USA > New York > New York City > History of New York city from the discovery to the present day, V.1 > Part 6
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on the South River might export all goods, except peltry, to any place they wished.
In the year 1660, a second survey and map of New Amsterdam was made by Jacques Cortelyou, and the city was found to contain three hundred and fifty
1660. houses. It was sent to the Amsterdam Chamber, . in case it should be thought "good to make it more pub- lic by having it engraved." This early map has probably - been lost.
The restoration of Charles the Second, in 1661, did not produce in England more friendly feelings towards the Dutch; and the two nations now became com- 1661. mercial rivals. The Act of Navigation had already closed the ports of New England, Virginia, and Maryland against Holland and its colony of New Netherland; and such at that time was the narrow spirit of British states- men, that many Independents and Dissenters desired to seek new homes, where they would be alike free from monarchy, prelacy, and British rule.
Nor were these considerations overlooked in Holland. The West India Company now determined to invite emigration to New Netherland by larger inducements ; accordingly, a new charter was drawn up, which granted to " all such people as shall be disposed to take up their abode in those parts," fifteen leagues of land along the sea-coast, " and as far in depth in the continent as any plantation hath, or may be, settled in New Netherland." Emigrants were also to have "high, middle, and low jurisdiction," " freedom from head-money" for twenty years, property in mines, freedom for ten years from taxes, the right to use their own ships, and freedom in the fishing trade. . " Therefore," added the Company, " if any of the English, good Christians, who may be assured of the advantage to mankind of plantations in these latitudes to others more southerly, and shall ration-
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HISTORY OF NEW YORK CITY
ally be disposed to transport themselves to the said place, under the conduct of the United Provinces, they shall have full liberty to live in the fear of the Lord, upon the aforesaid good conditions, and shall be likewise court- eously used." A proper act, under the seal of the Com- pany, was issued at the Hague, which granted to "all Christian people of tender conscience in England or else- where oppressed, full liberty to erect a colony in the West Indies, between New England and Virginia, in Amer- ica, now within the jurisdiction of Peter Stuyvesant, the States,General Governor for the West India Company." How many "Christian people of tender conscience " availed themselves of these advantageous offers, does not appear; but the metropolis prospered. A better cur- rency was now found to be indispensable, and the burgo- masters wrote to Holland for authority to establish a mint for the coinage of silver, and to constitute wampum (needed for trade with the savages) an article of sale. But the Amsterdam Directors refused to grant this improvement of the colonial currency.
A number of breweries, brick-kilns, and other manu- factories, carried on a successful business; and the pot- teries on Long Island some persons esteemed equal to those of Delft. Dirck De Wolf having obtained from the Amsterdam Chamber, in 1661, the exclusive privi- lege of making salt for seven years in New Netherland, began its manufacture upon Coney Island; but the Graves- end settlers, who claimed the spot, arrested the enter- prise; and this, too, notwithstanding Governor Stuyve- sant sent a military guard to protect him.
In -the year 1664, the population of New Netherland had increased to "full ten thousand," and New Amster- dam contained one thousand five hundred, and 1664. wore an appearance of great prosperity. English jealousy evidently increased with the augmenting com-
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merce of -the Dutch. James, Duke of York, was the King's brother, and also Governor of the African Com- pany, and he denounced the Dutch West India Company, which had endeavored to secure the territory on the Gold Coast from English speculators and intruders. Eng- land now resolved to march a step further, and, at one blow, to rob Holland of her American province. The King granted a sealed patent to the Duke of York for a large territory in America, including Long Island, and all lands and rivers from the west side of the Connecti- cut to the east side of Delaware Bay. This sweeping grant embraced the whole of New Netherland.
