USA > New York > New York City > A history of New-York : from the beginning of the world to the end of the Dutch dynasty > Part 22
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* This was likewise the great seal of the New-Netherlands, as may still be seen in ancient records.
t Besides what is related in the Stuyvesant MS., I have found mention made of this illustrious Patroon in another man- uscript, which says: "De Heer (or the squire) Michael Paw, a Dutch subject, about 10th Aug. 1630, by deed purchased Staten Island. N. B. The same Michael Paw had what the Dutch call a colonie at Pavonia, on the Jersey shore, opposite New-York, and his overseer, in 1636, was named Corns. Van Vorst-a person of the same name in 1769 owned Powles Hook, and a large farm at Pavonia, and is a lineal descendant from Van Vorst."
Į So called from the Navesink tribe of Indians that inhabited these parts-at present they are erroneously denominated the Neversink, or Neversunk mountains.
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At a little distance was encamped the tribe of warriors who came from the neigbourhood of Hell- gatc. These were commanded by the Suy Dams, and the Van Dams, incontinent hard swearers, as their names betoken-they were terrible-looking fel- lows, clad in broad-skirted gaberdines, of that curious coloured cloth called thunder and lightning-and bore as a standard three Devil's-darning-needles, volunt, in a flame-coloured field.
Hard by was the tent of the men of battle from the marshy borders of the Waale-Boght* and the country thereabouts-these were of a sour aspect by reason that they lived on crabs, which abound in these parts. They were the first institutors of that honourable order of knighthood, called Fly market shirks, and, if tradition speak true, did likewise in- troduce the far-famed step in dancing, called " double trouble." They were commanded by the fearless Jacobus Varra Vanger, and had moreover a jolly band of Breuckelent ferry-men, who performed a brave concerto on conch-shells.
But I refrain from pursuing this minute description, which goes on to describe the warriors of Bloemen- dael, and Wee-hawk, and Hoboken, and sundry other places, well known in history and song-for now does the sound of martial music alarm the people of New-Amsterdam, sounding afar from beyond the walls
* Since corrupted into the Wallabout; the bay where the Navy-Yard is situated.
+ Now spelt Brooklyn. VOL. II. I
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of the city. But this alarm was in a little while re- lieved ; for lo, from the midst of a vast cloud of dust, they recognised the brimstone-coloured breeches, and splendid silver leg, of Peter Stuyvesant, glaring in the sunbeams ; and beheld him approaching at the head of a formidable army, which he had mustered along the banks of the Hudson. And here the excellent, but anonymous writer of the Stuyvesant manuscript, breaks out into a brave and glorious description of the forces, as they defiled through the principal gate of the city, that stood by the head of Wall-street.
First of all came the Van Bummels, who inhabit the pleasant borders of the Bronx-these were short fat men, wearing exceeding large trunk breeches, and are renowned for. feats of the trencher-they were the first inventors of suppawn or mush-and-milk --- Close in their rear marched the Van Vlotens, of Kaatskill, most horrible quaffers of new cider, and arrant braggarts in their liquor-After them came the Van Pelts, of Groodt Esopus, dexterous horse- men, mounted upon goodly switch-tailed steeds of the Esopus breed-these were mighty hunters of minks and musk-rats, whence came the word Peltry-Then the Van Nests, of Kinderhook, valiant robbers of birds' nests, as their name denotes ; to these, if report may be believed, are we indebted for the invention of slap-jacks, or buckwheat cakes-Then the Van Higginbottoms, of Wapping's creek; these came armed with ferules and birchen rods, being a race of schoolmasters, who first discovered the marvellous sympathy between the seat of honour and the seat of
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intellect, and that the shortest way to get knowledge into the head, was to hammer it into the bottom- Then the Van Grolls of Antony's Nose, who carried their liquor in fair round little pottles, by reason they could not bouse it out of their canteens, having such rare long noses-Then the Gardeniers, of Hudson and thereabouts, distinguished by many triumphant feats, such as robbing water-melon patches, smoking rabbits out of their holes, and the like ; and by being great lovers of roasted pig's tails ; these were the an- cestors of the renowned congressman of that name- Then the Van Hoesens, of Sing-Sing, great choristers and players upon the jews-harp ; these marched two and two, singing the great song of St. Nicholas ----- Then the Couenhovens, of Sleepy Hollow; these gave birth to a jolly race of publicans, who first dis- covered the magic artifice of conjuring a quart of wine into a pint bottle-Then the Van Kortlandts, who lived on the wild banks of the Croton, and were great killers of wild ducks, being much spoken of for their skill in shooting with the long bow-Then the Van Bunschotens, of Nyack and Kakiat, who were the first that did ever kick with the left foot; they were gallant bush-whackers and hunters of raccoons by moonlight-Then the Van Winkles, of Haerlem, potent suckers of eggs, and noted for running of horses, and running up of scores at taverns ; they were the first that ever winked with both eyes at once-Lastly came the KNICKERBOCKERS, of the great town of Schaghticoke, where the folk lay stones upon the houses in windy weather, lest they should
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be blown away. These derive their name, as some say, from Knicker, to shake, and Beker, a goblet, in- dicating thereby that they were sturdy toss-pots of yore ; but, in truth, it was derived from Knicker, to nod, and Boeken, books ; plainly meaning that they were great nodders or dozers over books-from them did descend the writer of this history.
