* preparation until the moment of emergency, and then Far be it from me to insinuate, however, that our hastily collect a handful of undisciplined vagrants-worthy ancestors indulged in groundless alarms; on the measure was hooted at as feeble and inadequate, the contrary, they were daily suffering a repetition as trifling with the public dignity and safety, and as of cruel wrongs, not one of which but was a suffilavishing the public funds on impotent enterprises. cient reason, according to the maxims of national Did he resort to the economic measure of proclama- dignity and honour, for throwing the whole universe tion he was laughed at by the Yankees; did he into hostility and confusion. back it by non-intercourse-it was evaded and counteracted by his own subjects. Whichever way he turned himself, he was beleaguered and distracted by petitions of "numerous and respectable meet-after proclamation, bad Latin, worse English, and ings," consisting of some half-a-dozen brawling pothouse politicians-all of which he read, and, what is worse, all of which he attended to. The consequence was, that by incessantly changing his measures, he gave none of them a fair trial; and by listening to the clamours of the mob, and endeavouring to do every thing, he, in sober truth, did nothing. Oh, ye powers! into what indignation did every one of these outrages throw the philosophic William! letter after letter, protest after protest, proclamation hideous Low Dutch were exhausted in vain upon the inexorable Yankees; and the four-and-twenty letters of the alphabet, which, excepting his champion, the sturdy trumpeter Van Corlear, composed the only standing army he had at his command, were never off duty throughout the whole of his administration. Nor was Antony the trumpeter a I would not have it supposed, however, that he whit behind his patron in fiery zeal; but like a faithtook all these memorials and interferences good-ful champion of the public safety, on the arrival of naturedly, for such an idea would do injustice to his every fresh article of news, he was sure to sound his valiant spirit; on the contrary, he never received a trumpet from the ramparts, with most disastrous piece of advice in the whole course of his life, with- notes, throwing the people into violent alarms, and out first getting into a passion with the giver. But disturbing their rest at all times and seasons—which I have ever observed that your passionate little men, caused him to be held in very great regard, the publike small boats with large sails, are the easiest upset lic pampering and rewarding him, as we do brawlor blown out of their course; and this is demonstra-ing editors for similar services. ted by Governor Kieft, who, though in temperament I am well aware of the perils that environ me in as hot as an old radish, and with a mind, the terri- this part of my history. While raking with curious tory of which was subjected to perpetual whirlwinds hands, but pious heart, among the mouldering reand tornadoes, yet never failed to be carried away by mains of former days, anxious to draw therefrom the the last piece of advice that was blown into his ear. honey of wisdom, I may fare somewhat like that Lucky was it for him that his power was not de- valiant worthy, Samson, who, in meddling with the pendent upon the greasy multitude, and that as yet carcass of a dead lion, drew a swarm of bees about the populace did not possess the important privilege his ears. Thus, while narrating the many misdeeds of nominating their chief magistrate! They, how-of the Yanokie or Yankee tribe, it is ten chances to ever, did their best to help along public affairs; pes- one but I offend the morbid sensibilities of certain tering their governor incessantly, by goading him on of their unreasonable descendants, who may fly out with harangues and petitions, and then thwarting his and raise such a buzzing about this unlucky head of fiery spirit with reproaches and memorials, like Sun- mine, that I shall need the tough hide of an Achilles day jockies managing an unlucky devil of a hack- or an Orlando Furioso to protect me from their horse-so that Wilhelmus Kieft may be said to have stings. been kept either on a worry or a hand-gallop throughout the whole of his administration. CHAPTER VII. CONTAINING DIVERS FEARFUL ACCOUNTS OF OF THE MOSSTROOPERS OF CONNECTICUT WITH THE RISE OF THE GREAT AMPHYCTIONIC WILLIAM THE TESTY. Should such be the case, I should deeply and sincerely lament-not my misfortune in giving offence— but the wrong-headed perverseness of an ill-natured generation, in taking offence at any thing I say. That their ancestors did use my ancestors ill, is true, and I am very sorry for it. I would, with all my heart, the fact were otherwise; but as I am recording the sacred events of history, I'd not bate one nail's breadth of the honest truth, though