River in 1632, before the English were fettled in those Parts; and that they discovered a little fresh River, farther to the Eaft, called varfche Riviertie, to distinguish it from Connecticut River, known among them, by the Name of varfche Rivier, which Vanderdonk also claims for the Dutch.

Determined upon the Settlement of a Colony, the States General made a Grant of the Country, in 1621, to the Weft-India Company. Wouter Van Twiller, arrived at Fort-Amfterdam, now New-York, and took upon himself the Government in June 1629. His Style, in the Patents granted by him, was thus, "We Director and Council, refiding in New-Netherland on the "Ifland Manhattans, under the Government of their High Mightineffes, the "Lords States General of the United Netherlands, and the Privileged Weft"India Company." In his Time the New-England Planters, extended their Poffeffion Westward as far as Connecticut River. Jacob Van Curlet, the Commissary there, protested against it, and in the second Year of the fucceeding Administration, under

William Kieft*, who appears first in 1638, a Prohibition was iffued, forbiding the English Trade at Fort Good-Hope; and shortly after, on Complaint of the Infolence of the English, an Order of Council was made for fending more Forces there, to maintain the Dutch Territories. Dr. Mather confefles, that the New-England Men, first formed their Design of fettling Connecticut River in 1635, before which Time, they esteemed that River, at least 100 Miles from any English Settlement; and that they first seated themselves there in 1636, at Hartford, near Fort Good-Hope, at Weathersfield, Windfor, and Springfield. Four Years after, they seized the Dutch Garrison, and drove them from the Banks of the River, having first settled NewHaven in 1638, regardless of Keift's Protest against it.

The Extent of New-Netherland, was to Delaware, then called South River and beyond it; for I find, in the Dutch Records, a Copy of a Letter from William Kieft, May 6, 1638, directed to Peter Minuit †, who feems, by the

* We have no Books among our Dutch Records remaining in the Secretary's Office, relating to State Matters, before Kieft's Time, nor any Enrolment of Patents, till a Year after Van Twiller arrived here. Mr. Jacob Goelet fupplied us with feveral Extracts from the Dutch Records. The anonymous Dutch Author of the Description of New-Netherland in 1649, calls him Minnewits; and adds, that in 1638 he arrived at Delaware with two Veffels, pretending that he touched for Refreshment in his Way to the Weft-Indies; but that he foon threw off the Dif

guife, by employing his Men in erecting a Fort. The fame Hiftorian informs us, of the Murder of feveral Dutch Men, at South River, by the Indians, occafioned by a Quarrel, concerning the taking away the States Arms, which the former had erected at the first Discovery of that Country; in resenting which, an Indian had been killed. If Kieft's Letter alludes to this Affair, then Minuit preceded Van Twiller, in the chief Command here; and being perhaps disobliged by the Dutch, entered into the Service of the Queen of Sweden.

"that

Tenor of it, to be the Swedish Governour of New-Sweden, afferting, "the whole South River of New-Netherlands, had been in the Dutch Pof"feffion many Years above and below, befet with Forts, and fealed with "their Blood." Which Kieft adds, has happened even during your niftration in New-Netherland, and fo well known to you."

Admi

The Dutch Writers are not agreed in the Extent of Nova Belgia or NewNetherland; fome describe it to be from Virginia to Canada; and others inform us, that the Arms of the States General were erected at Cape Cod, Connecticut, and Hudfon's River, and on the Weft Side of the Entrance into Delaware Bay. The Author of the Pamphlet mentioned in the Notes gives Canada River for a Boundary on the North, and calls the Country, NorthWest from Albany, Terra Incognita.

In 1640, the English, who had overspread the Eastern Part of Long Island, advanced to Oysterbay. Kieft broke up their Settlement in 1642, and fited out two Sloops to drive the English out of Schuylkill, of which the Marylanders had lately poffeffed themselves. The Inftructions, dated May 22, to Jan Jansen Alpendam, who commanded in that Enterprise, are upon Record, and ftrongly affert the Right of the Dutch, both to the Soil and Trade there. The English from the Eastward shortly after fent Deputies to NewAmfterdam, for the Accommodation of their Difputes about Limits, to whom the Dutch offered the following Conditions, entered in their Books exactly in these Words :

"Conditiones à D. Directore Gen. fenatuys Novi Belgii, Dominis Weytingh atque Hill, Delegatis a nobili Senatu Hartfordienfi, oblatæ : "Pro Agro noftro Hartfordienfi, annuo perfolvent Præpotentiff. D.D. "Ordinibus Feed. Provinciarum Belgicarum aut eorum Vicariis, decimam Partem Reventûs Agrorum, tum Aratro, tum Ligone, aliove Cultorum medio; Pomariis, Hortifq; Oleribus dicatis, Jugerum Hollandium non exce"dentibus exceptis; aut Decimarum Loco, Pretium nobile poftea conftituendum, tam diu quàm diu poffeffores ejufdem Agri futuri erunt. Actum in "Arce Amftelodamenfi in novo Belgio Die Julii 9 Anno Chrifti 1642."

