USA > New York > History of the state of New-York : including its aboriginal and colonial annals, vol. pt 1 > Part 15
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Our northern lake, which Champlain first explored, and which is now connected, by one of the Grand Canals of this State, with the river which Hudson discovered the same year, was then within the limits of Irocoisia, 6 and for many years after, and long before it assumed the name of its discoverer, was called Iroquois Lake, or Lacus Irocoisia. | The river,
# See Purchas's Pilgrims. Forster's North. Voyages.
¡ Nassau-afterwards Delaware River-afterwards, by the Dutch, call- ed South river. in contradistinction to the North river (or Hudson.) Vol. III. .V. Y. Hist. Coll. p. 385. Ebeling, Amer. N. Y. ch. I.
Į Purchas.
$ The country proper of the Iroquois or Five Nations. Sce p. 95. ante. Trocoisia was bounded on the east by the range of Green Mountains, on the west by the great lakes. Sce authorities next quotation.
": Or Lacus Irocoisi. (Map Novi Belgii, &c. Ogilby's Amer. A. D. 167 !. p. 168, 9. Lacus Irocoiensis in Nova Belgica et Anglia in XI. Geographic Blaviana, A. D. 1662. Lac Champlain cu mere de Iroquois, Johannes Van Keulen's Atlas, pub. Amst. 1720. The Iroquois or Five Nations called this lake Corlaer, in honour of one of our colonial citizens, who pe- rished upon it, who was distinguished, as William Penn was, for humanity and justice, and was equally revered by the Indians. See hereafter.
3
177
Champlain.
3 41.]
from this lake to the St. Lawrence, was also called Iroquois river, afterwards Richelieu, (in honour of that celebrated prime minister) and now, Sorel. St. Lawrence itself was also the Iroquois river ; and Ontario, one of its sources, was the Iroquois lake.
After Quebec was founded, its founder and his countrymen made it their policy to cultivate the friendship of the neigh- bonring Algonquins and Les Montagnes, and these their in- terest to promote an alliance with the former, for the purpose of vigorously prosecuting a war against their common enemy, the Iroquois. Accordingly, in 1609, a party of them, inclu- ding Hurons, prepared to march against that people, and they persuaded Samuel Champlain to accompany them. He wished to secure their devoted friendship, and he imagined that, in alliance with their power, he could prostrate that of the Iroquois, and of all tribes who should attempt to oppose his designs. The secret of his policy, according to Charlevoix,* was to humble the Iroquois, in order to unite, by a good peace, all the nations of Canada in alliance with the French. He did not foresee that the former, who for a long time had, sin- gle-handed, kept in awe the Indians three hundred miles around them, would be aided eventually by Europeans in ano- ther quarter, jealous of the encroaching power of the French. It was not his fault, therefore, that circumstances, which he could not have anticipated, subsequently concurred to frus- trate his plan.
Having yielded his consent to join the expedition, he em- barked with his new allies at Quebec, and sailed into the Iro- quois river (now Sorel) until the rapids near Chambly pre- vented his vessel from proceeding. His allies had not appri- sed him of this impediment : on the contrary, they had studi- ously concealed it as well as other obstacles. His vessel re- turned; but he, and two Frenchmen who would not desert him, determined to proceed, notwithstanding the difficulties of the navigation, and the duplicity of their allies in concealing
* Histoire Nouvelle France, tom. I.
VOL. 1!
