USA > New York > New York City > History of New Netherland; or, New York under the Dutch, Vol. II > Part 18
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Mar. 8.
.
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1652.
BOOK turbulent, seditious persons, who impose on, and deceive IV. the inhabitants ; and continue even here, also, to act, as they pretend, in the name of the commonalty, we trust your protestations shall confound them and make them blush, whilst we are confident that good citizens will, as in duty bound, remain in allegiance to us, their patroons, who are desirous that they shall be governed with lenity and prudence in the enjoyment of their rights and privileges, of which ye all will be convinced by the present orders trans- mitted herewith to the Director-general and Council."
What were the "orders" thus announced with such confidence and parade ? What were those conclusions, which, like oil, were to calm the troubled waters of colo- nial dissatisfaction ? After two years of obstinate and unwise opposition, the Directors had, at length, granted to New Amsterdam, in accordance with the 17th clause of the Provisional Order of 1650, a Municipal form of govern- ment, to consist of one Schout, two Burgomasters, and five Schepens, to be elected by the citizens in the manner usual in " this city of Amsterdam," to act as a Court of Justice, with the right of appeal, in certain cases, " to the Supreme Court of Judicature." In conferring this charter, orders were given that "every attention should be paid to the selection of these magistrates, so that honest and respect- able persons may be chosen." To prevent the recurrence of complaints already made against the exclusive employ- ment of foreigners in the government, it was " directed" that preference should be given, as much as possible, to individ- uals of this (Dutch) nation, as this will, in our opinion, be gratifying to the citizens at large."1
1 Alb. Rec. iv., 68, 72, 73, 75; viii., 8-13, 16-19, 42. The Directors in their letter to Stuyvesant, communicating the concession of this charter, say : " We have resolved, on your proposal, to stop the slandering mouth, to agree to establish, &c." From this it would seem that the grant of a municipality to New Amster- dam, was on Stuyvesant's "proposal." This is more than the facts warrant. When the report of the Provisional Order of 1650 in which this charter was first recommended, was first made, a copy of that paper was sent out to the Director- general, probably for his opinion ; and it is most likely that lie "reported " in favor of assimilating New Amsterdam in some degree to Old Amsterdam, by the grant to the former of the above privileges. But the first "proposal " was undoubtedly from the Nine Men, which was followed by the Provisional Order of 1650.
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Such was the origin of municipal institutions in the com- CHAP. mercial metropolis of this Empire State. They sprung
XI. not up in one night, like Jonah's gourd ; they owed their 1652. existence, like all such ameliorations, to the persevering demands of the masses; to the provident foresight and indomitable energy of those who occupied the island of Manhattans centuries ago. In the year 1642, the Twelve Men had demanded privileges similar to those now confer- red. " The smallest village in Fatherland had a board of from five to seven schepens, for the management of their local affairs." Though these honest men had to bow before the despotism of their day, and though their successors experienced persecution and obloquy, the event is matter for just congratulation and encouragement to all those who labor for the advancement of reform. Sooner or later the cause of right triumphs, and though the People may, for a while, be baffled, they cannot fail in the end of success, if their object be good.
The mass of evidence, produced by Van der Donck, exer- cised in the mean time a powerful influence on their High Mightinesses, and conclusively established the truth of the numerous complaints which had been brought against the Director-general. A resolution was passed ordering him April27. to return forthwith to Holland to give an account of his administration, and to furnish explanations regarding the boundary which he had negotiated with the United Colo- nies. The letter conveying this grave censure was entrust- ed to Van der Donck, who, having obtained his discharge, was on the eve of returning to New Netherland.
