Naijarlij, without giving notice to the Dutch, which (he writes) they ought to have done.

Colonel Nicolls answered the next day with a

summons:

"To the honourable the Governors and Chief Council at the Manhattans.

"Right worthy Sirs: I received a letter by some worthy persons intrusted by you, bearing date the 19th-30th of August, desiring to know the intent of the approach of the English frigates; in return of which, I think it fit to let you know, that his majesty of Great Britain, whose right and title to these parts of America is unquestionable, well knowing how much it derogates from his crown and dignity, to suffer any foreigners, how nearsoever they be allied, to usurp a dominion, and, without his majesty's royal consent, to inhabit in these or any other of his majesty's territories, hath commanded me, in his name, to require a surrender of all such forts, towns, or places of strength, which are now possessed by the Dutch, under your commands; and in his majesty's name, I do demand the town, situate on the island, commonly known by the name of Manhatoes, with all the forts thereunto belonging, to be rendered unto his majesty's obedience and protection, into my hands. I am further commanded to assure you, and every respective inhabitant of the Dutch nation, that his majesty being tender of the effusion of christian blood, doth by these presents, confirm and secure to every man his estate, life and liberty, who shall readily submit to his government. And all those who shall oppose his majesty's gracious intention, must expect all the miseries of a war, which they bring upon themselves. I shall expect your answer by these gentlemen, colonel George Carteret, one of his majesty's commissioners in America; captain Robert Needham, captain Edward Groves, and Mr. Thomas Delavall, whom you will entertain with such civility

as is due to them, and yourselves, and yours shall receive the same, from,

Worthy sirs,

Your very humble servant,

RICHARD NICOLLS.

Dated on board his majesty's ship, the Guyny, riding before Naych, August 20-31, 1664."

Mr. Stuyvesant promised an answer to the summons the next morning, and in the mean time convened the council and burgomasters. The Dutch governor was a good soldier, and had lost a leg in the service of the States. He would willingly have made a defence; and refused a sight of the summons, both to the inhabitants and burgomasters, lest the easy terms offered, might induce them to capitulate. The latter, however, insisted upon a copy, that they might communicate it to the late magistrates and principal burghers. They called together the inhabitants at the Stadt-House, and acquainted them with the governor's refusal. Governor Winthrop at the same time wrote to the director and his council, strongly recommending a surrender. On the twenty-second of August, the burgomasters came again into council, and desired to know the contents of the English message from governor Winthrop, which Stuyvesant still refused. They continued their importunity; and he, in a fit of anger, tore it to pieces upon which, they protested against the act, and all its consequences. Determined upon a defence of the country, Stuyvesant wrote a letter in answer to the summons, which, as it is historical of the Dutch claim, will doubtless be acceptable to the reader. The following is an exact transcript of the record:

"My lords: Your first letter, unsigned, of the 20-31st of August, together with that of this day, signed according to form, being the first of September, have been safely delivered into our hands by your deputies, unto which we shall say, that the rights

of his majestie of England, unto any part of America here about, amongst the rest, unto the colonies of Virginia, Maryland, or others in New-England, whether disputable or not, is that which, for the present, we have no design to debate upon. But that his majestie hath an indisputable right to all the lands in the north parts of America, is that which the kings of France and Spain will disallow, as we absolutely do, by virtue of a commission given to me, by my lords, the high and mighty States General, to be governor-general, over New-Holland, the isles of Curacoa, Bonaire, Aruba, with their appurtenances and dependancies, bearing date the twenty-sixth of July, 1646. As also by virtue of a grant and commission, given by my said lords, the high and mighty States General, to the West-India Company, in the year 1621, with as much power and as authentic, as his said majestie of England hath given, or can give, to any colony in America, as more fully appears by the patent and commission of the said lords the States General, by them signed, registered, and sealed with their great seal, which were showed to your deputyes, colonel George Carteret, captain Robert Needham, captain Edward Groves, and Mr. Thomas Delavall; by which commission and patent together, (to deal frankly with you,) and by divers letters, signed and sealed by our said lords, the States General, directed to several persons, both English and Dutch, inhabiting the towns and villages on Long-Island, (which, without doubt, have been produced before you, by those inhabitants,) by which they are declared and acknowledged to be their subjects, with express command, that they continue faithful unto them, under penalty of incurring their utmost displeasure, which makes it appear more clear than the sun at noonday, that your first foundation, (viz. that the right and title of his majestie of Great Britain, to these parts of America is unquestionable,) is absolutely to be denied. Moreover, it is without dispute, and acknow

ledged by the world, that our predecessors, by virtue of the commission and patent of the said lords, the States General, have without control, and peaceably (the contrary never coming to our knowledge) enjoyed Fort Orange about forty-eight or fifty years, the Manhattans about forty-one or forty-two years, the South River forty years, and the Fresh Water River about thirty-six years. Touching the second subject of your letter, (viz. his majestie hath commanded me, in his name, to require a surrender of all such forts, towns, or places of strength, which now are possessed by the Dutch under your command). We shall answer, that we are so confident of the discretion and equity of his majestie of Great Britain, that in case his majestie were informed of the truth, which is, that the Dutch came not into these provinces, by any violence, but by virtue of commissions from my lords, the States General, first of all in the years 1614, 1615, and 1616, up the North River, near Fort Orange, where, to hinder the invasions and massacres, commonly committed by the savages, they built a little fort; and after, in the year 1622, and even to this present time, by virtue of commission and grant, to the governors of the WestIndia Company; and moreover, in the year 1656, a grant to the honourable the burgomasters of Amsterdam, of the South River; insomuch, that by virtue of the above said commissions from the high and mighty States General, given to the persons interested as aforesaid, and others, these provinces have been governed, and consequently enjoyed, as also in regard of their first discovery, uninterrupted possessions, and purchase of the lands of the princes, natives of the country, and other private persons (though Gentiles), we make no doubt that if his said majestie of Great Britain were well informed of these passages, he would be too judicious to grant such an order, principally in a time when there is so straight a friendship and confederacy, between our

said lords and superiors, to trouble us in the demanding and summons of the places and fortresses, which were put into our hands, with order to maintain them, in the name of the said lords, the States General, as was made appear to your deputyes, under the names and seal of the said high and mighty States General, dated July 28, 1646. Besides what had been mentioned, there is little probability that his said majestie of England (in regard the articles of peace are printed, and were recommended to us to observe seriously and exactly, by a letter written to us by our said lords, the States General, and to cause them to be observed religiously in this country) would give order touching so dangerous a design, being also so apparent, that none other than my said lords, the States General, have any right to these provinces, and consequently, ought to command and maintain their subjects; and in their absence, we, the governor-general, are obliged to maintain their rights, and to repel and take revenge of all threatenings, unjust attempts, or any force whatsoever, that shall be committed against their faithful subjects and inhabitants, it being a very considerable thing, to affront so mighty a state, although it were not against an ally and confederate. Consequently, if his said majestie (as it is fit) were well informed of all that could be spoken upon this subject, he would not approve of what expressions were mentioned in your letter; which are, that you are commanded by his majestie, to demand in his name, such places and fortresses as are in the possession of the Dutch under my government; which, as it appears by my commission before mentioned, was given me by my lords, the high and mighty States General. And there is less ground in the express demand of my government, since all the world knows, that about three years agone, some English frigotts being on the coast of Africa, upon a pretended commission, they did demand certain