USA > New York > History of the state of New York. Vol. II, Pt. 1 > Part 28
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, May. habitants of New England, Virginia, and Maryland found loniat prop- within New Netherland, which had been excepted, was erty contis- cated. now confiscated. The Zeehond was also ordered to cruise in Long Island Sound, where Ewoutsen captured two Mas- sachusetts craft, and in Narragansett Bay a Plymouth sloop. The prizes were brought to New Orange and con- demned. But this was the last act of hostility between the Dutch and English colonies in North America.t
26 May.
1673. 14 Oct.
24
The first intelligence of the reconquest of New York came to Holland by way of England. Michielsen, who had been sent home with dispatchies from Binckes, was
9, 97; Thompson, i., 155, 367, 368 ; Trumbull, i., 324, 325: Palfrey, lii., 125, 126; ante, 217, 231. The Dutch Records (Col. Doc., ii., 683-707) do not mention this expedition, of which the reducing the towns at the east end of Long Island seems to have been " the chiefe part of their errand :" Mass. HI. S. Coll., xxx., 99, 100.
* Mass. H. S. Coll , xxx., 95-98 ; Mass. R.c., iv. (ii.), 576, 577 ; Palfrey, ili., 122, 126; ante, 220, 232. The vessels ordered by Massachusetts for service in the Sound were the " Swallow," of 12 guns, Captain Richard Sprague, and the "Salisbury," of 8 guns, Captain Samuel Moseley : Maas. HI. S. Coll., xxx., 100-102, 104.
t Col. Doc., ii., 611, 707, 710, 715, 716, 719, 725, 726, 325 ; ilf., 208-212 ; Col. MISS., xxili , 325; Mass. HI. S. Coll., xxx., 99, 104, 107; Col. Rec. Conn., H., 222; Moulton, 13; Palfrey, iii., 127 ; ante, 222.
ANTHONY COLVE, GOVERNOR OF NEW NETHERLAND. 245
captured off Beachy Head, and threw them overboard to CHAP. V. prevent their being read by the English. The States Gen- eral deliberated "what further ought to be done for the 1673. 35 Oct. protection and preservation of the Colony of New Nethier- News of the reconquest land." Upon the petition of merchants interested in the of New colonial trade, the secret committee on foreign affairs was in Holland. Netherland directed "to dispose of the matter as they shall think 2º Oct. Action of the States General. proper." Six weeks afterward, on the receipt of dispatch- es from Binckes, the States General resolved " that the su- perintendence of New Netherland, and whatsoever apper- tains thereto, shall be committed, as it is hereby commit- ted, provisionally and until further order, to the Board of
. Admiralty at Amsterdam ; Ordering and commanding the is Decem. inhabitants of New Netherland aforesaid, and the military who shall be sent thither, absolutely, and without any re- serve, to obey the orders which will be issued by or on be- half of the said Board, in their High Mightinesses' name : -- That by Commission of their High Mightinesses, a prop- er person shall be sent thither, with the title of Governor or Commander, in order to clothe him with greater respect: -- That the aforesaid Governor or Commander shall be chief and Supreme Ruler, both in civil and in military af- fairs; and that he shall by the aforesaid Commission, be instructed to obey the orders of said Board of Admiralty at Amsterdam :- That JORIS ANDRINGA, actually Secretary Joris An- of the Provincial fleet, shall be appointed and commission- pointed dringa ap- governor of ed to said government or command, and that the necessary New Neth- commission shall be expedited to him :-- That the Captain erland. and officers of the Companies to be sent thither shall be given in charge, as they are hereby enjoined, precisely and punctually, to obey all orders that will be given them by said Board of Admiralty at Amsterdam."*
By this action of the States General a regular govern- ment was established over New Netherland, and Joris An- dringa took his place in her annals as the successor of An- thony Colve. The Amsterdam Board of Admiralty, after considering Binckes's dispatches, determined that, as the Further ar entire province had been surrendered at discretion, all the land.
