USA > New York > New York City > Leslie's history of the greater New York, Volume I > Part 8
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claims on the Hudson. Perhaps, therefore, they supposed they could neutralize their neglect to occupy by repeated protests against the occupancy of the Dutch. They certainly were consistent enough in these. Captain Argal is represented as having protested against Christiaensen's little trading post on Manhattan Island in 1614. Hudson's Half Moon was kept at Dartmonth for half a year, and he himself forbidden to report in person at Amsterdam. Mimit's vessel, the " Endracht," was also held when it tonched an English port. The case of the " William," sent back to England by Van Twiller minus a cargo, lingered in the courts, and formed the subject of protocols and state papers between England and Holland. And when the charter was about to be granted to the West India Company
LONGE . ISLE LAND.
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"THE DUKE'S PLAN"T
ADESCRIPTION. OF THE
TOWNE OF MANNADOS: .OR.NEW.AMSTERDAM
CHILDHILAL
as it avous in September 1001 000. lying in hattitude 40 and 40. d. Anno Domini J664
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This Scale of Five Hundred yeardes is for the Joune
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THE " DUKE'S PLAN."
in 1621 a vigorous protest was served upon the States-General by the English Ambassador. If protests therefore could relieve the neglect of Vattel's conditions for possession, it must be said that these were on hand whenever the English were reminded of the existence of the Dutch settlement on the Hudson, or whenever they could get into their hands a vessel from those parts. Still, to any honest mind, oe- cupaney, purchase from the aborigines, and development of the re- sources of the region, should have been sufficient to establish a title which was too valid to be summarily invaded and cast aside. Charles HI. and his cont, however, were not troubled with an overburdening amount of honesty. It was treachery to a friendly nation to act as
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Charles did; it was base ingratitude in return for aid and protection in his days of peril and poverty and exile. But what recked the aban- doned profligate of this?
Meanwhile the change on Manhattan Island had not wrought much havoc in the condition of affairs. If a person had gone into a mild imitation of Rip Van Winkle's exploit, to the extent of only a week or ten days, on the arrival of Nicolls's fleet in the harbor, his waking eyes would not have been greatly astonished at the changes that met them. There was another flag floating over the fort, it is true; and if he had had occasion to call on the governor he would have had to lay aside his Dutch vernacular; but otherwise everything was pretty much as it was before. The terms of surrender had been made very easy. Twenty-three articles of capitulation had been laid before the citizens of New Amsterdam, and they had been readily accepted. To soothe Stuyvesant's feelings, the garrison were permitted to march out of the fort with the honors of war-flying colors, drums beating, lighted matches. All the people were to continue " free denizens," enjoying their lands and goods and freedom of worship. Any one wishing to go back to Holland could do so free of expense within one year and six weeks. People coming from Holland to settle were to be entitled to all privileges exactly as before. Vessels in trade were to come and go as before. All contracts and disputed titles were to be settled in accordance with Dutch customs.