178 European Discoveries and Claims to New- York. [PART I.
those difficulties. They transported their canoes beyond the rapids, and encamped for the night. As was customary, they sent a spy to range in the vicinity, who in a short time returned, and informed them that he saw no enemy. Without placing any guard, they prepared for repose. Champlain, surprised to find them so stupidly incautious and confident of their safety, endeavoured to prevail with them to keep watch. All the reply they made was, that people who were fatigued all day, had need ofsleep at night. Afterwards, when they thought that they were approaching nearer towards the enemy, they were induced to be more guarded, to travel at night only, and keep no fires in the day time. Champlain was charmed with the variegated and beautiful aspect of the country. The islands were filled with deer and other animals, which supplied the army with abundance of game, and the river and lake afforded abundance of fish. In the progress of their route, he derived much knowledge of the Indian character, as it was displayed in this warlike excur- sion. He was particularly amused to perceive the blind con- fidence which the Indians paid to their soothsayer or sorcerer. who, in the time of one of their encampments, went through with his terrific ceremony. For several days they inquired of Champlain if he had not seen the Iroquois in a dream. His answer being that he had not, caused great disquietude among them. At last, to relieve them from their embarrass- ment, or get rid of their importunity, he told them he had, in a dream, seen the Iroquois drowning in a lake, but that he did not rely altogether upon the dream. The allies judged differ- ently, for they now no longer doubted a victory. Having ens tered upon the great lake, which now bears the name of Cham- plain, in honour of its discoverer, he and his allies traversed it until they approached towards the junction of the outlet of Lake St. Sacrament (now Lake George*) with Lake Cham- plain, at or near Ticonderoga .* The design of the allies was to pass the rapids between those two lakes, to make an irrup-
* Sce Spafford's Gazetteer, Sd ed. articles " Lake George." " Ticonde- roga." This Indian naine signifies the meeting of the waters. Judge Denson.
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§ 41.]
Champlain-Battle with the Iroquois.
tion into the mountainous regions and valleys of the Iroquois beyond the small lake, and, by surprise, to strike them at one of their villages. The latter saved them the necessity of journeying so far, for they suddenly made their appearance at ten o'clock at night, and by mere accident met the former on the Great Lake. The surprise of both parties was equalled only by their joy, which were expressed in shouts ; and as it was not their practice to fight upon the water,* unless when they were too far from land to retreat, they mutually hurried to the shore.
Here, then, in the vicinity of Ticonderoga, (a spot after- wards celebrated in the achievements of the French and revo- lutionary wars,) the two war parties pitched for battle. The allies immediately laboured to entrench themselves behind fal- len trees, and soon sent a messenger to the Iroquois, to learn whether they would fight immediately. The latter replied, that the night was too dark, they could not see themselves, and the former must await the approach of day. The allies consented, and after taking necessary precaution, slept. At break of day, Champlain placed his two Frenchmen and some savages in the wood, to attack the enemy in flank. These consisted of two hundred choice and resolute men, who con- sidered victory as certain and easy over the Algonquins and Hurons, whom, the former did not expect, would have dared to take the field. The allies were equal to them in num- ber, but displayed a part only of their warriors. They, as well as the enemy, were armed with bows and arrows only, but they founded their hopes of conquest upon the fire-arms of the French ; and they pointed out to Champlain, and ad- vised him to fire upon the three chiefs who were distinguished by feathers or tails of birds larger than those of their follow4 ers. The allies first made a sortie from their entrenchment,
* A tradition, which will be mentioned in our aboriginal history, has been preserved, of a terrible sea-fight upon Lake Erie, between the Iro- quois, or confederated Five Nations, and their enemies, (some centuries, However, before that. of Commodore Perry.) -
-
180 European Discoveries and Claims to New- York. [PART E. and ran two hundred feet in front of the enemy, then stopped. divided into two bands to the right and left, leaving the centre position for Champlain, who advanced and placed himself at their head. His sudden appearance and arms were new to the Iroquois, whose astonishment became extreme. But what was their dismay, when, after the first report of his arque- buse, from the spot where he had posted four men, the Iro- quois saw two of their chiefs fall dead, and the third danger- ously wounded ! The allies now shouted for joy, and discharged a few ineffective arrows. Champlain recharged, and the oth- or Frenchmen successfully fought the Iroquois, who were soon seen in disorder and flight. They were pursued warmly. Many were killed, and some taken prisoners. The fugitives, in their precipitance, abandoned their maize. This was a sea- sonable relief to the victors, for they had been reduced to great need. They fed, and passed two hours on the field of battle in dancing and singing. Not one had been killed, although several were wounded. They prepared to return " homeward, for among these people, the vanquishers always re- treat as well as the vanquished, and often in as much disorder and precipitation as if they were pursued by a victorious ene- my. In their way back, they tortured one of their prisoners, whose miseries Champlain humanely ended. He returned to Quebec, and embarked (in September) for France. The next year he returned, and subsequently made several expedi- tions against the Iroquois .* In some of these he was success- ful, in others not.