" (. Doc., il., 527-531; Sylvius, ix., 680, 605; Mass. H. S. Coll., XXX., 103; ante, 213. Joris is the Dutch for George. Andringa had formerly been secretary to De Ruyter, ani Is written interesting accounts of the battle of June, 1666, and of the Chatham expedition «! Jane, 10C7 : Basnage, i., 751, 805 ; ante, 124, 134.
1674. 19 Jan'y tion in Ilol-
246
HISTORY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
CHAP. V. property of the Duke of York, or his officers, was good 1674. prize, and should be applied to the benefit of the state ; and that the governor of New Netherland should be au- thorized to "maintain some neutrality" with the English colonies north and south of him, and even to make a treaty of commerce with them. These points were approved by the Prince of Orange and the States General, and were or- 31 Jan'y. dered to be carried into effect by "Joris Andringa, Gov- ernor of New Netherland aforesaid."*
Extraordi- nary vicis- situdes in New York history.
Holland hopes to re- tain New Nether- land.
Extraordinary vicissitudes have always marked the colo- nial life of New York. Another epoch appeared to be now opening in her history; and many in her Dutch fa- therland looked forward to the establishment of their na- tion's power over the most important region in North Amer- ica. That region, they knew, had formerly languished under the selfish rule of the West India Company. Now they hoped it would flourish as the rose under the more genial administration of the Dutch Republic itself. Mid- way between the Royalist and the Puritan colonies of En- gland might grow up a valiant empire, to teach the world sublime lessons in civil liberty, religious freedom, and pa- triotic endurance. The descendants of the men who had first proclaimed the doctrine of "taxation only by con- sent ;" who had banished the Inquisition, and established in its place liberty of conscience; and who were even now breasting the ruthless cohorts of France, could main- tain and extend in the Columbian world the principles and the virtues which distinguished the grandest " United" na- tion in Christendom. Instead of emigrating to Batavia, the children of Holland might follow the sun toward the west, and on the great "River of the Mountains" which their fatherland had discovered, could build up " the Ex- change of a wealthier Amsterdam, and the schools of a more learned Leyden."t
1673. Providence gland to succeed Holland in America.
But these things were not to be. England must take decrees En- the place of Holland in America. The Dutch Republic could not, single-handed, cope with France and Britain. Peace with the latter had become a necessity. William of Orange felt that, to secure the republic, Louis must be ef-
* Col. Doc., il., 595. 537 : ante, 212, 223.
t Ante, vol. i., 224, 403, 430, 437, 441, 442, 413, 415, 740; ii., 204; Macaulay, i, 210.
247
ANTHONY COLVE, GOVERNOR OF NEW NETHERLAND.
fectually crippled. Alliances against France and England CHAP. V. were accordingly made between the United Provinces on the one hand, and the Emperor of Germany and the King 1673. Alliance of Spain on the other. Europe wondered at the extraordi- between nary spectacle of the Roman Catholic dynasty which had Germany, Holland, employed Alva to crush the young Protestant Dutch Re- and Spain. public, now hastening to support it against both the pow- ers which had watched the cradle of its independence. Spain, however, made it a condition that the Netherlands 38 August. Conditions
should consent to a peace with England, upon the basis of imposed by a mutual restoration of conquests, the yielding to her of Spain.