Thus, with the hearty consent, and even eager desire, of the " free denizens," the little town of fifteen hundred souls passed into the hands of its English master. Nicolls and his men were the repre- sentatives of a personal proprietor. Hitherto the province had been the property of a mercantile corporation; now it was owned in fee simple by a single individual, JJames, Duke of York and Albany, the brother of Charles II., and destined to succeed him upon the throne of England twenty-one years later. It was to bestow this gift upon his brother that Charles had ordered the robbery; indeed, the gift was made before the robbery took place. Yet were not the Dutch a people to be insulted with impunity. The little Republic declared war against England, and two years later, in 1666, the insult to the flag at Fort Amsterdam was more than repaid by Admiral De Ruyter, who sailed up the river Thames, burning the shipping at Chatham, and making the houses of London tremble to the booming of his victorious cannon. Then the humbled king was fain to make peace with little Holland, and at the Peace of Breda, in 1667, New Netherland was ceded to England in exchange for Surinam in South America. The English and Dutch were both convinced that the lat- ter had much the better of that bargain. Thus the West India Com- pany did not get back their province, for which they had cared alto- gether too little. Yet in the first moments of its loss they showed considerable resentment. They summoned Director Stuyvesant to
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Holland to answer charges of cowardice and treason for having sur- rendered without a blow. Armed with sworn testimonies as to his own faithfulness and bravery, and the utter defenselessness of the place as the result of the Company's negleet, Stuyvesant went to Hol- land in 1665, and easily vindicated his conduct before the States-Gen- eral. Yet the suit must have lingered for some time, for it was not till 1667, after the Peace of Breda had confirmed the transfer of the province, that Stuyvesant returned. On the way home he stopped in England, and did his fellow-citizens a last good turn by obtaining from the king a concession to the effect that, instead of the total ex- (Insion of all but English ships from the privileges of trade with the port of New York, three Dutch ships might animally trade there for a period of seven years. Received with gladness by family and friends, and even former antagonists, Stuyvesant henceforth retired from public life. He contented himself with the care of his Bouwerie, or farm, in the part of the city where some memorials of his presence still abide. He was now seventy-five years of age, and had earned his rest by a life of good service and activity. Five years later, in February. 1672, he died, and was buried in a little chapel In this Vault, fies burned on his own lands, on the PETRUS STUYVESANT Fate Captain General& Governor in Chul ol Amsterdam In New Netherland now called New York AndA Dutch West Indialslands, Dud. AD 1675 Aged 80 years very spot where now stands St. Mark's-in-the- Bowery. A stone in the east foundation wall of that church records the fact of his burial. Had ho lived a year and a half longer his honest heart STUYVESANT TABLET IN WALL OF ST. MARK'S CHURCH. would have rejoiced to see the flag he had so often defended again floating over his beloved city.
So careful was Governor Nicolls of the feelings of his conquered citizens that he did not even make a change in the municipal officers. While the Council of the Province was at once changed in complex- ion, with not a Dutchman in it, the Burgomasters and Schepens were left as they were. In February of this year Paulus Leendersen Van die Grist and Cornelius Steenwyck had become Burgomasters. They were permitted to serve out their year. In February, 1665, the for- mer was succeeded by Oloff Stephensen Van Cortlandt, and Steen- wyck was re-appointed. no change having even yet been provided for by Nicolls, But on June 12, of this year, the Dutch form of govern- ment was replaced by the English. The town officers were now to consist of a mayor, five aldermen, and a sheriff. Yet if we notice the
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men appointed to serve in these various capacities, we observe again what delicate regard was had to the feelings of the people of the city. Thomas Willett was made Mayor; we find him a welcome companion of the Dutch young men of his own age in New Amsterdam as early a's 1642. He had come to Plymouth colony in 1629, and having shared the fortunes of the Pilgrims in Holland, he was familiar with the Dutch language and people from boyhood. No Englishman could have been more thoroughly at one with those of their nationality at the present time. Of the aldermen only two were Englishmen, Thomas Delavall and John Lawrence; the others were ex-Burgomas- ter Van Cortlandt, John Brugges, and Cornelius Van Ruyven; while the sheriff was Allard Anthony, who, though an Englishman, had been one of the original Schepens in 1653, and had been Burgomaster five times since. Surely the Dutch population could not complain of such appointments. Yet some did, partly because of the change of form, partly because the choice of the men was taken entirely out of the hands of the people, the Governor claiming the exclusive right of appointing.