The Duke of York, that he might lose no time in securing his patent, dispatched Captain Scott, with one hundred and fifty followers, to visit the Island of Man- . hattan,{ the value of which was now estimated at three thousand pounds. On the 11th of January, 1664, the valorous Scott made his appearance at "Breukelen" Ferry Landing, and, with a great flourish of trumpets, demanded submission to the English flag. Governor Stuyvesant, despatching his Secretary, politely asked Captain Scott, " Will you come across the river?" and the reply was, " No; let Stuyvesant come over with one hundred sol- diers; I will wait for him here!" " What for ?" demanded the Secretary. "I would run him through the body !" was the Captain's courteous answer. "That would not be a friendly act," replied the Governor's Deputy. Thus they parted ; Scott retiring to Midwout (Flatbush) with his forces, with drums beating and colors flying, while the. people " looked on with wonder, not knowing what it meant." Scott told them that they must abandon their allegiance to the Dutch, and promised to confer with Governor Stuyvesant. But when he reached the river, on his way to New Amsterdam for this purpose, he de- clined crossing it. Still he felt very brave, threatening
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to go over, proclaim the English King at the Manhattans, and "rip the guts, and cut the feet from under any man who says, 'This is not the King's land.'" This was, cer- tainly, very bloodthirsty; but the good people of Man- hattan all escaped with whole feet and bowels. The valiant Captain then marched to New Utrecht, ordered the only gun of which the block-house boasted to be fired in the King's honor, and then continued his triumphant march to Amersfort, for another bloodless victory.
Governor Stuyvesant now ordered a new commission to confer with Captain Scott, at Jamaica, and Cornelis Steenwyck *- one of the fathers of New Amsterdam, residing on his farm at Harlem-was one of the commis- sion. It was here agreed that the English Captain should desist from disturbing the Dutch towns. The latter, however, insisted that the basis of future negotiations should recognize Long Island as belonging to Great Britain. He also hinted that the Duke of York intended to reduce, in time, the whole province of New Nether- land-a declaration which was to prove true sooner than the Dutch Governor anticipated.
In September of the same year (1664), Colonel Nic- olls anchored before New Amsterdam with a fleet and soldiers. His imperious message to Governor Stuyvesant was: " I shall come with ships and soldiers, raise the white flag of peace at the fort, and then something may be considered. The Dutch colony was entirely unprepared for such a warlike visit, and capitulated at eight o'clock on the morning of September Sth, 1664. Stuyvesant, at the head of the garrison, marched out of the fort with the honors of war, pursuant to the terms of the surrender. His soldiers were immediately led down the " Bever's
"There is a portrait of Mr. Steenwyck in the collection of the N. Y. Historical Society.
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Paatje," or Beaver Lane, to the shore of the North River, where they embarked for Holland. An English "corpo- ral's guard " immediately entered and took possession of the fort, over which the English flag was at once hoisted. Its name, Fort Amsterdam, was then changed to "Fort James," and New Amsterdam was henceforth known as " NEW YORK." This was a violent and treacherous seiz- ure of territory at a time of profound peace-a breach of private justice and public faith ; and by it, a great State had imposed on it a name which is unknown in history, save as it is connected with bigotry and tyranny, and which has ever been an enemy of political and religious liberty .*
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Before following further the course of events, a brief retrospect of the commercial prosperity of New Nether- . land seems desirable. At the period when Governor Stuy- vesant's administration was so suddenly terminated by the arrival of the Duke of York's forces, the population of New Netherland was established at "full ten thousand." When New Amsterdam was first surveyed, in 1656, it contained one hundred and twenty houses and one thou- sand souls, which increased to fifteen hundred in 1664. Not quite two hundred and fifty of these were male
* As the surrender of Fort Amsterdam involved the loss of the entire Dutch possessions in New Netherland, the conduct of Governor Stuyvesant, in not maintaining its defense, was severely criticised by his superiors in Holland. In his justification, he explained that the fort was encompassed only by a slight wall, two to three feet in thickness, backed by coarse gravel, not above eight, nine, and ten feet high, in some places ; in others, higher, according to the rise and fall of the ground. It was for the most part crowded all around with build- ings, and better adapted for a citadel than for defense against an open enemy. The houses were, in many places, higher than the walls and bastions, and ren- derod those wholly exposed. Most of the houses had cellars not eight rods distant from the wall of the fort ; in some places not two or three feet dis- tant : and at one point scarce a rod from the wall,-so that whoever should be master of the city, could readily approach with scaling-ladders from the adja- cent houses, and mount the walls, which had neither a wet nor a dry ditch .- Valentine's Manual.