I were sure the whole edition of my work should be bought up and burnt by the common hangman of Connecticut. And in sooth, now that these testy gentlemen have drawn me out, I will make bold to go farther and observe, that this is one of the grand purposes for which we impartial historians are sent into the world-to redress wrongs and render justice on the heads of the guilty. So that, though a powerful na From among a multitude of bitter grievances still on record, i our ancestors were not justifiable in getting into a very valiant select a few of the most atrocious, and leave my readers to judge passion on the occasion. if 24 June, 1641. Some of Hartford have taken a hogg out of the vlact or common, and shut it up out of meer hate or other prejudice, causing it to starve for hunger in the stye!" 26 July. The foremencioned English did again drive the Companie's hoggs out of the vlact of Sicojoke into Hartford; contending daily with reproaches, blows, beating the people with all disgrace that they could imagine." IT was asserted by the wise men of ancient times, who were intimately acquainted with these matters, that at the gate of Jupiter's palace lay two huge tuns, the one filled with blessings, the other with misfortunes-and it verily seems as if the latter had been completely overturned and left to deluge the unlucky province of Nieuw-Nederlandts. Among the many internal and external causes of irritation, the incessant irruptions of the Yankees upon his frontiers were continually adding fuel to the inflammable temper of William the Testy. Numerous accounts of these molestations may still be found among the records of the times; for the commanders on the frontiers were especially careful to evince their vigilance and zeal by striving who should send home the most frequent and voluminous budgets of complaints as your faithful servant is eternally running with complaints to the parlour, of the petty squab-nie, which piggs had pastured on the Companie's land." 16. Again they sold young hogg belonging to the CompaHas. Col. State Papers. bles and misdemeanours of the kitchen. May 20, 1642. The English of Hartford have violently cut loose a horse of the honoured Companie's, that stood bound upon the common or vlact." May 9, 1643. The Companie's horses pastured upon the ComHartford, and the herdsmen lustily beaten with hatchets and panie's ground, were driven away by them of Connecticott or sticks." tion may wrong its neighbours with temporary im- | ways sold the Indians such scurvy guns, that they punity, yet sooner or later a historian springs up burst at the first discharge-and consequently hurt who wreaks ample chastisement on it in return. no one but these pagan savages. Thus these mosstroopers of the east little thought, The rise of this potent confederacy was a deathI'll warrant it, while they were harassing the inoffen- blow to the glory of William the Testy, for from that sive province of Nieuw-Nederlandts, and driving its day forward, it was remarked by many, he never unhappy governor to his wit's end, that a historian held up his head, but appeared quite crestfallen. should ever arise and give them their own with His subsequent reign, therefore, affords but scanty interest. Since, then, I am but performing my bounden | food for the historic pen-we find the grand council duty as a historian, in avenging the wrongs of our continually augmenting in power, and threatening to revered ancestors, I shall make no further apology; overwhelm the province of Nieuw-Nederlandts; and indeed, when it is considered that I have all while Wilhelmus Kieft kept constantly fulminating these ancient borderers of the east in my power, and proclamations and protests, like a shrewd sea-capat the mercy of my pen, I trust that it will be admit-tain firing off carronades and swivels, in order to ted I conduct myself with great humanity and break and disperse a waterspout-but alas! they moderation. had no more effect than if they had been so many blank cartridges. The last document on record of this learned, philosophic, but unfortunate little man, is a long letter to the council of the Amphyctions, wherein, in the bitterness of his heart, he rails at the people of New-Haven, or Red Hills, for their uncourteous contempt of his protest, levelled at them for squatting within the province of their High Mightinesses. From this letter, which is a model of epistolary To resume, then, the course of my history. Appearances to the eastward began now to assume a more formidable aspect than ever-for I would have you note that hitherto the province had been chiefly molested by its immediate neighbours, the people of Connecticut, particularly of Hartford; which, if we may judge from ancient chronicles, was the stronghold of these sturdy mosstroopers, from whence they sallied forth, on their daring incursions, carrying