Thus Champlain first gave to our Indians the knowledge of that tremendous means of destruction, gunpowder. This they hurled back with a fearful success upon the northern in- Vaders of their country. For within a very few years after Champlain first fought them, they suddenly appeared in arms, in the very heart of the French colony. The acquisition of fire-arms enabled them also to rise victorious over neighbour-
* Sce Voyages du Sicur de Champlain. Paris, 1613. Charlevoix, tom. I. A Paris. 1:44. p. 141, &c.
181
Hudson and Champlain.
§ 42.]
ing Indian nations, to extend in less than a century afterwards their territorial dominion two thousand miles, and to waste the lives of more than two millions of people !*
While the first battle between them and Champlain was ra- ging, near the source of Hudson river, Hudson, in the same season of the same year, was engaged in discovering and ex- ploring that river ; and on his return in September, was enga- ged in a desultory sea-fight with the natives. He introduced, however, to the Iroquois, the knowledge of a plague, which has since proved to them as destructive as the fire-arms with which they then became acquainted, and which they afterwards directed against the French, and against remote Indian na- tions. It will appear probable that Hudson first introduced among them the intoxicating liquor, which the latter have so often denounced as the poison which the white people gave them.
§ 42.
At the period of the memorable event to which we have thus occasionally alluded, and to the development of which we are slowly approaching, we find that the sovereigns of England and France laid equal claims to the territory com- prising our colony and state : Acadia, extending from lati- tude 40° to 48º, and South and North Virginia, first (1606) from latitude 34° to 45°, and by the last charter, (1620) (upon which the title of all New-England is based) from $4º to 48º, (this taking in the whole of Acadia.) At this period also, Spain kept up a pretended paramount title to the whole. Our State, thus claimed by France and England, and by the lat- ter, so partitioned that both the North and South Company's title entered into it, while they were not, by the charter, permit- ted to come within 100 miles of each other, seemed to be pla- ced beyond the pale of settlement by those nations ; at the
* La Hontan, in 1634, puts the number at two millions ! See ante, p. 95.
162 Europeun Discoveries and Claims to New-York. [PART I.
same time, its superiority over the northern and southern re- gions, in climate, fertility, and central proximity to the com- mercial powers of Europe, rendered it the most inviting to enterprise. No wonder that the Dutch, with a characteristic sagacity, vigilance, and industry, availed themselves, after the discovery made under their auspices, of the advantages it promised by a settlement on the Hudson.
It will appear that the Dutch claimed from latitude 38 to 42° by the ocean, all adjacent islands, and northerly to the river of Canada. It will appear that they founded their claim, 1. As subjects of the king of Spain, the first discover- er. 2. By virtue of the relinquishment on the part of Spain to the united provinces as free and independent, of all the pos- sessions in the new world, then occupied by the citizens of that republic, whereby New-Netherlands (now New-York) Cura- coa, Brazille, Bonaire,* &c. became the inheritance of the Dutch nation.f 3. By virtue of the first discovery of the Delaware and New-York Bay and river by Henry Hudson; and the first actual possession and settlement thereupon.
We now advance towards those events in the contempora- neous period we have contemplated, which, ifnot the most il- lustrious in the annals of those times, will appear to our State at least the most interesting. While every republic in Eu- rope is extinct, we at least can look back with pleasure to the existence of one, under which our State sprang into existence, and the free principles of which, cherished by the first foun- ders of this colony for half a century, may have remotely in- fluenced the establishment of our present free government. We recollect, with pleasure, the patriotic Stadtholder of Hol- land, the celebrated Maurice, who, in his devotion as a patriot, his skill and policy as a statesman, his energy and heroism
* Buen-airc.
¿ See negotiations upou the disputed title between the lord proprietor of Maryland and the Dutch government of New-Netherlands, to the territo- ries on the Delaware, called by the Dutch the colony of New-Amstell, in Ml vol. N. Y. Hist. Coll. p. 368.
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Maurice-Hudson-Dutch Republic.
§ 48.]
as a soldier, and his attainments as a scholar, is justly enti- tled to be ranked with his illustrious contemporaries, Henry the Great and Queen Elizabeth. The discovery of New-York by Henry Hudson, which took place during his administra- tion, and in the very year that Spain treated with the United Provinces on the basis of their freedom and independence, was an event which comparatively passed unnoticed in Europe, but which, in its consequences, has proved of vastly more im- portance than the termination of the race of English mon- archs in the death of Elizabeth ; the assassination of Henry the Great, and the expulsion of the Moors from Spain, which at that time excited infinitely more attention, and greatly af- fected the political relations of Europe .*
That gallant and enterprising people, under whose auspices this discovery was made, will ever receive from us the tribute of gratitude to which they were pre-eminently entitled. True, they were indebted to England for a navigator, whose skill and courage conducted the discovery ; but it will be remem- bered that England, as well as Spain and France, were, in this particular, compelled to bow to the superior genius of: Italy.
