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 29
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paper. It was accordingly hoisted to him on the end of a pole, and having scrawled his name at the bottom of it, he anathematized them all for a set of cowardly, mutinous, degenerate poltroons-threw the capitulation at their heads, slammed down the window, and was heard stumping down stairs with the most vehement indignation. The rabble inconti- nently took to their heels; even the burgomasters were not slow in evacuating the premises, fearing lest the sturdy Peter might issue from his den, and greet them with some unwelcome testimonial of his dis- pleasure.
Within three hours after the surrender, a legion of British beef-fed warriors poured into New-Amster- dam, taking possession of the fort and batteries, And now might be heard, from all quarters, the sound of hammers, made by the old Dutch burghers, who were busily employed in nailing up their doors and windows, to protect their vrouws from these fierce barbarians, whom they contemplated in silent sullen- ness from the garret-windows, as they paraded through the streets.
Thus did Col. Richard Nichols, the commander of the British forces, enter into quiet possession of the conquered realm, as locum tenens for the Duke of York. The victory was attended with no other out- rage than that of changing the name of the province and its metropolis, which thenceforth were denomi- nated NEW-YORK, and so have continued to be called unto the present day. The inhabitants, according to
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treaty, were allowed to maintain quiet possession of their property ; but so inveterately did they retain their abhorrence of the British nation, that in a pri- vate meeting of the leading citizens, it was unani- mously determined, never to ask any of their con- querors to dinner.
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CHAPTER IX.
Containing the dignified retirement, and mortal sur- render, of Peter the Headstrong.
THUS, then, have I concluded this great historical enterprise ; but before I lay aside my weary pen, there yet remains to be performed one pious duty. If, among the variety of readers that may peruse this book, there should haply be found any of those souls of true nobility, which glow with celestial fire at the history of the generous and the brave, they will doubtless be anxious to know the fate of the gallant Peter Stuyvesant. To gratify one such sterling heart of gold, I would go more lengths than to instruct the cold-blooded curiosity of a whole fraternity of phi- losophers.
No sooner had that high-mettled cavalier signed the articles of capitulation, than, determined not to witness the humiliation of his favourite city, he turn- ed his back on its walls, and made a growling retreat to his Bouwery, or country-seat, which was situated about two miles off; where he passed the remainder of his days in patriarchal retirement. There he en- joyed that tranquillity of mind, which he had never known amid the distracting cares of government; and tasted the sweets of absolute and uncontrolled
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authority, which his factious subjects had so often dashed with the bitterness of opposition.
No persuasions could ever induce him to revisit the city-on the contrary, he would always have his great arm-chair placed with its back to the windows which looked in that direction ; until a thick grove of trees, planted by his own hand, grew up and form- ed a screen that effectually excluded it from the pros- pect. He railed continually at the degenerate inno- vations and improvements introduced by the con- querors-forbade a word of their detested language to be spoken in his family, a prohibition readily obeyed, since none of the household could speak any thing but Dutch-and even ordered a fine avenue to be cut down in front of his house, because it con- sisted of English cherry-trees.
The same incessant vigilance that blazed forth when he had a vast province under his care, now showed itself with equal vigour, though in narrower limits. He patrolled with unceasing watchfulness around the boundaries of his little territory; repelled every encroachment with intrepid promptness ; pun- ished every vagrant depredation upon his orchard or his farm-yard, with inflexible severity-and conduct- ed every stray hog or cow in triumph to the pound. But to the indigent neighbour, the friendless stranger, or the weary wanderer, his spacious doors were ever open, and his capacious fire-place, that emblem of his own warm and generous heart, had always a corner to receive and cherish them. There was an exception to this, I must confess, in case the ill-
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starred applicant was an Englishman or a Yankee, to whom, though he might extend the hand of as- sistance, he never could be brought to yield the rites of hospitality. Nay, if peradventure some straggling merchant of the east should stop at his door, with his cart-load of tin ware or wooden bowls, the fiery Peter would issue forth like a giant from his castle, and make such a furious clattering among his pots and kettles, that the vender of. " notions" was fain to be- take himself to instant flight.
His handsome suit of regimentals, worn thread- bare by the brush, was carefully hung up in the state bed-chamber, and regularly aired on the first fair day of every month-and his cocked hat and trusty sword were suspended in grim repose over the parlour mantelpiece, forming supporters to a full- length portrait of the renowned Admiral Van Tromp. In his domestic empire he maintained strict discipline, and a well-organized, despotic government; but, though his own will was the supreme law, yet the good of his subjects was his constant object. He watched over, not merely their immediate comforts, but their morals and their ultimate welfare; for he gave them abundance of excellent admonition, nor could any of them complain, that, when occasion re- quired, he was by any means niggardly in bestowing wholesome correction.