terror and devastation into the barns, the hen-writing, abounding with pithy apophthegms and roosts, and pig-styes of our revered ancestors. Albeit, about the year 1643, the people of the east country, inhabiting the colonies of Massachusetts, Connecticut, New-Plymouth, and New-Haven, gathered together into a mighty conclave, and after buzzing and debating for many days, like a political hive of bees in swarming time, at length settled themselves into a formidable confederation, under the title of the United Colonies of New-England. By this union, they pledged themselves to stand by one another in all perils and assaults, and to co-operate in all measures, offensive and defensive, against the surrounding savages, among which were doubtlessly included our honoured ancestors of the Manhattoes; and to give more strength and system to this confederation, a general assembly or grand council was to be annually held, composed of representatives from each of the provinces. On receiving accounts of this combination, Wilhelmus Kieft was struck with consternation, and, for the first time in his whole life, forgot to bounce, at hearing an unwelcome piece of intelligence-which a venerable historian of the time observes, was especially noticed among the politicians of NewAmsterdam. The truth was, on turning over in his mind all that he had read at the Hague, about leagues and combinations, he found that this was an exact imitation of the Amphyctionic council, by which the states of Greece were enabled to attain to such power and supremacy, and the very idea made his heart to quake for the safety of his empire at the Manhattoes. classic figures, my limits will barely allow me to extract the following recondite passage:-" Certainly when we heare the Inhabitants of New-Hartford complayninge of us, we seem to heare Esop's wolfe complayninge of the lamb, or the admonition of the younge man, who cryed out to his mother, chideing with her neighboures, 'Oh Mother revile her, lest she first take up that practice against you.' But being taught by precedent passages, we received such an answer to our protest from the inhabitants of New-Haven as we expected; the Eagle always despiseth the Beetle Fly; yet notwithstanding we do undauntedly continue on our purpose of pursuing our own right, by just arms and righteous means, and doe hope without scruple to execute the express commands of our superiors."* To show that this last sentence was not a mere empty menace, he concluded his letter by intrepidly protesting against the whole council, as a horde of squatters and interlopers, inasmuch as they held their meeting at New Haven, or the Red-Hills, which he claimed as being within the province of the New-Netherlands. Thus end the authenticated chronicles of the reign of William the Testy-for henceforth, in the troubles, the perplexities, and the confusion of the times, he seems to have been totally overlooked, and to have slipped for ever through the fingers of scrupu lous history. Indeed, for some cause or other which I cannot divine, there appears to have been a combination among historians to sink his very name into oblivion, in consequence of which they have one and all forborne even to speak of his exploits. This shows how important it is for great men to cultivate the favour of the learned, if they are ambitious of honour and renown. "Insult not the dervise," said a wise caliph to his son, “ lest thou offend thine historian ;" and many a mighty man of the olden time, had he observed so obvious a maxim, might have escaped divers cruel wipes of the pen, which have been drawn across his character. He strenuously insisted that the whole object of this confederation was to drive the Nederlanders out of their fair domains; and always flew into a great rage if any one presumed to doubt the probability of his conjecture. Nor was he wholly unwarranted in such a suspicion; for at the very first annual meeting of the grand council, held at Boston, (which governor Kieft denominated the Delphos of this truly classic league,) strong representations were made It has been a matter of deep concern to me, that against the Nederlanders, forasmuch as that in their such darkness and obscurity should hang over the dealings with the Indians, they carried on a traffic latter days of the illustrious Kieft-for he was a in "guns, powther, and shott-a trade damnable mighty and great little man, worthy of being utterly and injurious to the colonists."