The Amsterdam Directors were astounded on receiving intelligence of this event. They dispatched their secre- tary with all haste, to the Hague, to have the order coun- termanded, and wrote to Stuyvesant, informing him that such a resolution was utterly repugnant to the privileges conferred on them, wherefore they commanded him to give it neither regard nor attention-" not to be in too much haste to commence his voyage, but to delay it until the receipt of further orders." Meanwhile their agent influ- enced the members of the States of Holland and some of VOL. II. 13
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BOOK the Burgomasters of Amsterdam, who immediately demand- IV. ed communication of the resolution of the 27th April. 1652. This having been read, they protested against it, " signify- ing that this subject ought to have been first proposed to May 16. the States of Holland." The resolution was reconsidered ; Van der Donck was ordered to return the letters of recall, and all further action in the matter was indefinitely post- May 27. poned. The Directors rejoiced at their success, expressed their thanks to the States General, and requested that they might be heard before the deputies who had the business in charge, as they were confident that they could give such satisfactory explanations regarding the boundaries and all other points submitted, as to render it unnecessary to send for the Director-general.1 Thus this affair terminated, and Stuyvesant owed his escape from the humiliation which threatened him, less to any want of disposition on the part of the States General to probe the complaints against him to the bottom, than to the circumstance that they were on the eve of a rupture with England, and required the services . of a man of his military experience to protect their Ameri- can possessions.
Two settlements were commenced on Long Island in the course of this year. One of these was located imme- diately east of the old established plantation of Mespath, in contradistinction to which, it was familiarly called " the New Town," though its legal appellation was Middel- burgh." The Indian title to the lands composing the town was not extinguished until some years subsequent to this date. A church was erected here previous to 1655.3
The other was situate in the " Vlacke-bos," or Flatbush, between Breukelen and Amersfoort, and received from Director Stuyvesant the name of Middelwout.4 Though endowed, at its foundation, with over a dozen parcels of
1 Hol. Doc. vi., 123-125, 140, 153, 156; Alb. Rec. iv., 63, 64, 68; viii., 46-49- For particulars of the remainder of Van der Donck's history, see p. 550.
2 " The New Town, by us called Middelburgh, situate on Long Island." N. A. Book of Conveyances, Nos. 7 and 8.
3 New Amsterdam Rec.
4 De Directeur heeft op syn eygen authoriteyt, een buurschap begonnen te fon- deren op 't Lange Eyland in 't Vlacke-bos tusschen Amersfoort and Breukelen by hem Middelwout genaamt. Hol. Doc. vi., 221.
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land for the support of religion and schools,1 its progress CHAP. was much impeded in its infancy. The Indians had not
XI. been paid for their property, and in their displeasure 1652. threatened to burn the bouweries of the early pioneers. Payment was promised, "but nothing came of it." The inhabitants continued in constant danger, and " the village did not thrive." These and other difficulties about Indian claims, superadded to the war with England, produced a good deal of confusion and discontent, and laid the foun- dation of another appeal ere long to the authorities in Hol- land.
1 Flatbush Rec.
BOOK V.
FROM THE INCORPORATION OF NEW AMSTERDAM TO THE FIRST WAR WITH THE ESOPUS INDIANS. 1652-1659.
CHAPTER I.
Effects produced in Holland by the death of Charles I .- Murder of Dorislaus- Death of the Prince of Orange-Office of Stadtholder abolished-Overtures to Cromwell-Ambassadors appointed by the commonwealth-Their demand- The Dutch temporize-Indignities offered to the English Envoys by the populace-Failure of the negotiations-The English Ambassadors return home-Passage of the Trade and Navigation Act-Dutch Ambassadors pro- ceed to England-Progress of negotiation-Attempt to settle the boundaries between New England and New Netherland-Fails-Singular mirage- Sea-fight between the English and Dutch fleets-Preparations for the protec- tion of New Netherland-Instructions from the Amsterdam Chamber-War proclaimed-Patroon of Rensselaerswyck complains of Stuyvesant-Reply of the West India Company-Corporation of New Amsterdam-Government of Amsterdam explained-Stuyvesant retains the appointment of the Schout, Burgomasters and Schepens, and their officers, in his own hands-Powers of the city court-Preparations for public defence-A loan raised-New Am- sterdam palisaded.
