. And if a part of the family were in + arms for Congress, as is alleged, it is certain that others + were active for the Crown. + + "Samuel Kip, of Kipsburg, led a cavalry troop of his own + tenantry, with great gallantry, in De Lancey's regiment. And + despite severe wounds, survived long after the war, a heavy + pecuniary sufferer by the cause which, with most of the + landed gentry of New York, he had espoused. + + "In 1780, it was held by Colonel Williams, of the 80th royal + regiment. And here, on the evening of the 19th of September, + he gave a dinner to Sir Henry Clinton and his staff, as a + parting compliment to Andre. The aged owner of the house was + present; and when the Revolution was over he described the + scene and the incidents of that dinner. At the table Sir + Henry Clinton announced the departure of Andre next morning, + on a secret and most important expedition, and added, 'Plain + John Andre will come back Sir John Andre.' + +"How brilliant soever the company," Mr. Sargent adds, + + "how cheerful the repast, its memory must ever have been + fraught with sadness to both host and guests. It was the + last occasion of Andre's meeting his comrades in life. Four + short days gone, the hands, then clasped by friendship, were + fettered by hostile bonds. Yet nine days more and the + darling of the army, the youthful hero of the hour, had + dangled from a gibbet." + +For two hundred and twelve years this mansion of venerable memories +remained. Then it was swept away by the resistless tide of an +advancing population. The thronged pavements of Thirty-fifth street +now pass over the spot, where two centuries ago the most illustrious +men crowded the banqueting hall, and where youth and beauty met in the +dance and song. In view of these ravages of time, well may we exclaim +in the impressive words of Burke, "What shadows we are and what +shadows we pursue." + +In the year 1774, John Adams rode from Boston to Philadelphia on +horseback, to attend the first meeting of Congress. His journal +contains an interesting account of this long and fatiguing tour. +Coming from the puritanic simplicity of Boston, he was evidently +deeply impressed with the style and splendor which met his eye in New +York. In glowing terms he alludes to the elegance of their mode of +living, to the architectural grandeur of their country seats; to the +splendor of Broadway, and to the magnificent new church they were +building, which was to cost one hundred thousand dollars. + +The aristocratic families of New York were generally in favor of the +Crown. They were not disposed to pay any special attention to a +delegate to the democratic Congress. He had therefore no opportunity +of witnessing the splendor of these ancient families. Two lawyers who +had become wealthy by their professional labors, received him with +honor. At their breakfast tables he beheld display, common enough in +almost every genteel household at the present day, but to which he was +quite unaccustomed in his frugal home at Quincy. One cannot but be +amused in reading the following description of one of his +entertainments: + + "A more elegant breakfast I never saw; rich plate; a very + large silver coffee pot; a very large silver tea pot; + napkins of the very finest materials; toast and bread and + butter in great perfection. After breakfast a plate of + beautiful peaches, another of pears and a muskmelon were + placed on the table." + +The Revolution proved the utter ruin of these great landed +proprietors, who naturally espoused the cause of the British court. +The habits of life to which they and their fathers had been accustomed +necessarily rendered all the levelling doctrines of the Revolution +offensive to them. They rallied around the royal banners and went down +with them. + +Some few of the landed proprietors espoused the cause of the people. +Among others may be mentioned the Livingstons and the Schuylers, the +Jays, the Laurences, and a portion of the Van Courtlands, and of the +Morris family. Fortunately for the Patroon Van Rensselaer, he was a +minor, and thus escaped the peril of attaching himself to either +party. + +Negro slavery in a mild form prevailed in these early years in New +York. The cruel and accursed system had been early introduced into the +colony. Most of the slaves were domestic servants, very few being +employed in the fields. They were treated with personal kindness. +Still they were bondmen, deprived of liberty, of fair wages, and of +any chance of rising in the world. Such men cannot, by any +possibility, be contented with their lot. Mr. William L. Stone, in his +very interesting History of New York, writes: + + "As far back as 1628, slaves constituted a portion of the + population of New Amsterdam; and to such an extent had the + traffic in them reached that, in 1709, a slave market was + erected at the foot of Wall street, where all negroes who + were to be hired or sold, stood in readiness for bidders. + Their introduction into the colony was hastened by the + colonial establishment of the Dutch in Brazil and upon the + coast of Guinea, and also by the capture of Spanish and + Portuguese prizes with Africans on board. + + "Several outbreaks had already happened among the negroes of + New Amsterdam; and the whites lived in constant anticipation + of trouble and danger from them. Rumors of an intended + insurrection real or imaginary, would circulate, as in the + negro plot of 1712, and the whole city be thrown into a + state of alarm. Whether there was any real danger on these + occasions, cannot now be known. But the result was always + the same. The slaves always suffered, many dying by the + fagot or the gallows." + +In the year 1741, a terrible panic agitated the whole city in +apprehension of an insurrection of the slaves. The most cruel laws had +been passed to hold them firmly in bondage. The city then contained +ten thousand inhabitants, two thousand of whom were slaves. If three +of these, "black seed of Cain," were found together, they were liable +to be punished by forty lashes on the bare back. The same punishment +was inflicted upon a slave