* Not but what cer- renowned, seeing that he was the first potentate that tain of the Connecticut traders did likewise dabble a introduced into this land the art of fighting by proc little in this damnable traffic "--but then they al-lamation, and defending a country by trumpeters Haz. Col. State Papers. * Vide Haz. Col. State Papers. and windmills-an economic and humane mode of warfare, since revived with great applause, and which promises, if it can ever be carried into full effect, to save great trouble and treasure, and spare infinitely more bloodshed than either the discovery of gunpowder, or the invention of torpedoes. It is true, that certain of the early provincial poets, of whom there were great numbers in the NieuwNederlandts, taking advantage of the mysterious exit of William the Testy, have fabled, that like Romulus, he was translated to the skies, and forms a very fiery little star, somewhere on the left claw of the crab; while others, equally fanciful, declare that he had experienced a fate similar to that of the good King Arthur; who, we are assured by ancient bards, was carried away to the delicious abodes of fairy land, where he still exists, in pristine worth and vigour, and will one day or another return to restore the gallantry, the honour, and the immaculate probity which prevailed in the glorious days of the Round Table.* All these, however, are but pleasing fantasies, the cobweb visions of those dreaming varlets, the poets, to which I would not have my judicious reader attach any credibility. Neither am I disposed to yield *The old Welch bards believed that king Arthur was not dead, but carried awaie by the fairies into some pleasant place, where he shold remaine for a time, and then returne againe and reigne in as great authority as ever.-Hollingshed. The Britons suppose that he shall come yet and conquere all Britaigne, for certes, this is the prophicye of Merlyn-He say'd that his deth shall be doubteous; and said soth, for men thereof yet have doubte and shullen for ever more- for men wyt not whether that he lyveth or is dede.-De Leew Chron. any credit to the assertion of an ancient and rather apocryphal historian, who alleges that the ingenious Wilhelmus was annihilated by the blowing down of one of his windmills-nor to that of a writer of later times, who affirms that he fell a victim to a philosophical experiment, which he had for many years been vainly striving to accomplish; having the misfortune to break his neck from the garret-window of the stadt-house, in an ineffectual attempt to catch swallows, by sprinkling fresh salt upon their tails. The most probable account, and to which I am inclined to give my implicit faith, is contained in a very obscure tradition, which declares, that what with the constant troubles on his frontiers-the incessant schemings and projects going on in his own pericranium-the memorials, petitions, remonstrances, and sage pieces of advice from divers respectable meetings of the sovereign people-together with the refractory disposition of his council, who were sure to differ from him on every point, and uniformly to be in the wrong—all these, I say, did eternally operate to keep his mind in a kind of furnace heat, until he at length became as completely burnt out as a Dutch family pipe which has passed through three generations of hard smokers. In this manner did the choleric but magnanimous William the Testy undergo a kind of animal combustion, consuming away like a farthing rush-light-so that, when grim Death finally snuffed him out, there was scarce left enough of him to bury! [END OF VOL. ONE). A HISTORY OF NEW-YORK, FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE WORLD TO THE END OF THE DUTCH DYNASTY. BY DIEDRICH KNICKERBOCKER. BOOK V. VOLUME SECOND. CONTAINING THE FIRST PART OF THE REIGN OF PETER STUYVESANT, AND HIS TROUBLES WITH THE AMPHYCTIONIC COUNCIL. CHAPTER I. IN WHICH THE DEATH OF A GREAT MAN IS SHOWN TO BE NO VERY INCONSOLABLE MATTER OF SORROW-AND HOW PETER STUYVESANT ACQUIRED A GREAT NAME FROM THE UNCOMMON STRENGTH OF HIS HEAD. To a profound philosopher, like myself, who am apt to see clear through a subject, where the penetration of ordinary people extends but half-way, there is no fact more simple and manifest, than that the death of a great man is a matter of very little importance. Much as we may think of ourselves, and much as we may excite the empty plaudits of the million, it is certain that the greatest among us do actually fill but an exceeding small space in the world; and it is equally certain, that even that small space is quickly supplied when we leave it vacant. "Of what consequence is it," said Pliny, "that individuals appear, or make their exit? the world is a theatre whose scenes and actors are continually changing." Never did philosopher speak more correctly; and I only wonder that so wise a remark could have existed so many ages, and mankind not have laid it more to heart. Sage follows on in the footsteps of sage; one hero just steps out of his triumphal car to make way for the hero who comes after him; and of the proudest monarch it is merely said, that—" he slept with his fathers, and his successor reigned in his stead." The world, to tell the private truth, cares but little for their loss, and if left to itself would soon forget to grieve; and though a nation has often been figuratively drowned in tears on the death of a great man, yet it is ten chances to one if an individual tear has been shed on the occasion, excepting from versaries quake with terror and dismay. All this the forlorn pen of some hungry author. It is the martial excellency of appearance was inexpressibly historian, the biographer, and the poet, who have heightened by an accidental advantage, with which the whole burden of grief to sustain; who--kind souls!