Such was the legion of sturdy bush-beaters that poured in at the grand gate of New-Amsterdam ; the Stuyvesant manuscript indeed speaks of many more, whose names I omit to mention, seeing that it be- hoves me to hasten to matters of greater moment. Nothing could surpass the joy and martial pride of the lion-hearted Peter, as he reviewed this mighty host of warriors, and he determined no longer to de- . fer the gratification of his much-wished-for revenge, upon the scoundrel Swedes at Fort Casimir.
But before I hasten to record those unmatchable events, which will be found in the sequel of this faithful history, let me pause to notice the fate of Jacobus Van Poffenburgh, the discomfited com- mander-in-chief of the armies of the New-Nether- lands. Such is the inherent uncharitableness of hu- man nature, that scarcely did the news become public of his deplorable discomfiture at Fort Casi- mir, than a thousand scurvy rumours were set afloat in New-Amsterdam, wherein it was insinuated, that he had in reality a treacherous understanding with the Swedish commander; that he had long been in the practice of privately communicating with the Swedes; together with divers hints about "secret
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service money :"-to all which deadly charges I do not give a jot more credit than I think they deserve.
Certain it is, that the general vindicated his char- acter by the most vehement oaths and protestations and put every man out of the ranks of honour who dared to doubt his integrity. Moreover, on returning to New-Amsterdam, he paraded up and down the streets with a crew of hard swearers at his heels -- sturdy bottle companions, whom he gorged and fat- tened, and who were ready to bolster him through all the courts of justice-heroes of his own kidney, fierce-whiskered, broad-shouldered, colbrand-looking swaggerers-not one of whom but looked as though he could eat up an ox, and pick his teeth with the horns. These life-guard men quarrelled all his quar- rels, were ready to fight all his battles, and scowled at every man that turned up his nose at the general, as though they would devour him alive. Their con- versation was interspersed with oaths like minute- guns, and every bombastic rodomontado was rounded off by a thundering execration, like a patriotic toast honoured with a discharge of artillery.
All these valorous vapourings had a considerable effect in convincing certain profound sages, many of whom began to think the general a hero of unutter- able loftiness and magnanimity of soul, particularly as he was continually protesting on the honour of a soldier-a marvellously high-sounding asseveration. Nay, one of the members of the council went so far as to propose they should immortalize him by an imperishable statue of plaster of Paris.
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But the vigilant Peter the Headstrong was not thus to be deceived .- Sending privately for the com- mander-in-chief of all the armies, and having heard all his story, garnished with the customary pious oaths, protestations, and ejaculations-" Harkee, com- rade," cried he, " though by your own account you are the most brave, upright, and honourable man in the whole province, yet do you lie under the misfor- tune of being damnably traduced, and immeasurably despised. Now, though it is certainly hard to punish a man for his misfortunes, and though it is very pos- sible you are totally innocent of the crimes laid to your charge, yet as Heaven, at present, doubtless for some wise purpose, sees fit to withhold all proofs of your innocence, far be it from me to counteract its sovereign will. Besides, I cannot consent to venture my armies with a commander whom they despise, or to trust the welfare of my people to a champion whom they distrust. Retire, therefore, my friend, from the irksome toils and cares of public life, with this comforting reflection-that if guilty, you are but enjoying your just reward-and if innocent, you are not the first great and good man who has most wrong- fully been slandered and maltreated in this wicked world-doubtless to be better treated in a better world, where there shall be neither error, calumny, nor persecution. In the mean time let me never see your face again, for I have a horrible antipathy to the countenances of unfortunate great men like yourself."