The Dutch provinces had just emerged from a long, bloody. but brilliant contest for liberty, and for conscience. Occupy- ing a territory less than the limits of this State embrace, she attained a political rank among her neighbours, at once com- manding and distinguished.
" After having beaten down and broken for ever the colos- sal power of the Spanish monarch, f the Dutch republic con- tinued for nearly a century to hold the balance of European politics with a strong and steady hand ; and when the rest of the continent crouched under the menaces, or was bought by
See Vol. III. N. Y. Ilist. Coll. 97.
+ See a well merited eulogium ou our Dutch progenitors by Gulian C. Verplanck, Esq. in an Anniversary Disc. before the N. Y. Hist. Soc. Dec, V. Y. 1818, from p. 59 to 72.
184 European Discoveries and Claims to New- York. [PART I.
the gold of France, she stood alone and undaunted, defend- ing the liberties of the world with a perseverance and self-de- votion never surpassed by any nation. During the same pe- riod, she had served the cause of freedom and reason in ano- ther and much more effectual manner, by breaking down the old aristocratic contempt for the mercantile character ; and her merchants, while they amazed the world by an exhibition of the wonderful effects of capital and credit, directed by sa- gacity and enterprise, and operating on a vaster scale, than had ever before been seen, shamed the poor prejudices of their age out of countenance by a high-minded and punctilious honesty. It was about this same remarkable period of her history, that Holland produced many of the most illustri- ous men of modern Europe," in arms, in philosophy, in literature and the fine arts, in jurisprudence and political economy. The internal administration of her affairs was con- ducted by an industry, economy, and wisdom, which elevated the republic to a glorious prosperity .* Such is the country to which we are indebted for the first discovery of our State, and to which we may revert with pride and gratitude, as our first colonial parent.
§ 44.
To develop the political relation which gave to the repub- lic of Holland the pretended territorial claim of the monarchy of Spain ; to explain the causes that induced the employment of Hudson by a recently established Dutch East India Com- pad; to trace the character of the first trafficking visits made to the river Hudson, under a privileged trading company, and unfold the nature of our first proprietary government during half a century, under the privileged Dutch West India Com- pany, it may not be unimportant, as a preliminary step, to
See Mr. Verplanck's Address.
5 44.]
Dutch Republic. 185
take a hurried sketch of the origin, policy, and condition of the republic.
During the ascendency of the Dukes of Burgundy, who, in the fifteenth century, enjoyed dominions worthy of the re- gal title, Netherlands (the seventeen provinces) became the great mart of commerce in the west of Europe, and was dis- tinguished by opulence and the arts. With the heiress of Burgundy, they passed by marriage to the house of Austria. Charles V. in 1549, with the consent of the states of the pro- vinces provided, by irrevocable edict, for the regular succes- sion of the reigning prince. Philip of Austria, and Charles his son, being natives, treated the people with affection, and allowed the states a participation in supreme authority. Philip II. bora in Spain, departing on the abdication of his father, from his generous sentiments, and from the mildness of his predecessors, occasioned an insurrection by his cruel and ar- bitrary conduct. In attempting to restrain its progress, and that of the reformation, he precipitated the country into a civil war. Seven of the provinces, Holland, Zealand, Utrecht, Friesland, Groningen, Over-Yssel, and Guelderland, having revolted from Philip in 1566, carried on a sanguinary, but in- termitted, contest for thirteen years before they confederated. The Prince of Orange had early retired into Holland, and devoted the energies of his patriotism in their behalf. In 1579, the deputies of these states assembled at Utrecht, and united in a confederacy on conditions which rendered their union indissoluble. It was founded upon the infraction of the pacification of Ghent, which had been solemnly acceded to by Philip, and upon a recent invasion of certain towns in Guelderland. It was not intended to divide them from the nineteen provinces, or to renounce the pacification, but to pre- serve the liberty thereby stipulated, by vigorous operations and united councils. This was the basis of that common- wealth, which became the renowned United Provinces.