THE intelligence of the terrible catastrophe which over- CHAP. took the British monarchy in the person of Charles the First, excited deep commiseration throughout Holland. William 1649. the Second, Prince of Orange, was a general favorite, and having married the daughter of the late unhappy monarch. the sympathy for the Prince created a corresponding de- gree of feeling for the deceased King's son, who now so- journed at the Hague. Addresses of condolence, couched in terms suitable to the occasion, were presented by the States General, the States of Holland, and the body of the clergy, to the Prince of Wales, now Charles the Second ;
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BOOK for all men, of what quality soever, expressed their detest- V. ation of the Whitehall tragedy. The influence of the 1649. Stadtholder, to which most of this feeling was mainly ascribable, had hitherto prevented the recognition of Sir John Strickland, whom the Parliament had accredited as its agent to the Dutch government, and secured every respect for Boswell, Charles' representative. The Par- liament being desirous, notwithstanding, to establish an alliance betwixt the two republics, sent Doctor Dorislaus, a native of Delf, and formerly professor of history at Gresham College, in his place. It was an injudicious appointment. Dorislaus had been employed to prosecute the late King, and could not fail, therefore, to be peculiarly obnoxious to the Royalists who now crowded the Hague. May 12. A few evenings after his arrival, whilst seated at supper at the public hotel, he was set on by six Scotsmen, follow- ers of Montrose, and murdered. The assassins escaped, and Charles, exceedingly perplexed at this accident, with- 1650. drew to St. Germain, and in the course of the following June 12. summer, proceeded with a small squadron furnished by the Prince of Orange, to Scotland, to make an attempt to recover his father's throne. Unfortunately for the King's interests at the Hague, the Prince died towards the close Nov. 16. of the year. The democratic party gained the ascendency, and abolished the office of Stadtholder. It was now dis- covered that one of the King's agents had issued letters of marque in Holland ; that one of these privateers had seized some vessels which had sailed from the Maas, and that others had captured a fleet of Dutch traders off the Isle of 1651. Scilly. The tide set, in consequence, stronger than ever Jan. 28. against the King. A resolution passed the States General acknowledging the republic of England, and in favor of receiving its ambassador, at the very moment almost that the latter nation determined to send Chief Justice St. John and Sir John Strickland as Envoys Extraordinary to Holland, to conclude an alliance with the United Provinces. The business of negotiation soon after commenced.
The English republicans had long cherished the idea of forming, by the union of the United Provinces with their
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own commonwealth, a great and powerful republic, CHAP. capable of striking terror into all the crowned heads of ~ I. Europe. They proposed, accordingly, a confederacy for 1651. the preservation of the liberties of both countries against all enemies, whether by sea or land. The Dutch at once perceived that such a treaty would cost them the friend- ship of all the other European States, and deprive them of most of those commercial advantages, which, as the common carriers of Europe, they then enjoyed. The critical condition of affairs in Scotland, the uncertainty whether Charles would come out of that contest "a beg- gar or a king," also induced them to temporize, and though they were willing to place England on a par with the most favored nations, they had recourse to all expedients to gain time and save themselves from the hard conditions which the English still pertinaciously urged.
Whilst negotiations dragged along, the position of the Envoys was far from agreeable. The common people, " who had imbibed with their mothers' milk the great achievements which the house of Orange had performed for their national independence," ill brooked the presence of the men who had contributed so much to the death of the grandfather of their young Prince. The "things called ambassadors" were daily exposed to the grossest insults ; " neither they nor their people could put their noses out of doors" with safety, whilst "a continual storm of stones rained against their windows." St. John, the mouth-piece of the Parliament and the confidant of Cromwell, was too proud to brook these indignities or the delays which were thrown in his way. In a tone of marked haughtiness, he gave notice that the period of his sojourn was limited, and if the treaty were not concluded by a certain time, he and his colleague should depart. Mutual misunderstand- ing ensued. The terms proposed by the English were considered too hard. The States General submitted, on their side, as the basis of an agreement, thirty-six articles extracted from an ancient treaty. These would not be accepted. The object of St. John was to get the Dutch pledged to offensive operations against the King's party,
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BOOK both in Holland and England ; and having failed in this, he V. returned home, determined to crush, if possible, a power 1651. which he could not render subservient to English interests July 2. and English designs. The course of events soon enabled him to execute his plans. The battle of Worcester was fought and lost : Charles was again a fugitive, houseless and homeless, with a price set on his head ; and now St. John, being at the helm of affairs, hurried to give scope to Oct. 9. his resentment. He caused the Parliament to pass the celebrated Trade and Navigation Act, by which all for- eigners were excluded from importing into England or her colonies any goods other than the produce of their respective countries ; and had letters of reprisal issued against the Dutch, in favor of some English merchants, who claimed to have experienced serious injuries at their hands. These measures struck at the Dutch with peculiar severity. The first lopped off one great source of their commercial prosperity, the latter brought eighty of their ships prizes into English ports. Those who had but a few months before evinced little disposition to court English friendship, were now constrained to seek an alliance they had so lately slighted, and Messrs. Jacob Cats, Gerrit Dec. 20. Schaep Pieterzoon, and Paulus van der Perre, proceeded as ambassadors to the English republic.1
The Heer Schaep had already been Resident at London on behalf of the States of Holland and West Frieslandt. On receiving this appointment he had been empowered to propose the settlement of the limits between New England and New Netherland.2 But as negotiations had been transferred about that time to Holland, he effected nothing. On the renewal of diplomatic intercourse at London, the Feb 21. Dutch envoys again presented the draft of the treaty pre- 1652. viously submitted at the Hague, of which the following articles had special reference to the American colonies :-- " XI. The inhabitants and subjects of the aforesaid
1 Aitzema, iii., 323, 324, 329, 376, 377, 468, 637, 638, 658, 660, 664, 667, 668, 694 ; Clarendon's History of the Rebellion, (Boston, 1827,) v., 2426, 2665, 2666 ; Lingard, xi.