the honor of the flag, and the payment of an indemnity for the expenses of the war. Political necessity alone could bend the States General to these hard terms. They yield- Dutch ne- ed :- just two months before they knew the reconquest of yields. New Netherland, and just one month after that event hap- pened. Had they known it they would hardly have given up their American acquisition. But when the news reach- ed them they were too deeply committed to recede. The day it came to the Hague they sent a trumpeter to Charles af Oct. the Second, with a firm but conciliatory letter, which offer- ed him every reasonable satisfaction .*
This letter reached London just as the news came that News in the Dutch had reconquered New York. Memorials were the Dutch London of quickly presented to the Plantation Council for the recov- of New reconquest ery of the province, where the Dutch, it was said, were 22 October. about to send men-of-war and soldiers "to fortify them- 26 October. selves in those parts." William Dyer, of Rhode Island, urged that "New York, being the centre of His Majesty's western Dominions, and furnished with so excellent a har- bour to secure shipping, also a pleasant town and beautiful country round about," should be retaken at once. For this Its recov. purpose frigates and fire-ships should be sent to New En- by Dyer ery urged gland, where they could be manned; and a militia force Knight. and from there could then besiege the town, while the vessels blockaded the harbor. Sir John Knight, of Bristol, which was at that time largely interested in colonial commerce, also explained to Lord Shaftesbury the defenseless condi- 20 October.
· Baannge, ii., 440, 441, 456-460; Sylvius, ix., 632, 033, 654-658, 665, 684, 655; Col. Doc., ii., 529; Dumont, vil .. 240-243 ; Davies, ili., 193, 124; Lingard, xii., 306, 31S ; Macaulay, IL, 131-185; Temple, ii., 230, 216; Martin's Louis XIV., i., 3;7 ; ante, 24).
248
HISTORY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
15 Novem. Report of Plantation Council in favor of re- gaining New York.
CHAP. V. tion of Virginia, where the planters " doe generally desire 1673. a trade with the Dutch and all other nations," and coun- seled the recovery of New York as the best means of pi- serving " the rest of the plantations." The Council report- ed to the king that New York was " the only fortified har- bor in all the Northern Plantations of America," which. if the Dutch were allowed to retain, would be ruinous to the English. Virginia and Maryland would suffer the most ; but " the inhabitants of New England, being more intent upon the advancement of their own private trade than the publique interest of your Majesty's crowne and govern- ment, may, if the Dutch continue a quiet possession there, enter into commerce with them, whereby it is to be feared they will at present divert a great part of the trade of En- gland into those countries, and lay a foundation for such an union hereafter, between them and Holland, as will be very prejudiciall to all your Majesty's Plantations, if not terrible to England itself." Its speedy reduction by an overwhelming combined force was therefore recommend- ed, as well as the removal of its Dutch colonists "farther up into the country from the sea-side, at least as far as Al- bany; their inhabiting the town of New York being a great cause of the loss of both Town and castle now, and as long as they shall stay there, there will be the like dan- ger upon any occasion for the future.""
But never was the British government less able to act with vigor. Charles was anxious to continue the war with the Dutch. On the other hand, he desired the friendship of Louis, their most determined foe. Through the influ- 30 Septem. ence of the French king, who gave the bride a splendid Second marriage of the Duke of York to Mary of Modena. dowry, the Duke of York had just been married to the Roman Catholic Princess Mary of Modena, a nicce of Mazarin. James, who had been deprived of his English offices only in the spring before, by the Test Act, was · doubly mortified at the loss of his American province. the prompt regaining of which was even more important than wedding festivities at Whitehall.t
Charles's treasury, however, was exhausted. It was dif-
* Col. Doc .. ili., 207-213; Ilist. Mag., i. (ii.), 299, 300; Index N. J. Col. Doc., 5; Evelyn, ii., 95; Pepys, ili., 464; Macaulay, i., 355 ; iv , 456 ; Valentine's N. Y., 223, 234; R. I. CoL Rec .. i., 266; ii., 108, 396; Palfrey, il., 300, 555 ; ii., 24 ; onte, vol. i., 555.
t Clarke's James II., i., 454, 485, 486; Martin's Louis XIV., i., 250; ante, 201.