The good old Dutch festivals, those periodical demonstrations of an overflowing heart and a thank- ful spirit, which are falling into sad disuse among my fellow citizens, were faithfully observed in the man-
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sion of Governor Stuyvesant. New-year was truly a day of open-handed liberality, of jocund revelry and warm-hearted congratulation-when the bosom seemed to swell with genial good-fellowship-and the plenteous table was attended with an uncere- monious freedom, and honest broad-mouthed mer- riment, unknown in these days of degeneracy and refinement. Pas and Pinxter were scrupulously observed, throughout his dominions; nor was the day of St. Nicholas suffered to pass by, without mak- ing presents, hanging the stocking in the chimney, and complying with all its other ceremonies.
Once a year, on the first day of April, he used to array himself in full regimentals, being the anniver- sary of his triumphal entry into New-Amsterdam, after the conquest of New-Sweden. This was al- ways a kind of saturnalia among the domestics, when they considered themselves at liberty, in some meas- ure, to say and do what they pleased; for on this day, their master was always observed to unbend, and become exceeding pleasant and jocose, sending the old gray-headed negroes on April fool's errands for pigeon's milk ; not one of whom but allowed himself to be taken in, and humoured his old mas- ter's jokes, as became a faithful and well-disciplined dependant. Thus did he reign, happily and peace- fully, on his own land-injuring no man-envying no man-molested by no outward strifes-perplexed by no internal commotions ; and the mighty monarchs of the earth, who were vainly seeking to maintain peace, and promote the welfare of mankind, by war
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and desolation, would have done well to have made a voyage to the little island of Manna-hata, and learned a lesson in government from the domestic economy of Peter Stuyvesant.
In process of time, however, the old governor, like all other children of mortality, began to exhibit tokens of decay. Like an aged oak, which, though it long has braved the fury of the elements, and still retains its gigantic proportions, yet begins to shake and groan with every blast-so was it with the gal- lant Peter; for though he still bore the port and semblance of what he was in the days of his hardi- hood and chivalry, yet did age and infirmity begin to sap the vigour of his frame-but his heart, that most unconquerable citadel, still triumphed unsubdued. With matchless avidity would he listen to every ar- ticle of intelligence concerning the battles between the English and Dutch-still would his pulse beat high, whenever he heard of the victories of De Ruyter-and his countenance lower, and his eye- brows knit, when fortune turned in favour of the English. At length, as on a certain day he had just smoked his fifth pipe, and was napping after dinner, in his arm-chair, conquering the whole British nation in his dreams, he was suddenly aroused by a fearful ringing of bells, rattling of drums, and roaring of cannon, that put all his blood in a ferment. But when he learnt that these rejoicings were in honour of a great victory obtained by the combined English and French fleets over the brave De Ruyter and the younger Von Tromp, it went so much to his
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heart, that he took to his bed, and, in less than three days, was brought to death's door by a violent cholera morbus ! But, even in this extremity, he still display- ed the unconquerable spirit of Peter the Headstrong ; holding out, to the last gasp, with the most inflexible obstinacy, against a whole army of old women, who were bent upon driving the enemy out of his bowels, after a true Dutch mode of defence, by inundating the seat of war with catnip and pennyroyal.
While he thus lay, lingering on the verge of disso- lution, news was brought him, that the brave De Ruyter had suffered but little loss-had made good his retreat-and meant once more to meet the enemy in battle. The closing eye of the old warrior kindled at the words-he partly raised himself in bed-a flash of martial fire beamed across his visage-he clinched his withered hand, as if he felt within his gripe that sword which waved in triumph before the walls of Fort Christina, and, giving a grim smile of exultation, sunk back upon his pillow and expired.
Thus died Peter Stuyvesant, a valiant soldier-a loyal subject-an upright governor, and an honest Dutchman-who wanted only a few empires to deso- late to have been immortalized as a hero !
His funeral obsequies were celebrated with the utmost grandeur and solemnity. The town was per- fectly emptied of its inhabitants, who crowded in throngs to pay the last sad honours to their good old governor. All his sterling qualities rushed in full tide upon their recollections, while the memory of his foibles and his faults had expired with him. The
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ancient burghers contended who should have the privilege of bearing the pall; the populace strove who should walk nearest to the bier-and the mel- ancholy procession was closed by a number of gray- headed negroes, who had wintered and summered in the household of their departed master, for the greater part of a century.