Another unpleasant feature of the change was the taking of the oath of allegiance to the new power now in authority. It was con- tended that this requirement conflicted with the terms of surrender. But Nicolls gave assurance that no particular therein agreed upon should be violated as the result of the oath. Indeed, the proceeding was so inevitable and reasonable under the circumstances, that Stuy- vesant was among the first to take the oath, and over two hundred and fifty heads of families followed his example. As the population was only fifteen hundred, this must have taken in about every respon- sible male member of the community. This event occurred in Octo- ber, 1664. A more questionable proceeding, which certainly seemed to violate Articles III and XVI of the Capitulation, was a decree of the Governor in 1667 that all titles to land derived from the Dutch government must be renewed by April 1, on pain of forfeiture if not so renewed. Nicolls was in great need of money, and the fees for the new titles would amount to a goodly sum. The old records of the Long Island towns show that even its free-spoken citizens were com- pelled to comply with the obnoxious decree. That island had been rechristened Yorkshire, divided like its namesake at home into the North, the East, and the West Ridings. The West Riding now em- braces all of Brooklyn, and parts of the North Riding belong now also to Greater New York. The Court of Assize, from whom this decree to renew titles issued, was an institution that owed its existence to Nicolls, in pursuance of the " Duke's Laws," a code diligently elab- orated by the Governor himself, whose father was a barrister and who must have had some legal training himself. While these laws established a very unmistakable autocracy, making the Governor's will supreme, and leaving neither officers nor measures to the choice
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of the people, yet it secured also many beneficent features: these being in short. " trial by jury, equal taxation, tenure of land from the Duke of York, no religions establishment, but requirement of some church form, freedom of religion to all professing Christianity, obligatory service in each parish on Sunday, a recognition of negro slavery under certain restrictions, and general liability to military duty."
When Nicolls returned to England in 1668, he left behind him a city still puny compared to what was to be, but increased to a pop- nlation of about two thousand. Its exports were, as of old, mainly furs, still gathered from the Indians, who were mostly rewarded by overdoses of rum, imported from the West Indies, which contempora- ries describe as execrably bad. The farmers had plenty of super- fluons wheat to send abroad, and if facilities for preservation had ex- isted then as now, endless store of provisions in the way of venison and game could have been spared for export. A few more houses, and these of an ever-improving quality, stood npon the streets enume- rated in the previous chapter; but otherwise no great changes had occurred in their appearance since Stuyvesant's rule. Neither seems there to have been any alteration of their names; for as late as 1686 the Dutch names still prevail, even in cases where former designa- tions have disappeared. The old streets with new names still are Dutch.
The policy of conciliating the preponderating Dutch element of the population was wisely continued by Nicolls's successor in the Governor- ship, Francis Lovelace. In 1668 Cornelius Steenwyck was appointed by him Mayor of New York. Hay- ing been Burgomaster more than once, the function with its new title was an old one for him. But such was the confidence reposed in him by Lovelace that frequently in his absence from New York he practi- rally invested Steenwyck with the BIRGOMASTER STEENWYCK'S HOUSE. powers of acting-governor. His business was general merchant and storekeeper, his residence being on the southeast corner of Bridge and Whitehall streets. Among the half dozen wealthy men of the town, whose fortunes in 1674 were reckoned by five figures, he stood second. His connand of English was very good, only a slight brogne betraying the born Dutchman.
Lovelace was a good deal of a traveler. Nicolls had conducted him on horseback over much of the province, and the miserable condi- tions of intercommunication between its varions parts and the
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neighboring colonies made a deep impression on him. The interest of the city and province seemed to require the establishment of a pos- tal service between Boston and New York and intermediate points. In the lively letters that flowed from his pen to friends in England, we learn of that first postoffice and route established in New York. The Secretary of the Province held the key to a box which received the letters. Once a month, beginning with January 1, 1673, the post- man, mounted upon a goodly horse which had to carry him as far as Hartford, collected the accumulated mail into his saddle bags. At Hartford he took another horse, and wended his way as best he might through woods and swamps, across rivers, and along Indian trails, if he was happy enough to find such. On his return the city coffee- house received his precious burden, and upon a broad table the various missives were displayed and delivered when paid for. Events soon to be related interrupted this beneficent arrangement, and not till 1685 do we find an attempt on the part of the city fathers to re- sume a postal system. The price then proposed was three pence for every letter carried one hundred miles or less; more in proportion for greater distances. Another measure for the promotion of busi- ness to be credited to Lovelace was the establishment of a merchants' exchange on a bridge over the canal in Broad Street. On Fridays, at the hour of eleven to twelve, the Town Hall bell rang to call the merchants together, and the city authorities were to see to it that no disturbances should interfere with this important gathering. It was doubtless a combination of all the exchanges that now distribute themselves in several palatial buildings, so that these proud institu- tions governing the markets of a continent, and affecting the finances of a world, may all look to this humble assembly in 1669 as the begin- ning of their history.