:
810
249
ANTHONY COLVE, GOVERNOR OF. NEW NETHERLAND.
fieult for him to procure the ships and men necessary for CHAP. V. an expedition against New Netherland. The war with the United Provinces had become very unpopular in England. 1673. Its real statesmen were disgusted with a strife in which the English and Dutch fleets had been made "gladiators for French spectators ;" while its merchants were almost ruined by the privateers of Holland and Zealand, which had captured twenty-seven hundred British ships. Ap- prehending a change in the national religion, which the recent marriage of the presumptive heir to the crown ren- 20 October. dered more probable than ever, Parliament saw with cha- opposed to Parliament grin the league of Charles and Louis against the republic, the Dutch. war with which it regarded as the "Bulwark of the Reformation ;" and it insisted that the king should break away from France, and make a separate treaty with the Netherlands. In vain did Charles and Shaftesbury demand a new sub- 27 October. sidy. The House of Commons absolutely refused to grant 31 October. any more supplies, " unless it shall appear that the obsti- nacy of the Dutch shall render it necessary; nor before this kingdom be effectually secured from the dangers of Popery and Popish Counsels and Counsellors, and the other present grievances be redressed."*
In great displeasure, the king prorogued his fractious 4 Norem. Parliament, and dismissed his versatile chancellor, Shaftes- buy dis- Shafte -- bury, who, up to this time, had been the most rhetorical missed. enemy of the "Carthage" of England. In reply to the Datch overture, Charles captiously questioned its sincer- 77 Novem. ity. The States General repelled this imputation, and dis- tinetly offered to renew the treaty made at Breda in 1667; adding that, "in order to manifest to your Majesty the 12, Deren. Offer of the special esteem which we entertain for your friendship, We States Gen- hereby also offer the restitution of New Netherland, and of eral to re- store Now all the other places and colonies which we have won by toEngland. Netherland our arms during the present war; being fully persuaded that your Majesty will be unwilling to refuse a reciprocal engagement to restore to us such lands and forts as your subjects may have taken from us."t
* Bamnage, il .. 460, 461, 453; Sylvine, ix., 047, GST-GS); Kennett, iii., 206; Burnet, i., 201; Rapin, if., 672; Parl. Hist., iv., 585, ES6, 503, 507, 602 ; Lingard, xii., 30S; Davies, ili., 12 ;: Clarke's James II., i., 45: Martin, i., 380, 383.
: Sylvius, ix., 650-602, 708. 700 : Basnage, il., 400, 403 -407 : Col. Doc., ii., 529, 531: Parl. 11 A1 .. iv., G10 ; Campbell's Chancellors, iii., 320. One of the consequences of shaftesbury's Jutal-al was Locke's resignation of his place as Secretary of the Council for Plantations,
CPF. - SE
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250
HISTORY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
CHAP. V. This offer to restore New Netherland to England -- made 1673. only four days after the States General had appointed An- dringa governor of their reconquered province-was ex- torted from the necessities of the republic, and its engage- ment with Spain. With the consent of the States General, 1.º Decem. Spanish offers. the Spanish ambassador offered advantageous articles to the British government. Charles, finding that Louis re- fused him further supplies, and that he could not expect 36 Decem. any from Parliament, replied that he was willing to accept reasonable conditions .*
1674. Y's Jan'y.
But when Parliament met, a few days afterward, the king again charged the Dutch with insincerity, and begged for means to continue his war. Finch, who had succeeded Shaftesbury, harangued for a supply, which might save England from being found, "like Archimedes, drawing lines in the dust while the enemy is entering into our ports." But Finch's pedantry had no effect. The House of Commons would grant no money to Charles unless the Dutch should reject a peace."t
The House of Com- mons re- fuse sup- plies.