-like undertakers in England, act the part of chief mourners-who inflate a nation with sighs it never heaved, and deluge it with tears it never dreamt of shedding. Thus, while the patriotic author is weeping and howling, in prose, in blank verse, and in rhyme, and collecting the drops of public sorrow into his volume, as into a lachrymal vase, it is more than probable his fellow-citizens are eating and drinking, fiddling and dancing, as utterly ignorant of the bitter lamentations made in their name, as are those men of straw, John Doe and Richard Roe, of the plaintiffs for whom they are generously pleased on divers occasions to be come sureties. The most glorious and praiseworthy hero that ever desolated nations, might have mouldered into oblivion among the rubbish of his own monument, did not some historian take him into favour, and benevolently transmit his name to posterity-and much as the valiant William Kieft worried, and bustled, and turmoiled, while he had the destinies of a whole colony in his hand, I question seriously whether he will not be obliged to this authentic history for all his future celebrity. His exit occasioned no convulsion in the city of New-Amsterdam or its vicinity: the earth trembled not, neither did any stars shoot from their spheresthe heavens were not shrouded in black, as poets would fain persuade us they have been on the unfortunate death of a hero-the rocks (hard-hearted varlets!) melted not into tears, nor did the trees hang their heads in silent sorrow; and as to the sun, he laid abcd the next night, just as long, and showed as jolly a face when he arose, as he ever did on the same day of the month in any year, either before or since. The good people of New-Amsterdam, one and all, declared that he had been a very busy, active, bustling little governor; that he was "the father of his country"-that he was "the noblest work of God"--that "he was a man, take him for all in all, they ne'er should look upon his like again" -together with sundry other civil and affectionate speeches, that are regularly said on the death of all great men; after which they smoked their pipes, thought no more about him, and Peter Stuyvesant succeeded to his station. Peter Stuyvesant was the last, and, like the renowned Wouter Van Twiller, he was also the best of our ancient Dutch governors: Wouter having surpassed all who preceded him, and Peter, or Piet, as he was sociably called by the old Dutch burghers, who were ever prone to familiarize names, having never been equalled by any successor. He was, in fact, the very man fitted by Nature to retrieve the desperate fortunes of her beloved province, had not the fates, those most potent and unrelenting of all ancient spinsters, destined them to inextricable confusion. I am surprised that neither Homer nor Virgil have graced any of their heroes. This was nothing less than a wooden leg, which was the only prize he had gained, in bravely fighting the battles of his country, but of which he was so proud, that he was often heard to declare he valued it more than all his other limbs put together; indeed, so highly did he esteem it, that he had it gallantly enchased and relieved with silver devices, which caused it to be related in divers histories and legends that he wore a silver leg.* Like that choleric warrior, Achilles, he was some what subject to extempore bursts of passion, which were ofttimes rather unpleasant to his favourites and attendants, whose perceptions he was apt to quicken, after the manner of his illustrious imitator, Peter the Great, by anointing their shoulders with his walking-staff. Though I cannot find that he had read Plato, orAristotle, or Hobbes, or Bacon, or Algernon Sydney, or Tom Paine, yet did he sometimes manifest a shrewdness and sagacity in his measures, that one would hardly expect from a man who did not know Greek, and had never studied the ancients. True it is, and I confess it with sorrow, that he had an unreasonable aversion to experiments, and was fond of governing his province after the simplest mannerbut then he contrived to keep it in better order than did the erudite Kieft, though he had all the philosophers ancient and modern to assist and perplex him. I must likewise own that he made but very few laws, but then again he took care that