2 Alb. Rec. iv., 35.
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Republic of England and of the States-General of the CHAP. United Netherlands shall sail, and trade to the Caribbee I. islands and Virginia freely and unmolested, in the same 1652. manner as they have hitherto resorted to and traded with those places, without any distinction as to whether those islands and places were first or last occupied or possessed by the inhabitants and subjects of the aforesaid Republic, or of the United Netherlands, any prohibition, published or promulgated by the one or the other party, to the contrary notwithstanding.
"XII. And with a view in like manner to maintain good friendship, peace and neighborhood, between both of the aforesaid nations, on the continent of North America, a just, certain and immovable boundary line there shall be settled and determined as soon as possible."
The Council of State replied to the first of these articles, Mar. 25. that the people of the Commonwealth of England, having been always strictly forbidden trade in all the plantations and places belonging to the United Provinces, not within the Netherlands, it should acquiesce therein, and therefore forbear to sail to, or trade with, any of their plantations abroad, and should not interrupt or disturb them in their sailing to them. As for their trading to any of the English plantations, such is forbidden by the late act "for the increase of the navigation of this nation, from which we do not deem it fitting to recede." To the other they answered, "that the English were the first planters of the northern continent of America, and have plantations there from the southernmost part of Virginia, in thirty- seven degrees of north latitude, to Newfoundland in fifty- two degrees ; and not knowing of any plantations of the Netherlanders there, save a small number up in Hudson's River, we think it not necessary at present to settle the limits, which may be done hereafter in a convenient time."1
It was now apparent that the views entertained by the English were not only essentially different from, but wholly contrary to, those presented by the Dutch. To
1 Hol. Doc. v1., 184-186.
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BOOK reconcile these, the latter submitted that inasmuch as the V. Netherlanders, by their navigation and trade, had, from 1652. time to time, maintained, benefitted and advanced the
May 5. Caribbean islands and the English colonies, it would there- fore be now unjust to exclude them therefrom. But the others replied that the Dutch freely possessed their own plantations, and permitted no foreigners to trade thither ; that the English, consequently, had like motives to establish the same rule in their colonies ; and as regarded the Dutch supplying provisions, such had tended to their own profit, as they thereby promoted their own trade. The ambassadors answered, the Dutch had wrested the most of their plantations from the Spaniards by their treasure, their arms and their blood, whilst the English obtained their islands without any opposition and solely jure occupationis, and had moreover planted their colonies there in peace, by their industry, though not without the assistance of the Dutch. No parity of reasoning could therefore be applied to both cases. The English contented themselves with remarking, that in forbidding foreigners to trade in their plantations, they had only followed the footsteps of the States General. Should it, however, be proposed to open and establish the trade, on both sides, on a free basis, they should receive such a proposal with due respect. The further consideration of a boundary line was deferred, according to instructions from Holland, until a more fitting time,' and thus was forever lost the opportunity to procure the ratification of the Hartford treaty.