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CHAPTER V.
In which the Author discourses very ingenuously of himself-after which is to be found much interest- ing history about Peter the Headstrong and his fol- lowers.
As my readers and myself are about entering on as many perils as ever a confederacy of meddlesome knights-errant wilfully ran their heads into, it is meet that, like those hardy adventurers, we should join hands, bury all differences, and swear to stand by one another, in weal or woe, to the end of the enter- prise. My readers must doubtless perceive, how completely I have altered my tone and deportment, since we first set out together. I warrant they then thought me a crabbed, cynical, impertinent little son of a Dutchman; for I scarcely ever gave them a civil word, nor so much as touched my beaver, when I had occasion to address them. But as we jogged along together, in the high-road of my history, I grad- ually began to relax, to grow more courteous, and occasionally to enter into familiar discourse, until at length I came to conceive a most social, companion- able, kind regard for them. This is just my way- I am always a little cold and reserved at first, par- ticularly to people whom I neither know nor care for, and am only to be completely won by long inti- macy.
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Besides, why should I have been sociable to the crowd of how-d'ye-do acquaintances, that flocked around me at my first appearance ? Many were merely attracted by a new face ; and having stared me full in the title-page, walked off without saying a word ; while others lingered yawningly through the preface, and having gratified their short-lived curiosity, soon dropped off one by one. But more especially to try their mettle, I had recourse to an expedient, similar to one which we are told was used by that peerless flower of chivalry, King Arthur ; who, before he ad- mitted any knight to his intimacy, first required that he should show himself superior to danger or hard- ships, by encountering unheard-of mishaps, slaying some dozen giants, vanquishing wicked enchanters, not to say a word of dwarfs, hippogriffs, and fiery dragons. On a similar principle, I cunningly led my readers, at the first sally, into two or three knotty chapters, where they were most wofully belaboured and buffeted, by a host of pagan philosophers and in- fidel writers. Though naturally a very grave man, yet could I scarce refrain from smiling outright at seeing the utter confusion and dismay of my valiant cavaliers-some dropped down dead (asleep) on the field ; others threw down my book in the middle of the first chapter, took to their heels, and never ceased scampering until they had fairly run it out of sight ; when they stopped to take breath, to tell their friends what troubles they had undergone, and to warn all others from venturing on so thankless an expedition. Every page thinned my ranks more and more; and
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of the vast multitude that first set out, but a com- paratively few made shift to survive, in exceedingly battered condition, through the five introductory chapters.
What, then ! would you have had me take such sunshine, faint-hearted recreants to my bosom at our first acquaintance ? No-no; I reserved my friend- ship for those who deserved it, for those who un- dauntedly bore me company, in despite of difficulties, dangers, and fatigues. And now, as to those who adhere to me at present, I take them affectionately by the hand-Worthy and thrice beloved readers ! brave and well-tried comrades ! who have faithfully followed my footsteps through all my wanderings-I salute you from my heart-I pledge myself to stand by you to the last ; and to conduct you (so Heaven speed this trusty weapon which I now hold between my fingers) triumphantly to the end of this our stu- pendous undertaking.
But hark ! while we are thus talking, the city of New-Amsterdam is in a bustle. The host of warriors encamped in the Bowling-Green are striking their tents ; the brazen trumpet of Antony Van Corlear makes the welkin to resound with portentous clangour -the drums beat-the standards of the Manhattoes, of Hell-gate, and of Michael Paw, wave proudly in the air And now behold where the mariners are busily employed hoisting the sails of yon topsail schooner, and those clump-built sloops, which are to waft the army of the Nederlanders to gather im- mortal honours on the Delaware !