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adults; and the rest women and children below eighteen years of age. The same city now numbers about a million of people! New York, on an average, has about doubled its population every twenty-three years. Be it remembered that trade and commerce became the great stimulus of population, and their regulation of the utmost importance. The damages incurred by the West India Company during 1645-'6, in Brazil, and estimated at one hundred tons of gold, rendered some measures necessary to retrieve its condition. Trade with that country was there- fore opened in the year 1618 to the New Netherlanders, who were permitted to send thither their produce, and return with African slaves, whose subsequent exportation from the Dutch Province was forbidden. Four years afterward, the province obtained the privilege of trading to Africa for slaves and other articles. In the same year, the monopoly of the carrying trade between Holland and this country (before in the hands of the Amsterdam Chamber) was abolished ; " for the first time," private vessels were now entered at Amsterdam ; and, in 1659, the privilege of ex- porting produce to France, Spain, Italy, and the Carib- bean Islands, was obtained. Thus, the markets of the world, except those of the East, were opened to New Neth- erland ships. From this regulation, however, furs alone were an exception, as these were to be sent exclusively to Amsterdam.
The duties were fixed by the tariff of 1648, at ten per cent. on imported, and fifteen upon exported goods; but some difference existed in favor of English colonial but- tons, causing them first to be sent to New England, and thence imported into New Netherland at a low rate. To obviate this, in 1651, the duties on such goods were raised to sixteen per cent., tobacco excepted, its eight per cent. tax being taken off. In the year 1655, the duties on im- ports again were reduced to ten per cent., and, in 1659,
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owing to the demand for lead to be used in window- frames, this article was placed on the free-list. As we have noticed, the industry of the Dutch colonists was early manifested in ship-building. At the close of Stuy- vesant's administration, a number of distilleries, breweries, and potasheries, were in operation, with several manufac- tories of tiles, bricks, and earthenware. An attempt was also made, in 1657, to introduce the silk culture; two years after, mulberry-trees were exported to Curacoa; and, as before stated, the making of salt was attempted ; but the inhabitants of Gravesend, claiming Coney Island under their patent, destroyed the houses and improve- ments, burnt the fences, and threatened to throw the workmen into the flames.
Although wampum, or " zeawan," had become almost the exclusive currency of New Netherlands (1664), still, beaver remained the standard of value. During the years 1651-'2, Director Stuyvesant tried to introduce a specie currency, and applied to Holland for twenty-five thousand guilders in Dutch shillings and four-penny pieces, but the Di- rectors there disapproved of his project. The people were thus entirely dependent on wampum, as we are now upon "greenbacks," and the value of wages, property, and every commodity, was, in consequence, seriously disturbed. So it is in this day, and ever will be, with an irredeemable currency, whether of clam-shells, thin paper, or any thing else, not equal to specie. At first, wampum passed at the rate of four black beads for one stiver; next, it was lowered to six ; again, in 1657, to eight; and then it was ordered to be considered a tender for gold and silver. But Stuyvesant wisely objected, as it would bring the value of property to naught. In the year 1650, the white wampum was next reduced from twelve to sixteen, and the black from six to eight for a stiver. What was the result ? The holder was obliged to give more wampum
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for any article he purchased of the trader, who, in return, allowed the natives a large quantity of it for their beavers and skins; and, to use the plain record of the day, "little or no benefit accrued." Nominally, prices advanced, when beavers which had been sold for twelve or fourteen guilders rose to twenty-two and twenty-four, bread from fourteen to twenty-two stivers (eight-pound loaves) beef nine to ten stivers per pound, pork fifteen to twenty stivers, shoes from three and a half guilders to twelve a pair, and wrought-iron from eighteen to twenty stivers the pound. Beavers and specie remained all the while of equal value; but the difference between these and wam- pum was fifty per cent. The effect on wages was almost ruinous. An old record says: "The poor farmer, laborer, and public officer, being paid in zeawan, are almost re- duced to the necessity of living on alms."