Whilst these negotiations were going on, "signs and wonders in the heavens" portended the approach of events which were about to convulse the world. Hostile fleets appeared over the horizon drawn up in hostile array, and next engaged in close combat, to the great terror and astonishment of the humble fishermen who witnessed the phenomenon, whilst pursuing their laborious vocations off the coast of Holland. Men's minds had hardly ceased to
1 Aitzema, iii., 704, 708.
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dwell on this singular apparition,1 when intelligence arrived CHAP. that in vindication of the Dutch flag and the freedom of I. the seas, an engagement had taken place in the straits of 1652. Dover, between the Dutch and English fleets, the former under Van Tromp, and the latter under Blake." This
May 29.
1 The following account of this singular mirage, is taken from Aitz. iii., 710. " With the rising of the sun, the pilot first perceived an appearance like that of a table-land about a man's height above the horizon. A large body of foot sol- diers and cavalry seemed to him coming from out the north, or north-east. At sight of this he called his crew and boys, saying, Remark this miracle of God. The whole then in appearance vanished. Next appeared a fleet of ships against the clear sky, on the same side, coming from the north, some the mainsail half up, others in full sail, others reefed ; amongst the rest was a large ship which immediately lost its topmast, but shortly afterwards another was rigged. This ship seemed so near, that its flag lay over our vessel. It was a flag of three colors, or a prince's flag. Shortly after a powerful fleet of various sizes appeared at the same height, coming from the south-east. Both fleets seemed sailing towards each other. Coming together, a thick mist-like smoke arose, as if they were fighting one against the other, which clouded the phenomenon. This dark mist afterwards disappeared, and then the first vessels were again seen so clear and perfect, that all their cordage and blocks could be perceived. This lasted an hour. Afterwards all the vessels disappeared as if they had sunk. But a little farther away, all the ships again showed themselves so clear, yea, so perfect in all respects, that it seemed as if they should heave on our board. Then appeared a great armed ship that seemed to touch the ground, and lay with its head in the water, but the stern stuck in the air, and another ship seemed to sail by This sight continued during three hours, and created such terror among the crew, that many could not eat, they were so much fright- ened ; so that the steersman took a book in his hand, called the Christian Sea Chart, and began to read from it, for the encouragement of himself and men. In the east-north-east appeared a great lion, remaining on the north side of the vessels. About the same quarter appeared some strange beasts, all of which turned into ships. But though the ships tacked or turned, the lion kept steady to the north, and so remained during the whole sight, about two or three hours." This mirage appeared about the White Water, twelve (Dutch) miles off the Waal. The weather was clear sunshine, and the particulars are attested by the whole of the crew.
2 Aitzema, iii., 711, et seq. The Council of the Admiralty of Holland, which governed the maritime affairs, without communication with the States General, gave their instructions to Admiral Van Tromp, " that when he met any of the English ships of war, he should not strike to them, nor show them any other respect than what they received from then. And if the English expostulated the matter, they should answer frankly, the respect they had formerly shown upon those encounters, was because the ships were the King's, and for the good intelligence they had with the crown. But they had no reason to continue the same in this alteration of government, except there were some stipulation be- tween them for that purpose. And if this answer did not satisfy, but that force was used towards them, they should defend themselves with their utmost vigor." These instructions were very secret, and never suspected by the Eng- lish commanders, who had their old instructions to oblige all foreign vessels to
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BOOK untoward event put an end to all hope of peace. The V. Dutch ambassadors withdrew in the course of a few weeks 1652. from London, and the States General, in hourly expectation July 17. of a declaration of war, ordered the Admiralty to dispatch a frigate to the West Indies and New Netherland, to advise them of the threatening aspect of affairs. They July 22. wrote also to Director Stuyvesant, whose recall now was no longer thought of, to put him on his guard against the English ; and instructing him, at the same time, to employ no person, either in the civil or military departments of the government, who was not, in the completest manner, well affected to the United Provinces. They called on the West India Company to report in what manner the coasts of Brazil, Guinea and New Netherland could be best July 30. protected, and the English annoyed. New Netherland, in the Directors' opinions, was the only place from whence the English could be effectually harassed, especially in the West Indies. Five or six frigates were recommended to be commissioned for that purpose. They considered that it would be impolitic to trouble the English on the American continent, as they were very strong. After Aug. 6. having delivered these opinions, the Directors dispatched the following letter to the Director-general :-
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