Two more undertakings of Lovelace deserve a moment's attention before we come to that startling event which ended his career as Governor altogether. Not satisfied with the gubernatorial residence which Stuyvesant had built on the water's edge, and which had been quite to the taste of Nicolls, Lovelace determined to revive the old fashion of residing within the fort. So the ancient and dilapidated edifice there was renovated at a heavy expense; but residing there. instead of the magnificent view of the Upper Bay and its charm of surrounding scenery, the imprisoned Chief Magistrate of the province could enjoy no more prospect than the dull walls of the fort afforded, unless he chose to climb to the third story or the roof. Yet the Goy- ernor's view in another sense embraced and appreciated the impor- tance of that section of Greater New York called Staten Island. He secured its entire circuit as a piece of personal property for the Duke by purchase from the Indians. Four hundred fathoms of wam- pum, and a lot of axes, kettles, coats, guns, hoes, knives, sufficed to complete this early bargain in city real estate.
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Never dreaming that he was laying his hand upon the extreme points of what was destined to be one great city, we find this Gov- ernor's activity and interest touching other sections of our present Greater New York. Ont at Hempstead Nicolls had established a racecourse upon the extensive Salisbury plain. It is recorded by more than one authority that the woods were overrun with wild horses of a poor breed, small of stature and neither strong nor fleet. A racecourse would be of good use as well as a place of amusement, if securing the improvement of this breed. Lovelace encouraged the scheme as much as his predecessor, appointing the month of May for the running of the races, and continuing the offer of a enp as a prize for the winners. Next we find him at Harlem, earnestly labor- ing to prevail upon the Council and Court of Assize, whom he had summoned together at that distant spot, to take measures for con- structing a wagon road from the city below. Could it have been some unexplained provision, too, which made him see to it that the northern end of Manhattan Island should be in communication with the " annexed district " above Spuyten Dnyvil Creek? At least a solemn agreement was entered into with one Johannes Verveelen to establish a ferry here. Perhaps the infrequency of passengers made his terms high. A few years later one of those he paddled over in his canoe complains that he charged three pence per person, while the ferriage to Brooklyn cost less than half a penny.
The English conquest had checked emigration from Holland. And it seems that English settlers found other parts of the King's domin- ion in America more delectable than New York province. Hence there was only the natural increase of population for the city below Wall Street. Its commercial activity was
also not remarkable. When nine or ten vessels were in port in 1669 it was thought worthy of record by the town B annalists, whoever they were. The three Dutch ships per year for seven years from 1667 came faithfully ac- cording to the permission obtained by Stuyvesant, and small coastwise traders also came to her wharves. or pushed up into Broad Street canal to THE KIP HOUSE. sell vegetables and other wares. Per- haps Lovelace lacked some of that en- ergy or vigor which had distinguished Nicolls, and which creates confidence and encouragement in business enterprises. Yet surely the Governor's various plans for the stimulus of business and in providing facilities of intercourse showed that he had an intelligent conception of what the development of the city re-
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quired. He was also assiduous in bringing out the social possibilities of life in the primitive and isolated community. To his utter astonish ment he found as good breeding among these colonists of Dutch and French extraction as he had encountered at the English court. Ile enjoyed, therefore, mingling in that society, and instituted a elub of ten French and Dutch and ten English families. This select com- pany was to meet in rotation at each other's houses twice a week in winter and once in summer, and the three nationalities represented freely used their respective vernaculars as occasion served, sure of being understood by all, whatever language was spoken. It is worthy of note that ladies of high education formed a part of this circle. We are told that the three daughters of Anthony De Milt, at one time Sheriff of the city, possessed a knowledge of Latin superior to that of the Dutch domine. Perhaps Mrs. Stuyvesant and Mrs. Bayard were not too old to lend attractiveness to this circle by their attainments and accomplishments. The former would doubtless often be at the homes of her sons on Broadway in the winter season.