We have no Account that the English acceded to thefe Propofals, nor is it probable, confidering their fuperior Strength, that they ever did: on the contrary, they daily extended their Poffeffions, and in 1643 the Colonies of the Malachufet's Bay, Plymouth, Connecticut, and New-Haven, entered into a League both against the Dutch and Indians, and grew fo powerful as to meet shortly after, upon a Defign of extirpating the former. The Massa

chufet's

chufet's Bay declined this Enterprife, which occafioned a Letter to Oliver Cromwell from William Hooke, dated at New-Haven, November 3, 1653, in which he complains of the Dutch, for fupplying the Natives with Arms and Ammunition, begs his Affiftance with two or three Frigates, and that Letters might be sent to the Eastern Colonies, commanding them to join in an Expedition against the Dutch Colony. Oliver's Affairs would not admit of fo diftant an Attempt *, but Richard Cromwell afterwards drew up Instructions to his Commanders for subduing the Dutch here, and wrote Letters to the English American Governments for their Aid; Copies of which are preserved in Thurloe's Collection, Vol. I. p. 721, &c.

Peter Stuyvefant was the last Dutch Governour, and tho' he had a Commiffion in 1646, he did not begin his Administration till May 27, 1647. The Inroads and Claims upon his Government, kept him conftantly employed. New-England on the East, and Maryland on the Weft, alarmed his Fears by their daily Increase; and about the fame Time Captain Forrester, a Scotchman, claimed Long Island for the Dowager of Stirling. The Swedes too were perpetually incroaching upon Delaware. Through the Unfkilfulness of the Mate, one Defwyck, a Swedish Captain and Supercargo arrived in Raritan River. The Ship was feized, and himself made a Prifoner at New-Amfterdam. Stuyvefant's Reasons were these. In 1651, the Dutch built Fort Cafimir, now called Newcastle, on Delaware. The Swedes, indeed, claimed the Country, and Printz their Governour formally protefted against the Works. Rifingh, his Succeffor, under the Disguife of Friendship, came before the Fortress, fired two Salutes, and landed 30 Men, who were entertained by the Commandant as Friends; but he had no fooner discovered the Weakness of the Garrison, than he made himself Master of it, seizing alfo

"Cities, and Towns, under the Dominions of "each, without Diftinction of Places, together with their People and Inhabitants of whatfoever Degree.'

"

II.

* The War between him and the States, which began in July 1652, was concluded by a Peace on the fifth of April 1654. The Treaty makes no particular Mention of this Country. If any Part of it can be confidered as relating to the American Poffeffions, it is to be found in the That hereafter all Enmity, Hoftility, two firft Articles, which are in thefe Words: "Difcord, and Contention, betwixt the faid "Imprimis, It is agreed and concluded, that, "Republics, and their People and Subjects, from this Day forwards, there be a true, firm, fhall ceafe, and both Parties fhall hencefor" and inviolable Peace, a fincere, intimate and "forwards abftain from the commiting all "clofe Friendship, Affinity, Confederacy, and "Manner of Mifchief, Plunder, and Injuries, "Union, betwixt the Republic of England and "the States General of the United Provinces of the Netherlands, and the Lands, Countries,

by Land, by Sea, and on the fresh Waters, "in all their Lands, Countries, Dominions, "Places, and Governments whatsoever."