Those in the employ of the Dutch Company asked that their salaries might be paid in beavers, but this was refused; as well might public officers in our day desire to receive gold and silver for their services. This deprecia- tion of the currency, and the consequent disturbance of prices, caused much popular clamor, and various expe- dients were adopted to amend the unfortunate state of things. The Directors of New Netherland would have the colonists consider wampum as " bullion," but would only receive beavers in payment of duties and taxes. We adopt something of the same theory in our Custom-House payments. Governor Stuyvesant raised the value of specie in the country twenty to twenty-five no- cost, " to prevent its exportation." Finally, however, the price of beaver in 1663 fell from eight guilders (specie) to four and a half, white wampum from sixteen to eight, and black from eight to four for a stiver. What a fall! This was the state of the public finances when the English came in possession of New Netherland. Some persons
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are met with at the present time who fear a similar financial crash sooner or later in our enlightened land with its hundreds and millions in paper-money operations and promises.
The public revenue in New Netherland embraced two descriptions, provincial and municipal: the former con- sisting of the export duty on furs, the impost on Euro- pean goods, with the tenths of agricultural produce, butter, cheese, etc .; the latter of an excise duty on liquors and slaughtered cattle. In the year 1655, the duty on exported furs is stated at twenty-two thousand guilders. The expenses of the Government became very large, especially from the Indian wars, which also cut off the supplies of furs; so that by the close of Stuyvesant's administration, there was a deficit of fifty thousand florins, or twenty thousand dollars. The municipal rev- enue arising from the liquor excise was of two kinds, the
tapsters and the burghers-the first paying a duty of four florins a ton on home-brewed, and six on foreign beer; eight florins a hogshead on French; and four on Spanish wine, brandy, or other spirits. These rates were doubled in 1662. The income of New Amsterdam from these sources was estimated at twenty-five thousand guilders. The Company in Holland had now expended twelve tons of gold in the settlement of New Netherland, and now (1664), when some return was expected for this large outlay, foreigners seized and possessed themselves of all the benefits resulting from such expenditures.
We again resume the thread of~ surc. The war which broke out in 1672 between the English and
the Dutch, and which was chiefly carried on by 1672. the navies of the two powers, occasioned appre- hensions for the safety of the province of New York; and Governor Lovelace, the successor of Nicolls, the first English Governor, made preparations for a demonstra-
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tion of that character on the part of the Dutch. Nor were his fears unfounded; although, some months elaps- ing without any appearance of the enemy, he allowed himself to fall into a fatal sense of security, and accord- ingly disbanded the levies, while he himself departed on a visit to the Eastern colonies, leaving the Fort in charge of Captain John Manning. The Dutch, however, were not asleep; nor had they relinquished their design. De- termined to regain New Amsterdam at all hazards, they fitted out a fleet of five ships, commanded by Admirals Benckes and Evertsen, with Captains Colve, Boes, and Van Zye. On the 29th of July, 1673, they appeared 1673. off Sandy Hook; and quietly sailing up the bay, and anchoring before Staten Island, soon appeared oppo- site the Battery. The fleet then opened a heavy cannon- ade upon the city, at the same time that Captain Colve, landing with six hundred men, drew up in order of battle on the Commons, ready to march into the city. At a given signal the men marched down Broadway, where- upon Captain Manning surrendered the fort, on condition that its garrison should march out with all the honors of war. This condition having been granted, the Dutch troops again possessed the fort and city. New York re- ceived the name of New Orange, and the fort itself the name of Fort William Hendrick. Governor Lovelace, who, meanwhile had hastened back from his pleasure tour, was allowed to return with the Dutch Admiral. He received from the English Comment a severe repri- mand for cowardice and treachery, and his estates were confiscated to the Duke of York.
Captain Colve, now in command of the Province of New Netherland, received a commission from Benckes and Evertsen to govern the new territory. His rule, though brief, was energetic. He at once took measures to im- prove the defenses of the fort; and, in October, 1673, we
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find it stated in one of his orders, that the fortifications had then, at great expense and labor to the citizens and inhabitants, been brought "to perfection." Anthony De Milt was appointed Schout, with three burgomasters and five schepens. The entire city assumed the appearance of a military post, the Commons (the present Park) be- coming the parade-ground. A wall or palisade was placed around it, running from Trinity Church along Wall Street -- hence its name-and block-houses protected the set- tlement on every side. Every day the Schout reviewed the military, before the "Stadt Huys," at the head of Coenties Slip. At six in the evening he received the city keys, and with a guard of six men locked the public gates, and stationed the sentinels. He unlocked the gates at sunrise. The city at this period numbered three hundred and twenty houses.