those few were rigidly and impartially enforced-and I do not know but justice on the whole was as well administered as if there had been volumes of sage acts and statutes yearly made, and daily neglected and forgotten. He was, in fact, the very reverse of his predecessors, being neither tranquil and inert, like Walter the Doubter, nor restless and fidgeting, like William the Testy ; but a man, or rather a governor, of such uncommon activity and decision of mind that he never sought or accepted the advice of others; depending confidently upon his single head, as did the heroes of yore upon their single arms, to work his way through all difficulties and dangers. To tell the simple truth, he wanted no other requisite for a perfect statesman, than to think always right, for no one can deny that he always acted as he thought; and if he wanted in correctness, he made up for it in perseverance-an excellent quality! since it is surely more dignified for a ruler to be persevering and consistent in error, than wavering and contradictory, in endeavouring to do what is right. This much is certain-and it is a maxim worthy the attention of all legislators, both great and small, who stand shaking in the wind, without knowing which way to steer—a ruler who acts according to his own will is sure of pleasing himself, while he who seeks to satisfy the wishes and whims of others, runs a great risk of pleasing nobody. The clock that stands still, and points steadfastly in one direction, is certain of being right twice in the fourand-twenty hours-while others may keep going continually, and continually be going wrong. To say merely that he was a hero would be doing him great injustice-he was in truth a combination of heroes-for he was of a sturdy, rawbone make, like Ajax Telamon, with a pair of round shoulders that Hercules would have given his hide for, (mean- Nor did this magnanimous virtue escape the dising his lion's hide,) when he undertook to ease old cernment of the good people of Nieuw-Nederlandts; Atlas of his load. He was, moreover, as Plutarch on the contrary, so high an opinion had they of the describes Coriolanus, not only terrible for the force independent mind and vigorous intellect of their of his arm, but likewise of his voice, which sounded new governor, that they universally called him Hardas though it came out of a barrel; and like the self-koppig Piet, or Peter the Headstrong—a great comsame warrior, he possessed a sovereign contempt for pliment to his understanding! the sovereign people, and an iron aspect, which was enough of itself to make the very bowels of his ad See the histories of Masters Josselyn and Blome. If from all that I have said thou dost not gather, | ty, than he turned out of office all those meddlesome worthy reader, that Peter Stuyvesant was a tough, spirits that composed the factious cabinet of William sturdy, valiant, weather-beaten, mettlesome, obsti- the Testy; in place of whom he chose unto himself nate, leathern-sided, lion-hearted, generous-spirited counsellors from those fat, somniferous, respectable old governor, either I have written to but little pur- families, that had flourished and slumbered under pose, or thou art very dull at drawing conclusions. the easy reign of Walter the Doubter. All these he This most excellent governor, whose character I caused to be furnished with abundance of fair long have thus attempted feebly to delineate, commenced pipes, and to be regaled with frequent corporation his administration on the 29th of May, 1647; a re- dinners, admonishing them to smoke, and eat, and markably stormy day, distinguished in all the alma- sleep for the good of the nation, while he took all nacs of the time which have come down to us, by the burden of government upon his own shouldersthe name of Windy Friday. As he was very jealous an arrangement to which they gave hearty acquiof his personal and official dignity, he was inaugu- escence. rated into office with great ceremony: the goodly oaken chair of the renowned Wouter Van Twiller being carefully preserved for such occasions, in like manner as the chair and stone were reverentially preserved at Schone, in Scotland, for the coronation of the Caledonian monarchs. Nor did he stop here, but made a hideous rout among the inventions and expedients of his learned predecessor - demolishing his flagstaffs and windmills, which, like mighty giants, guarded the ramparts of New-Amsterdam-pitching to the duyvel whole batteries of quaker guns-rooting up his pat ent gallows, where caitiff vagabonds were suspended by the waistband-and, in a word, turning topsy turvy the whole philosophic, economic, and windmill system of the immortal sage of Saardam. 