found walking with a club, outside of his +master's grounds without a permit. Two justices could inflict any +punishment, except amputation or death, upon any slave who should make +an assault upon a Christian or a Jew. + +A calaboose or jail for slaves stood on the Park Common. Many of the +leading merchants in New York were engaged in the slave trade. Several +fires had taken place, which led to the suspicion that the slaves had +formed a plot to burn the city and massacre the inhabitants. The panic +was such that the community seemed bereft of reason. A poor, weak, +half-crazed servant-girl, Mary Burton, in a sailor's boarding house, +testified, after much importunity, that she had overheard some negroes +conferring respecting setting the town on fire. + +At first she confined her accusations to the blacks. Then she began to +criminate white people, bringing charges against her landlord, his +wife and other white persons in the household. In a History of this +strange affair written at the time, by Daniel Horsmanden, one of the +Justices of the Supreme Court, we read, + + "The whole summer was spent in the prosecutions. A + coincidence of slight circumstances was magnified, by the + general terror, into violent presumptions. Tales collected + without doors, mingling with the proofs given at the bar, + poisoned the minds of the jurors, and this sanguinary spirit + of the day suffered no check until Mary, the capital + informer, bewildered by the frequent examinations and + suggestions, began to touch characters which malice itself + dare not suspect." + +During this period of almost insane excitement, thirteen negroes were +burned at the stake, eighteen were hanged, and seventy transported. + +I cannot conclude this treatise upon the olden time better than by +quoting the eloquent words of Mr. Kip: + + "The dress, which had for generations been the sign and + symbol of a gentleman, gradually waned away, till society + reached that charming state of equality in which it became + impossible, by any outward costume, to distinguish masters + from servants. John Jay says, in one of his letters, that + with small clothes and buckles the high tone of society + departed. In the writer's early day this system of the past + was just going out. Wigs and powder and queues, breeches and + buckles, still lingered among the older gentlemen, vestiges + of an age which was vanishing away. + + "But the high toned feeling of the last century was still in + the ascendant, and had not yet succumbed to the worship of + mammon, which characterizes this age. There was still in New + York a reverence for the colonial families, and the + prominent political men, like Duane, Clinton, Golden, + Radcliff, Hoffman and Livingston, were generally gentlemen, + both by birth and social standing. The time had not yet come + when this was to be an objection to an individual in a + political career. The leaders were men whose names were + historical in the State, and they influenced society. The + old families still formed an association among themselves, + and intermarried, one generation after another. Society was + therefore very restricted. The writer remembers in his + childhood, when he went out with his father for his + afternoon drive, he knew every carriage they met on the + avenues. + + "The gentlemen of that day knew each other well, for they + had grown up together and their associations in the past + were the same. Yet, what friendships for after-life did + these associations form! There was, in those days, none of + the show and glitter of modern times. But there was, with + many of these families, particularly with those who had + retained their landed estates and were still living in their + old family homes, an elegance which has never been rivalled + in other parts of the country. In his early days the writer + has been much at the South, has staid at Mount Vernon when + it was held by the Washingtons; with Lord Fairfax's family, + at Ashgrove and Vancluse; but he has never elsewhere seen + such elegance of living as was formerly exhibited by the old + families of New York. + + "One thing is certain, that there was a high tone prevailing + at that time, which is now nowhere to be seen. The community + then looked up to public men, with a degree of reverence + which has never been felt by those who have succeeded them. + They were the last of a race which does not now exist. With + them died the stateliness of colonial times. Wealth came in + and created a social distinction which took the place of + family; and thus society became vulgarized. + + "The influences of the past are fast vanishing away, and our + children will look only to the shadowy future. The very rule + by which we estimate individuals has been entirely altered. + The inquiry once was, 'Who is he?' Men now ask the question, + 'How much is he worth?' Have we gained by the change?" + + + +THE END. + +NOTES: + +[Footnote 1: Winslow in Young (p. 371).] + +[Footnote 2: Bradford in Prince, 248.] + +[Footnote 3: Dutch miles, equal to sixteen English miles.] + +[Footnote 4: Morton's memorial, page 176.] + +[Footnote 5: Hist. of New York, by John Romeyn Brodhead. Vol. I, p +257.] + +[Footnote 6: History of the State of New York, p. 203.] + +[Footnote 7: History of the State of New York, By John Romeyn Brodhead +Vol I. p. 473.] + +[Footnote 8: John Romeyn Brodhead, Vol. 1. p. 521. E.B. O'Callaghan. M +D Vol 2. p. 157.] + +[Footnote 9: "History of New Netherland" by E.B. O'Callaghan, Vol 2. +p. 317] + +[Footnote 10: Officers of a very important municipal court.] + +[Footnote 11: See Brodhead's State of New York, vol. 1. p. 721; also +O'Callaghan's New Netherland, vol 2. p. 489.] + +[Footnote 12: This was one cent and a half for the three, or half a +cent each.] + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PETER STUYVESANT, THE LAST DUTCH +GOVERNOR OF NEW AMSTERDAM*** + + +******* This file should be named 13811.txt or 13811.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/3/8/1/13811 + + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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