Negotiations, under the mediation of Sweden, had mean- while been going on at Cologue. The Dutch plenipoten- 8 Jan'y. tiaries there were instructed to explain the importance of New Netherland, which, "although it be their own do- main," the States General were to relinquish to England. At this critical moment the king's speech to Parliament was received at the Hague. The States General refuted 44 Jan'y. his charge of insincerity, and sent him the draft of a treaty which they were ready to sign. One of its articles, they explained, " demonstrates sufficiently to what a degree we wish to deserve your Majesty's affection; since we offer you the restitution of so considerable a conquest as New New Neth- Netherland is, without the hope of receiving any thing in erland to be restor to England.
exchange for it." Nothing but the murder of John de Witt, and the paramount influence of William of Orange. could have brought the Dutch government to write this letter.t
in which he was succeeded by Benjamin Worsley : King's Life of Locke, 31; Col. Doc., ill., 223; ante, 1ST, 201.
' Dalrymple, i., 137; Basnage, ii., 467, 468; Sylvius, ix., 709, 710; Col. Doc., ii., 5.31 ; ante, 245.
t Basnage, il., 493-495; 'Sylvius, x., 4-12: Burnet, i., 305; Rapin, ii., 673, 674; Kennett. iii., 297; Parl. Ilist., iv., 611-618.
Sylviux, x., 12-14; Basnage, ii., 472; Col. Doc., IL, 500-535, 531, 038; Temple, i, 24. 247; Clarke's James II., i., 459.
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:
£ 008
ANTHONY COLVE, GOVERNOR OF NEW NETHERLAND. . 251
Charles instantly laid it before . Parliament, and asked CHAP, V. their "speedy advice." He was answered that he ought to make a treaty. Louis, apprehending the consequences. 1674. 24 Jan'y.
of a separate peace between England and Holland, has- 3 Feb'y. tened to offer Charles five millions and a half of money and forty ships of war if he would break off his negotia- tions. The Duke of York strongly opposed a peace. But Charles could not now recede. Sir William Temple was summoned from his retirement, and instructed to confer f's Feb'y. with the Spanish ambassador at London, the Marquis del Fresno, to whom the States General had sent full powers. In three days all the points were arranged, and a treaty was signed at Westminster by Arlington and four other 2's Teb'y. commissioners on the part of Great Britain, and by Fresno signed at Treaty on the part of the United Netherlands. The honor of the ster. Westmin flag, which had been refused by De Witt, was yielded to England; the Treaty of Breda was revived; the rights of neutrals guaranteed ; and the commercial principles of the Triple Alliance renewed. By the sixth article it was cov- enanted that "all lands, islands, cities, havens, castles and fortresses, which have been or shall be taken by one party from the other, during the time of this last unhappy war, . whether in Europe or elsewhere, and before the expiration of the times above limited for the duration of hostilities, shall be restored to the former Lord and Proprietor in the same condition they shall be in at the time that this peace shall be proclaimed." This article restored New Nether- Restora- tion of New
land to the King of Great Britain. The Treaty of Breda Netherland had ceded it to him on the principle of " uti possidetis." ", to England. The Treaty of Westminster gave it back to him on the principle of reciprocal restitution .*
Peace was soon proclaimed at London and at the Hague. 28 Feb'y. The Treaty of Westminster delivered the Dutch from fear Peace pro- 6 March. of Charles, and cut off the right arm of Louis, their moret dreaded foc. England, on her part, slipped ont of a disas- Holland. gland and trous war. But Charles told Rouvigny, the ambassador of France, that in making peace with the Netherlands " he
' Sylvius, x., 14-19 ; Basnage, ii., 406, 49S ; Temple, li., 247-250 ; iv., 10_20; Courtenay's Temple, i., 194, 419-421. 453 ; il., 460, 461; Burnet, i., 366, 267; Parl. Hist., iv., 660, 665; Dalrymple, i., 137 ; Kennett, ill., 207; Rapin, ii., 674, 615: Anderson, if., 529, 530 : Wage- onar, xiv., 298-300; Lingard, xii., 313, 319; Martin, i., 383; Smith, i., 46; Mass. H. S. Coll., x rx., 104, 105; Bancroft, ii., 325; Col. Doc., vii., 556; Eliz. Bill, 7; ante, 135, 152.