With sad and gloomy countenances, the multitude gathered around the grave. They dwelt with mourn- ful hearts on the sturdy virtues, the signal services, and the gallant exploits of the brave old worthy. They recalled, with secret upbraidings, their own factious opposition to his government-and many an ancient burgher, whose phlegmatic features had never been known to relax, nor his eyes to moisten-was now observed to puff a pensive pipe, and the big drop to steal down his cheek-while he muttered, with affectionate accent, and melancholy shake of the head-" Well den !- Hardkoppig Peter ben gone at last !"
His remains were deposited in the family vault, under a chapel, which he had piously erected on his estate, and dedicated to St. Nicholas-and which stood on the identical spot at present occupied by St. Mark's church, where his tomb-stone is still to be seen. His estate, or Bouwery, as it was called, has ever continued in the possession of his descendants, who, by the uniform integrity of their conduct, and their strict adherence to the customs and manners that prevailed in the " good old times," have proved themselves worthy of their illustrious ancestor.
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Many a time and oft has the farm been haunted, at night, by enterprising money-diggers, in quest of pots of gold, said to have been buried by the old governor -though I cannot learn that any of them have ever been enriched by their researches : and who is there, among my native-born fellow-citizens, that does not remember, when, in the mischievous days of his boy- hood, he conceived it a great exploit to rob " Stuy- vesant's orchard" on a holyday afternoon ?
At this strong hold of the family, may still be seen certain memorials of the immortal Peter. His full- length portrait frowns in martial terrors from the parlour wall-his cocked hat and sword still hang up in the best bed room-his brimstone-coloured breeches were for a long while suspended in the hall, until some years since they occasioned a dispute be- tween a new married couple-and his silver-mounted wooden leg is still treasured up in the store-room, as an invaluable relic.
OF NEW-YORK.
CHAPTER X.
The Author's reflections upon what has been said.
AMONG the numerous events, which are each in their turn the most direful and melancholy of all pos- sible occurrences, in your interesting and authentic history, there is none that occasions such deep and heart-rending grief as the decline and fall of your re- nowned and mighty empires. Where is the reader who can contemplate, without emotion, the disastrous events by which the great dynasties of the world have been extinguished ? While wandering, in imagi- nation, among the gigantic ruins of states and em- pires, and marking the tremendous convulsions that wrought their overthrow, the bosom of the melan- choly inquirer swells with sympathy commensurate to the surrounding desolation. Kingdoms, principal- aties, and powers, have each had their rise, their pro- gress, and their downfall-each in its turn has sway- ed a potent sceptre-each has returned to its prime- val nothingness. And thus did it fare with the em- pire of their High Mightinesses, at the Manhattoes, under the peaceful reign of Walter the Doubter- the fretful reign of William the Testy-and the chi- valric reign of Peter the Headstrong.
Its history is fruitful instruction, and worthy of be- VOL, II U
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ing pondered over. attentively ; for it is by thus rak- ing among the ashes of departed greatness, that the sparks of true knowledge are found, and the lamp of wisdom illumined. Let then the reign of Walter the Doubter warn against yielding to that sleek, con- tented security, that overweening fondness for com- fort and repose, that are produced by a state of pros- perity and peace. These tend to unnerve a nation ; to destroy its pride of character; to render it patient of insult, deaf to the calls of honour and of justice ; and cause it to cling to peace, like the sluggard to his pillow, at the expense of every valuable duty and consideration. Such supineness insures the very evil from which it shrinks. One right, yielded up, pro- duces the usurpation of a second; one encroach- ment, passively suffered, makes way for another; and the nation that thus, through a doting love of peace, has sacrificed honour and interest, will at length have to fight for existence.
Let the disastrous reign of William the Testy serve as a salutary warning against that fitful, feverish mode of legislation, that acts without system ; de- pends on shifts and projects, and trusts to lucky con- tingencies ; that hesitates, and wavers, and at length decides with the rashness of ignorance and imbe- cility ; that stoops for popularity, by courting the prejudices and flattering the arrogance, rather than commanding the respect, of the rabble; that seeks safety in a multitude of counsellors, and distracts itself by a variety of contradictory schemes and opinions; that mistakes procrastination for deliber-
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1.
ate wariness-hurry for decision-starveling parsi- mony for wholesome economy-bustle for business, and vapouring for valour; that is violent in council, sanguine in expectation, precipitate in action, and feeble in execution ; that undertakes enterprises without forethought, enters upon them without pre- paration, conducts them without energy, and ends them in confusion and defeat.