But the second administration of the Dutch was des- tined to be of short duration. On the 9th of February,
1674, the treaty of peace between England and the 1674. States-General was signed at Westminster; and the Dutch, having discovered and possessed the beautiful country of New Netherland for almost sixty years, were now, once and forever, dispossessed of it. On that day the old fort became " Fort James," having surrendered to Sir Edmund Andros, who had been appointed Governor by the Duke of York.
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CHAPTER III.
BEFORE closing this section, and bidding farewell en- tirely to New York under the Dutch rule, it seems fitting to glance somewhat minutely at the social manners and customs of our early Dutch ancestors.
The Dutch of New Amsterdam were distinguished for their good nature, love of home, and cordial hospitality. Fast young men, late hours, and fashionable dissipation were unknown There was, nevertheless, plenty of oppor- tunity for healthful recreation. Holidays were abundant, each family having some of its own, such as birth-days, christenings, and marriage anniversaries. Each season, too, introduced its own peculiar and social festivals-the ".Quilting," " Apple-Raising," and " Husking Bees." The work on such occasions was soon finished, after which the guests sat down to a supper, well supplied with chocolate and waffles-the evening terminating with a merry dance. Dancing was a favorite amusement. The slaves danced to the music of thei- Jude instruments, in the markets ; while the maidos and youths practiced the same amuse- ment at their social parties, and around the annual May- . Pole on the Bowling Green.
Besides such holidays, five public or national festivals were observed. These were-Kerstrydt, or Christmas ; Nieuw Jar, or New Year; Paas, or Passover; Pinxter, Whitsuntide ; and Santa Claus, St. Nicholas, or Christ-Kin-
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kle Day. The morn of the Nativity was hailed with uni- versal salutations of a "Merry Christmas "-a good old Knickerbocker custom which has descended unimpaired to us. Next, in the day's programme, came "Turkey Shoot -. ing"-the young men repairing either to the " Beekman Swamp," or on the Common (Park), for this amusement. Each man paid a few stivers * for a "chance," when the best shot obtained the prize. The day was also commem- orated, as it is at the present time, by family dinners, and closed with domestic gayety and cheerfulness.
New-Year's Day was devoted to the universal inter- change of visits. Every door in New Amsterdam was thrown wide open, and a warm welcome extended to the stranger as well as the friend. It was considered a breach of established etiquette to omit any acquaintance in these annual calls, by which old friendships were renewed, fam- ily differences settled, and broken or neglected intimacies restored. This is another of the excellent customs of the olden times that still continues among New Yorkers; and it's origin, like many others, is thus traced exclusively to the earliest Hollanders.
Paas, or Easter, was a famous festival among the Dutch, but is now almost forgotten, except by the chil- dren, who still take considerable interest in coloring eggs in honor of the day. The eggs were found then on every table. This old festival, however, is rapidly passing away, and, like Pinxter, will soon be forgotten.
Santa Claus, howo-x, was the day of all others with the little Dutch fik, for it was sacred to St. Nicholas- the tutela- Avinity of New Amsterdam-who had presided at the figure-head of the first emigrant ship that reached her shores. " The first church erected within her fort was
* A stiver was equal to nearly two cents in United States money.
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also named after St. Nicholas. He was, to the imagina- tion of the little people, a jolly, rosy-cheeked, little old man, with a slouched hat, large Flemish nose, and a very long pipe. His sleigh, loaded with all sorts of Christmas gifts, was drawn by swift reindeer ; and, as he drove rap- idly over the roofs of the houses, he would pause at the chimneys to leave presents in the stockings of the good children ; if bad, they might expect nothing but a switch or leather-strap. In this way the young Knickerbockers became models of good behavior and propriety. They used to sing a suitable hymn on the occasion, one verse of which is here given, for the benefit of those readers who may wish to know how it sounded in Dutch :
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