claimed be-
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252
HISTORY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
CHAP. V. had been doing a thing that went more against his heart 1674. than the losing of his right hand." The war had been be- gun by " the Cabal" of England, as Temple acknowledged, "with two unusual strains to the honour of the crown;" and, instead of making her king "great," had made " only four great subjects." During the course of it Holland had lost her ablest statesman, and in his place had raised to her highest post of authority the young representative of the Silent founder of the republic. She had recover- ed, and had resigned, her ancient trans-Atlantic province. For a season she retired from prominence in American history. But it was only to return, in the fullness of time, as the fatherland of a sovereign appointed by Providence to maintain civil and religious liberty on both shores of the Atlantic, and once more to govern the countrymen who never forgot their own Batavian prince .*
Holiand, and Amer- ican histo- ry.
12 June. New Or- ange af- fairs. 28 April. 8 May.
When rumors of these events reached New Orange, Colve was still strengthening it " against the coming of the New England army." This was done so thoroughly that one hundred and ninety guns, some of which came from Esopus, were mounted on Fort William Henry and about the town. The dilatory victims of the forced loan ordered in March were compelled to pay their assessments. This was the more hard, because the expense which had been devoted to the fortifications was now of no avail. John Sharpe, having come from New England with Isaac Melyn. in violation of the edict of December, news of the peace and of the surrender of the province was soon noised through the city. Melyn taunted its Dutch burghers with having " slaved and wrought too hard and too long for the King of England." This threw them "into such a distracted rage and passion that they cried, 'We'll fire the town, pluck down the fortifications, and tear out the governors' throats' who had compelled them to slave so, contrary to their native privileges." Having no official information of what had happened in Europe, Colve determined to pun: ish the " fomenters of mutiny and disturbance." Melyn was accordingly sentenced to " come personally every day. when the burgher companies are employed at the city for-
i's May. Cases of Melyn and Sharpe.
* Rapin, ii., 675; Sylvius, x., 50, 21 : Col. Doc., ii., 726; Basnage, ii., 499; Burnet. 1, 367 ; Temple, ii., 251; Clarke's James II., i., 452; post, 536.
ANTHONY COLVE, GOVERNOR OF NEW NETHERLAND. 253
tifications, and work with them until said fortifications are CHAR. V. completed." Sharpe was banished out of the province for ten years. On reaching Milford, he reported that the 1674. Dutch in New Netherland were so enraged that they de- 32 May. clared they would not, " on demand and by authority of Feeling of the Dutch the States or Prince, surrender, but keep it by fighting, so in New Nether- long as they can stand with one leg and fight with one land. hand."*
Authentic intelligence of peace was soon received from 77 June. Massachusetts and Connecticut. A few days afterward the Treaty of Westminster was proclaimed at the City Ir July. HIall of New Orange. Connecticut, however, after news of the restoration of New Netherland to the king had reached Hartford, resolved that, as Southampton, East- 29 May. hampton, and Southold had asked it, they should continue Connecti- Action of under her government. John Howell, John Younge, and Long Ist- cut about. John Mulford were accordingly appointed commissioners 38 May. and. for the three towns, and were "invested with magistrati- call power" by the Hartford Court. Samuel Willys, John Talcott, and Secretary Allyn were also empowered to go to Long Island, " to order and settle the affairs of those peo- 22 May. ple, and to establish such military officers amongst them as 1 June. they shall see reason and judge necessary." Easthampton, on her part, appointed a committee, in conjunction with 23 June. Southampton and Southold, to petition the king to allow them to continue under the jurisdiction of Connecticut. Thinking it was now a good opportunity to extend their bounds westward on the main land, the Hartford Court, at their autumn session, appointed commissioners "forthwith 's to run the line between this colony and the colony of New with New York from Momoronock River to Hudson's River." At York. the same time, it was well known that it had been settled in 1664 that the boundary should be "twenty miles cvery where from Hudson's River."t
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