Let the reign of the good Stuyvesant show the effects of vigour and decision, even when destitute of cool judgment, and surrounded by perplexities. Let it show how frankness, probity, and high-souled courage, will command respect and secure honour, even where success is unattainable. But, at the same time, let it caution against a too ready reliance on the good faith of others, and a too honest confidence in the loving professions of powerful neighbours, who are most friendly when they most mean to be- tray. Let it teach a judicious attention to the opin- ions and wishes of the many, who, in times of peril, must be soothed and led, or apprehension will over- power the deference to authority. Let the empty wordiness of his factious subjects ; their intemperate harangues ; their violent " resolutions ;" their hector- ings against an absent enemy, and their pusillanimity on his approach, teach us to distrust and despise those clamorous patriots, whose courage dwells but in the tongue. Let them serve as a lesson to repress that insolence of speech, destitute of real force, which too often breaks forth in popular bodies, and bespeaks the vanity, rather than the spirit of a na-
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tion. Let them caution us against vaunting too much of our own power and prowess, and reviling a noble enemy. True gallantry of soul would always lead us to treat a foe with courtesy and proud punc. tilio ; a contrary conduct but takes from the merit of victory, and renders defeat doubly disgraceful.
But I cease to dwell on the stores of excellent ex- amples to be drawn from the ancient chronicles of the Manhattoes. He who reads attentively will dis- cover the threads of gold, which run throughout the web of history, and are invisible to the dull eye of ignorance. But, before I conclude, let me point out a solemn warning, furnished in the subtle chain of events by which the capture of Fort Casimir has produced the present convulsions of our globe.
Attend then, gentle reader, to this plain deduction, which, if thou art a king, an emperor, or other pow- erful potentate, I advise thee to treasure up in thy heart-though little expectation have I that my work will fall into such hands, for well I know the care of crafty ministers, to keep all grave and edify- ing books of the kind out of the way of unhappy monarchs-lest peradventure they should read them and learn wisdom.
By the treacherous surprisal of Fort Casimir, then, did the crafty Swedes enjoy a transient tri- umph ; but drew upon their heads the vengeance of Peter Stuyvesant, who wrested all New-Sweden from their hands. By the conquest of New-Sweden, Peter Stuyvesant aroused the claims of Lord Balti- more ; who appealed to the Cabinet of Great Brit-
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ain; who subdued the whole province of New- Netherlands. By this great achievement, the whole extent of North America, from Nova Scotia to the Floridas, was rendered one entire dependency upon the British crown-but mark the consequence :-- The hitherto scattered colonies being thus consoli- dated, and having no rival colonies to check or keep them in awe, waxed great and powerful, and finally becoming too strong for the mother country, were enabled to shake off its bonds, and by a glorious rev- olution became an independent empire. But the chain of effects stopped not here; the successful rev- olution in America produced the sanguinary revolu- tion in France, which produced the puissant Buona- parte, who produced the French despotism, which has thrown the whole world in confusion !- Thus have these great powers been successively punished for their ill-starred conquests-and thus, as I assert- ed, have all the present convulsions, revolutions, and disasters that overwhelm mankind, originated in the capture of the little Fort Casimir, as recorded in this eventful history.
And now, worthy reader, ere I take a sad farewell -which, alas ! must be for ever-willingly would I part in cordial fellowship, and bespeak thy kind hearted remembrance. That I have not written a better history of the days of the patriarchs, is not my fault-had any other person written one as good, l should not have attempted it at all. That many will hereafter spring up and surpass me in excellence, I
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nave very little doubt, and still less care ; well know ing, when the great Christovallo Colon (who is vul- garly called Columbus) had once stood his egg upon its end, every one at table could stand his up a thou- sand times more dexterously. Should any reader find matter of offence in this history, I should heartily grieve, though I would on no account question his penetration by telling him he is mistaken-his good nature, by telling him he is captious-or his pure conscience, by telling him he is startled at a shadow. Surely if he is so ingenious in finding offence where none is intended, it were a thousand pities he should not be suffered to enjoy the benefit of his discovery.
I have too high an opinion of the understanding of my fellow-citizens, to think of yielding them any instruction ; and I covet too much their good will, to forfeit it by giving them good advice. I am none of those cynics who despise the world because it despises them-on the contrary, though but low in its regard, I look up to it with the most perfect good nature, and my only sorrow is, that it does not prove itself more worthy of the unbounded love I bear it.
If, however, in this my historic production-the scanty fruit of a long and laborious life-I have failed to gratify the dainty palate of the age, I can only lament my misfortune-for it is too late in the season for me even to hope to repair it. Already has with- ering age showered his sterile snows upon my brow; in a little while, and this genial warmth, which still lingers around my heart, and throbs-worthy reader
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-throbs kindly towards thyself, will be chilled for ever. Haply this frail compound of dust, which while alive may have given birth to nought but un- profitable weeds, may form an humble sod of the valley, from whence may spring many a sweet wild flower, to adorn my beloved island of Manna-hata !
THE END.
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