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The entire population of the city, man, woman, and child, turned out to behold the chivalry of New- Amsterdam, as it paraded the streets previous to em- barkation. Many a handkerchief was waved out at the windows ; many a fair nose was blown in melo- dious sorrow, on the mournful occasion. The grief of the fair dames and beauteous damsels of Grenada could not have been more vociferous on the ban- ishment of the gallant tribe of Abencerrages, than was that of the kind-hearted fair ones of New- Amsterdam on the departure of their intrepid war- riors. Every love-sick maiden fondly crammed the . pockets of her hero with gingerbread and dough-nuts -- many a copper ring was exchanged and crooked sixpence broken, in pledge of eternal constancy -- and there remain extant to this day some love verses written on that occasion, sufficiently crabbed and in- comprehensible to confound the whole universe.
But it was a moving sight to see the buxom lasses, how they hung about the doughty Antony Van Cor- lear-for he was a jolly, rosy-faced, lusty bachelor, fond of his joke, and withal a desperate rogue among the women. Fain would they have kept him to comfort them while the army was away ; for besides what I have said of him, it is no more than justice to add, that he was a kind-hearted soul, noted for his benevolent attentions in comforting disconsolate wives during the absence of their husbands-and this made him to be very much regarded by the honest burgh- ers of the city. But nothing could keep the valiant Antony from following the heels of the old governor,
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whom he loved as he did his very soul-so, embrac- ing all the young vrouws, and giving every one of them that had good teeth and rosy lips, a dozen hearty smacks, he departed loaded with their kind wishes.
Nor was the departure of the gallant Peter among the least causes of public distress. Though the old governor was by no means indulgent to the follies and waywardness of his subjects, yet some how or other he had become strangely popular among the people. There is something so captivating in personal bravery, that, with the common mass of mankind, it takes the lead of most other merits. The simple folk of New-Amsterdam looked upon Peter Stuy- vesant as a prodigy of valour. His wooden leg, that trophy of his martial encounter, was regarded with reverence and admiration. Every old burgher had a budget of miraculous stories to tell about the ex- ploits of Hardkopping Piet, wherewith he regaled nis children of a long winter night; and on which he dwelt with as much delight and exaggeration, as do our honest country yeomen on the hardy adven- tures of old General Putnam (or as he is familiarly termed, Old Put) during our glorious revolution. Not an individual but verily believed the old gov- ernor was a match for Belzebub himself ; and there was even a story told, with great mystery, and under the rose, of his having shot the devil with a silver bullet, one dark stormy night, as he was sailing in a canoe through Hell-gate-But this I do not record as being an absolute fact-perish the man who would let fall a drop to discolour the pure stream of history !
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Certain it is, not an old woman in New-Amsterdam but considered Peter Stuyvesant as a tower of strength, and rested satisfied that the public welfare was secure so long as he was in the city. It is not surprising then that they looked upon his departure as a sore affliction. With heavy hearts they dragged at the heels of his troop, as they marched down to the river side to embark. The governor, from the stern of his schooner, gave a short, but truly patriarchal address to his cit- izens ; wherein he recommended them to comport like loyal and peaceable subjects-to go to church regularly on Sundays, and to mind their business all the week besides-That the women should be dutiful and affectionate to their husbands-looking after no- body's concerns but their own : eschewing all gos- sipings and morning gaddings-and carrying short tongues and long petticoats-That the men should abstain from intermeddling in public concerns, in- trusting the cares of government to the officers ap- pointed to support them-staying at home like good citizens, making money for themselves, and getting children for the benefit of their country. That the burgomasters should look well to the public interest -- not oppressing the poor, nor indulging the rich- not tasking their sagacity to devise new laws, but. faithfully enforcing those which were already made -rather bending their attention to prevent evil than to punish it ; ever recollecting that civil magistrates should consider themselves more as guardians of public morals, than rat-catchers employed to entrap public delinquents. Finally, he exhorted them, one
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and all, high and low, rich and poor, to conduct themselves as well as they could ; assuring them that if they faithfully and conscientiously complied with this golden rule, there was no danger but that they would all conduct themselves well enough .- This done, he gave them a paternal benediction ; the sturdy Antony sounded a most loving farewell with his trumpet, the jolly crews put up a shout of triumph, and the invincible armada swept off proudly down the bay ..
The good people of New-Amsterdam crowded down to the Battery-that blest resort, from whence so many a tender prayer has been wafted, so many a. fair hand waved, so many a tearful look been cast by love-sick damsels, after the lessening bark, bearing her adventurous swain to distant climes. Here the populace watched with straining eyes the gallant squadron, as it slowly floated down the bay, and when the intervening land at the Narrows shut it from their sight, gradually dispersed with silent tongues and downcast countenances.