upon

upon all the Ammunition, Houses, and other Effects of the Wefl-India Company, and compelling feveral of the People to fwear Allegiance to Chriftina Queen of Sweden. The Dutch, in 1655, prepared to retake Fort Cafimir. Stuyvesant commanded the Forces in Perfon, and arrived with them in Delaware the 9th of September. A few Days after, he anchored before the Garrison, and landed his Troops. The Fortrefs was immediately demanded as Dutch Property: Suen Scutz, the Commandant, desired Leave to confult Rifingh, which being refused, he furrendered the 16th of September on Articles of Capitulation. The whole Strength of the Place confifted of four Cannon fourteen Pounders, five Swivels, and a Parcel of fmall Arms, which were all delivered to the Conquered. Fort Chriftina was commanded by Rifingh. Stuyvefant came before it, and Rifingh furrendered it upon Terms the 25th of September. The Country being thus fubdued, the Dutch Governour iffued a Proclamation, in Favour of such of the Inhabitants, as would fubmit to the new Government, and about 30 Swedes swore," Fidelity and Obedience to the States General, the Lords "Directors of the Weft-India Company, their Subalterns of the Province of "New-Netherlands, and the Director General then, or thereafter, to be "established." Rifingh and one Elfwych, a Trader of Note, were ordered to France, or England, and the Reft of the Swedish Inhabitants to Holland, and from thence to Gottenberg. The Swedes being thus extirpated, the Dutch became poffeffed of the Weft-fide of Delaware Bay, now called The three lower Counties.

This Country was afterwards under the Command of LieutenantGovernours, fubject to the Controul of, and commiffioned by, the Director General at New-Amfterdam. Johan Paul Jaquet was the first ViceDirector, or Lieutenant-Governor, of South River. His Succeffors were Alricks, Hinojoffa, and William Beekman. The Pofterity of the last remains amongst us to this Day. These Lieutenants had Power to grant Lands, and their Patents make a Part of the ancient Titles of the present Poffeffors. Alrick's Commiffion, of the 12th of April 1657, fhews the Extent of the Dutch Claim on the Weft-fide of Delaware at that Time. He was appointed " Director General of the Colony of the South River of New"Netherlands, and the Fortress of Cafimir, now called Niewer Amftel, with "all the Lands depending thereon, according to the firft Purchase and "Deed of Release of the Natives, dated July 19, 1651, beginning at the "West-side of the Minquaa, or Chriftina Kill, in the Indian Language “named Sufpecough, to the Mouth of the Bay, or River called Bompt-Hook,

" in the Indian Language Cannareffe; and fo far inland as the Bounds and "Limits of the Minquaas Land, with all the Streams, &c. Appurtenances, " and Dependencies." Of the Country Northward of the Kill, no Mention is made. Orders in 1658 were given to William Beekman to purchase Cape Hinlopen from the Natives, and to fettle and fortify it, which, for Want of Goods was not done till the fucceeding Year.

In the Year 1659, fresh Troubles arofe from the Maryland Claim to the Lands on South River; and in September Colonel Nathaniel Utie, as Commiffioner from Fendal Lord Baltimore's Governour, arrived at Niewer Amftel from Maryland. The Country was ordered to be evacuated, Lord Baltimore claiming all the Land, between 38 and 40 Degrees of Latitude, from Sea to Sea. Beekman and his Council demanded Evidence of his Lordship's Right, and offered to prove the States General's Grant to the Weft-India Company, theirs to them, Payment for the Land and Poffeffion; and upon. the Whole proposed to refer the Controversy to the Republics of England and Holland, praying at the fame Time, three Weeks to confult Stuyvesant, the General. The Commiffioner notwithstanding, a few Days after, warned him to draw off, beyond the Latitude of 40°: but Beekman difregarded the Threat. Colonel Utie thereupon returned to Maryland, and an immediate Invasion was expected.

Early in the Spring of the Year 1660, Nicholas Varleth, and Brian Newton, were dispatched from Fort Amfterdam to Virginia, in Quality of Ambassadors, with full Power to open a Trade, and conclude a League, offenfive and defenfive against the Barbarians. William Berckly, the Governour, gave them a kind Reception, and approved their Propofal of Peace and Commerce, which Sir Henry Moody was fent here to agree upon and perfect. Four Articles, to that Purpofe, were drawn up, and fent to the Governour for Confirmation. Stuyvefant artfully endeavoured, at this Treaty, to procure an Acknowledgment of the Dutch Title to the Country, which Berckly as carefully avoided. This was his Answer.

" SIR,

"I have received the Letter, you, were pleased to fend me, by Mr. Millshis Veffel, and shall be ever ready to comply with you, in all Acts of neighbourly Friendship and Amity. But truly, Sir, you defire me to "do that, concerning your Titles, and Claims to Land, in this northern " Part of America, which I am in no Capacity to do; for I am but a Ser"vant of the Affembly's: neither do they arrogate any Power to them

"felves >