These piping times of peace received a sudden and rude interrup- tion. The year 1672 was a year of terror for the Dutch Republic. Louis XIV., of France, had determined to crush the United Provinces for having dared to interfere with his schemes to secure the throne of Spain for himself or his heirs. By shameless bribes he induced Charles II., of England, to join in the nefarious scheme to ruin a nation, not only now friendly to himself and people, but who had suf- fered much at the hands of Cromwell for harboring him in his days of misfortune. Having tied the hands of all possible allies, both by sea and by land, Louis poured his armies across the borders of Hol- land and penetrated to the very walls of Amsterdam, where a deluged country alone checked his conquering progress. Meantime violent dissensions broke out among the citizens. The populace rose in wrath against John De Witt, long the virtual head of the Republic, and the opponent of the House of Orange, and this statesman and his brother Cornelius were torn to pieces in the streets of The Hague. Thus restored to power, the Orange faction, with the astute Prince William Henry, only twenty-two years of age, at their head, took con- trol of affairs. William was appointed to all the offices, civil and military, which his fathers had held. The foe was defied; the Prince bravely declaring that he would drown the whole country rather than surrender. One after another ally of France dropped away from the iniquitous compact, and the Grand Monarch was gradually forced to retire. Meanwhile the Dutch fleets under De Ruyter and Tromp had meted out condign punishment to French and English alike. They swept the seas victorious far and wide. One squadron was dispatched to the West Indies. Secret instructions were given to the commanders, to be opened only at sea. In these appeared a cipher number, 163, which, on consulting the key, was found to mean
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New Netherland. After doing as much damage as possible along the coast of Virginia, the Dutch admirals were to see what could be done in the way of recapturing the former province of New Netherland, thus wiping out the disgrace of its capture.
The plan of campaign bore fruit. On July 29, 1673, Admirals Evertsen and Binckes and their feet, with sixteen prizes under con- voy, anchored off Sandy Hook. They had been informed of the true state of affairs in New York by some of the passengers in the cap- tured ships. The Narrows were entered unmolested, and the next anchorage ground selected was in the North River within easy gun- shot of the fort. Governor Lovelace being away on an errand regard- ing his postal route to New England, Captain John Manning was in command at the fort. He had not more than forty soldiers. Calling the citizen-guard nnder arms, he found that the four hundred men composing it were determined not to raise a finger in defense of the town against their countrymen. They had been willing to try Eng- lish rule as an antidote to Stuyvesant ; but they had had enough of it now to wish a return to the rule of the Fatherland. All this time the Dutch admirals were waiting for a reply to their summons to surren- der. Manning wanted twelve hours to deliberate; the admirals gave him only half an hour. They told him " they had come for their own, and their own they would have." Getting no answer, Evertsen acted with characteristic promptness. A broadside or two was poured into the fort, which responded feebly with a few shots. But in the mean time a large force of marines, under Captain Anthony Colve, had landed at the foot of Rector Street. They marched up the hill to Broadway, and then turned to attack the fort at its gate fronting the Bowling Green. Ere they got so far, however, an offer to capitulate met them. The garrison was allowed to march out with the honors of war, and was then compelled to march in again and held prisoners in the church until they could be dispatched to Holland. The tri- color of the Republic was run up over the fort, and the province robbed in time of peace ahnost exactly nine years before, was ro- covered by fair act of war, by superior skill and address.
Provisional government arrangements were made by the two ad- mirals. Captain Anthony Colve was made Governor of the recovered province, until regular appointments could be made by the authori- ties at home. Albany was redneed and called Willemstad; the always recalcitrant Long Islanders were made to feel what Dutchmen were like who went across the world to capture hostile fleets and conquer enemies' colonies. And when all was brought into a satisfactory state of submissiveness, the squadron departed with its prizes to announce its achievement to the States-General.
The old name of the city was not restored: it was now called New . Orange; and the Dutch form of city goverment was immediately set up again. Three Burgomasters were appointed, Johannes Van
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