The articles of their union, sketched out by the patriot Prince of Orange, were universally approved, and many ci- Voz. I. . 24
186 European Discoveries and Claims to New- York. [PARTI,
ties, towns, and distinguished persons, soon subscribed the al- liance. Two years afterwards, (1581) they took the last de- cisive step, declared that Philip had forfeited the sovereignty of the Netherlands, conferred it on the brother of Henry III. next year solemnly acknowledged him Duke of Brabant, and thus, by the aid of the French king, so secured, and by the succours of Elizabeth, who was also interested to diminiskt the Spanish power, they prosecuted the war vigorously, but with various success. This infant republic bore on her first coin, the emblematic motto, " Incertum quo fata ferant." The device was, a ship labouring amidst waves without sails or oars. The impolicy of the Duke of Brabant precipitated the misfortunes of his troops. He returned to France in shame, and died 1635. Frederick William, acknowledged Stadthol- der of Holland and Zealand, was shot by an assassin, supposed to have been suborned by Spain. Maurice, one of three sons, at eighteen was invested by the States with his father's titles. Queen Elizabeth, at their request, appointed a governor for his minority, who, being recalled in 1587, left young Maurice at the helm of state, which he directed for thirty-eight years,* with a spirit, skill, and effect, that ranked him among the first as a statesman and scholar, and the most renowned champion of his age. To the vigour and enterprise of youth, he united the caution and vigilance of age and experience. Not satisfied with an independent state, and a defensive war, the confed- eracy pursued the Spaniards into the remotest recesses of their extensive territories, and grew rich, powerful, and terrible, by the spoils of their former masters. The Portugeuse, in the meridian of their prosperity, had become merged in Spain. They had been struck down by one of those fatal blows, which, given at a critical moment, decides the fate of kingdoms. Possessing empire and commerce in Africa, Ara- bia, India, the isles of Asia and South America, they lost their liberty, being absorbed in the Spanish dominion, in conse- quence of the death of John Sebastian, one of their greatest
* He died in 1623.
:
187
Dutch Republic.
§ 44.]
princes, who lost his life in an expedition against the Moors. On these extensive possessions, the Dutch fell, wrested their fortresses in the East Indies, and turned their arms upon Bra- zil.
Before the revolt, the subjects of the low countries, by the policy of Charles V. and Philip II. were prohibited from trading to the Indies, except in Spanish ficets and under Spanish covert. Yet many who had made these voyages, became skilful pilots, and were sensible of the gains of that trade. After the union a greater confluence of people coming into the united provinces than could manage their stock, or find employment at land, multitudes turned their enterprise to the sea; and having lost the trade of Spain and the Streights, fell not only into that of England, France, and the northern seas, but ventured upon that of the East Indies; at first with small forces and success, but in course of time, and by the institution of the East India Company, this came to be pursued so generally and advantageously by the provinces, that they made themselves masters of most of those colonies and forts of the Portuguese, who had thus become a part of Spain. The Dutch seamen grew well acquainted with those vast seas and coasts, and Holland became the great magazine of all the commodities of those eastern regions. In the West Indies their attempts (except that upon the Portuguese posses- sions of Brazil) were neither so frequent nor prosperous, the Spanish plantations there being too numerous and strong; but by the multitude of their shipping, set out with public or private commissions, they infested the seas, and began to
threaten the Spanish Indian fleets and attempt their coasts, which touched Spain in the most sensitive part, and gave her court the strongest motive for peace which she solicited. Fearful also of the loss of her maritime forces, after the signal victory in 1608 over her fleet, under Don Juan Alvarez D'Avila at Gibraltar, by the republican flect under James Heermskirk, she became more urgent, and Holland, after pro- tracted negotiations, was induced, through the mediation of England and Frauce, to conclude with Spain and the Arch
.
188 European Discoveries and Claims to New- York. [PARTL.
Duke Albert (1609) a truce for twelve years, but on no other basis than as a free and independent republic. On the ex- piration of the truce (1621) the war was renewed. At length, by the treaty of Munster, (1648) Spain acknowledged the in- dependence of the States General. Other powers had also gradually done so from the first alliance of the states with Elizabeth in 1598 .*
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