1 I must not omit to mention, that the tempestuous state of the elements, together with its being that unlucky day of the week, termed "hanging day," did not fail to excite much grave speculation and divers very reasonable apprehensions among the more The honest folks of New-Amsterdam began to ancient and enlightened inhabitants; and several of quake now for the fate of their matchless champion, the sager sex, who were reputed to be not a little Antony the trumpeter, who had acquired prodigious skilled in the mysteries of astrology and fortune- favour in the eyes of the women, by means of his telling, did declare outright that they were omens whiskers and his trumpet. Him did Peter the Headof a disastrous administration-an event that came strong cause to be brought into his presence, and to be lamentably verified, and which proves, beyond eyeing him for a moment from head to foot, with a dispute, the wisdom of attending to those preter- countenance that would have appalled any thing else natural intimations furnished by dreams and visions, than a sounder of brass—“ Prythee, who and what, the flying of birds, falling of stones, and cackling of art thou?" said he.-" Sire," replied the other, in geese, on which the sages and rulers of ancient times no wise dismayed,- for my name, it is Antony Van placed such reliance-or to those shootings of stars, Corlear- for my parentage, I am the son of my eclipses of the moon, howlings of dogs, and flarings mother-for my profession, I am champion and of candles, carefully noted and interpreted by the garrison of this great city of New-Amsterdam."oracular sybils of our day; who, in my humble opin-"I doubt me much," said Peter Stuyvesant, “that ien, are the legitimate inheritors and preservers of thou art some scurvy costardmonger knave-how the ancient science of divination. This much is cer- didst thou acquire this paramount honour and digtain, that governor Stuyvesant succeeded to the chair nity?"-" Marry, sir," replied the other, "like many of state at a turbulent period; when foes thronged a great man before me, simply by sounding my own and threatened from without; when anarchy and trumpet."- Ay, is it so? quoth the governor, stiff-necked opposition reigned rampant within; "why, then, let us have a relish of thy art." Wherewhen the authority of their High Mightinesses the upon he put his instrument to his lips, and sounded Lords States General, though founded on the broad a charge with such a tremendous outset, such a deDutch bottom of unoffending imbecility; though lectable quaver, and such a triumphant cadence, that supported by economy, and defended by speeches, it was enough to make your heart leap out of your protests, and proclamations, yet tottered to its very mouth only to be within a mile of it. Like as a war. centre; and when the great city of New-Amster-worn charger, while sporting in peaceful plains, if by dam, though fortified by flag-staffs, trumpeters, and windmills, seemed like some fair lady of easy virtue, to lie open to attack, and ready to yield to the first invader. CHAPTER II. SHOWING HOW PETER THE HEADSTRONG BE STIRRED HIMSELF AMONG THE RATS AND COB- DEALINGS WITH THE AMPHYCTIONS. THE very first movements of the great Peter, on taking the reins of government, displayed the magnanimity of his mind, though they occasioned not a little marvel and uneasiness among the people of the Manhattoes. Finding himself constantly interrupted by the opposition, and annoyed by the advice, of his privy council, the members of which had acquired the unreasonable habit of thinking and speaking for themselves during the preceding reign, he determined at once to put a stop to such grievous abominations. Scarcely, therefore, had he entered upon his authori ،، chance he hear the strains of martial music, pricks up his ears, and snorts and paws and kindles at the noise, so did the heroic soul of the mighty Peter joy to hear the clangour of the trumpet; for of him might truly be said what was recorded of the renowned St. George of England, "there was nothing in all the world that more rejoiced his heart, than to hear the pleasant sound of war, and see the soldiers brandish forth their steeled weapons." Casting his eyes more kindly, therefore, upon the sturdy Van Corlear, and finding him to be a jolly, fat little man, shrewd in his discourse, yet of great discretion and immeasurable wind, he straightway conceived a vast kindness for him, and discharging him from the troublesome duty of garrisoning, defending, and alarming the city, ever after retained him about his person, as his chief fa vourite, confidential envoy, and trusty 'squire. Instead of disturbing the city with disastrous notes, he was instructed to play so as to delight the governor while at his repasts, as did the minstrels of yore in the days of glorious chivalry—and on all public occasions to rejoice the ears of the people with warlike melody-thereby keeping alive a noble and martial spirit. Many other alterations and reformations, both for |