A heavy gloom hung over the late bustling city- The honest burghers smoked their pipes in profound thoughtfulness, casting many a wistful look to the weathercock, on the church of Saint Nicholas ; and all the old women, having no longer the presence of Peter Stuyvesant to hearten them, gathered their children home, and barricadoed the doors and win- dows every evening at sun-down.
In the meanwhile, the armada of the sturdy Peter proceeded prosperously on its voyage, and after en- VOL. II. K
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countering about as many storms, and waterspouts, and whales, and other horrors and phenomena, as generally befall adventurous landsmen, in perilous voyages of the kind ; and after undergoing a severe scouring from that deplorable and unpitied malady called sea-sickness, the whole squadron arrived safely in the Delaware.
Without so much as dropping anchor and giving his wearied ships time to breathe after labouring so long in the ocean, the intrepid Peter pursued his course up the Delaware, and made a sudden appear- ance before Fort Casimir .- Having summoned the astonished garrison by a terrific blast from the trum- pet of the long-winded Van Corlear, he demanded in a tone of thunder an instant surrender of the fort. To this demand, Suen Scutz, the wind-dried com- mandant, replied in a shrill, whiffling voice, which, by reason of his extreme spareness, sounded like the wind whistling through a broken bellows-" that he had no very strong reasons for refusing, except that the demand was particularly disagreeable, as he had been ordered to maintain his post to the last extrem- ity." He requested time, therefore, to consult with Governor Risingh, and proposed a truce for that purpose.
The choleric Peter, indignant at having his right- ful fort so treacherously taken from him, and thus pertinaciously withheld, refused the proposed armis tice, and swore by the pipe of St. Nicholas, which like the sacred fire was never extinguished, that un- less the fort were surrendered in ten minutes, he
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would incontinently storm the works, make all the garrison run the gauntlet, and split their scoundrel of a commander like a pickled shad. To give this menace the greater effect, he drew forth his trusty sword, and shook it at them with such a fierce and vigorous motion, that doubtless if it had not been ex- ceeding rusty, it would have lightened terror into the eyes and hearts of the enemy. He then ordered his men to bring a broadside to bear upon the fort, con- sisting of two swivels, three muskets, a long duck fowling-piece, and two brace of horse-pistols.
In the mean time, the sturdy Van Corlear mar- shalled all his forces, and commenced his warlike operations. Distending his cheeks like a very Boreas, he kept up a most horrific twanging of his trumpet -the lusty choristers of Sing-Sing broke forth into a hideous song of battle-the warriors of Breuckelen and the Wallabout blew a potent and astounding blast on their conch-shells, altogether forming as out- rageous a concerto as though five thousand French orchestras were displaying their skill in a modern overture.
Whether the formidable front of war thus suddenly presented, smote the garrison with sore dismay-or whether the concluding terms of the summons, which mentioned that he should surrender "at discretion" were mistaken by Suen Scutz, who, though a Swede, was a very considerate easy-tempered man-as a compliment to his discretion, I will not take upon me to say ; certain it is, he found it impossible to resist so courteous a demand. Accordingly, in the very
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nick of time, just as the cabin-boy had gone after a! coal of fire, to discharge the swivel, a chamade was beat on the rampart, by the only drum in the gar- rison, to the no small satisfaction of both parties ; who, notwithstanding their great stomach for fighting, had full as good an inclination to eat a quiet dinner, as to exchange black eyes and bloody noses.
Thus did this impregnable fortress once more re- turn to the domination of their High Mightinesses ; Scutz and his garrison of twenty men were allowed to march out with the honours of war, and the vic- torious Peter, who was as generous as brave, per- mitted them to keep possession of all their arms and ammunition-the same on inspection being found totally unfit for service, having long rusted in the magazine of the fortress, even before it was wrested by the Swedes from the magnanimous, but windy Van Poffenburgh. But I must not omit to mention, that the governor was so well pleased with the ser- vices of his faithful squire Van Corlear, in the reduc- tion of this great fortress, that he made him on the spot lord of a goodly domain in the vicinity of New- Amsterdam-which goes by the name Corlear's Hook unto this very day.
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