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tion of ancient times. In going from Norway to Iceland, from Iceland to Greenland, and from Greenland to Labrador, the first traject is the wildest: and this having been practised from the earliest times of which we have any account of that northern part of the earth; it is not difficult to suppose that the subsequent trajects may have been sometimes passed. Again, the late discoveries of Capt. Cook, in coasting from Kamskatka to California, have proved that if the two continents of Asia and America be separate at all, it is only by a narrow strait. So that from this side also, inhabitants may have passed into America, and the resemblance between the Indians of America and the eastern inhabitants of Asia, would induce us to conjecture that the former are the descendants of the latter, or the latter of the former: excepting indeed the Esquimaux, who from the same circumstance of resemblance, and from identity of language, must be derived from the Greenlanders, and these probably from the northern parts of the old Gontinent."

CHAPTER VIII.

NEW-YORK AND NEW-JERSEY, CONTINUED.-RISE AND PROGRESS OF NEW-YORK AND NEW-JERSEY, CONTINUED FROM CHAPTER IV.

In our last, we noticed the capture and conquest of the city of New-Amsterdam, the conquest of the colony of NewNetherlands, by the English, the change of the names of the city and colony to that of New-York, in honor of the Duke of York, the proprietor. We will commence this chapter with the administration of Gov. Nicoll, who acted as deputy to his royal highness the Duke of York, and commander over all his territories in America. Although the administration of Gov. Nicoll was short, yet he accomplished several important objects. He settled the boundary lines between the colonies of New-York and Connecticut, as has been noticed under Connecticut; although some error appeared to have been committed in running this division line, yet the effects were the same as if the line had been true, because the mistake was afterwards corrected, and amicably adjusted. In 1664, a war commenced between England and Holland, which led Gov. Nicoll to seize on the estate of the Dutch West-India Company, and confiscate the same for the public benefit. About the same time he introduced an ordinance that all purchases of Indian lands should be by a deed of conveyance, and that under the sanction of the governor's license, and executed in his presence; otherwise such deed should be null and void. On the 12th of June, 1664, Gov. Nicoll incorporated the city of New-York, under the government of a mayor, five aldermen and a sheriff, and thus began to introduce the English mode of government. About the same time the governor regulated the limits of the townships on Long-Island, by the assistance of a deputation of

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two from each town. This year the Governor was alarmed with information from England, that the Dutch Admiral Deruiter was about to pay him a visit; but the report proved groundless, and the English held a quiet possession through the war, and the peace of Breda confirmed their possession, 1667. Soon after the peace of Breda, Governor Nicoll returned to England, after having reigned over the colony in wisdom, prudence, justice, and moderation, in a plenitude of power, that was uncontrouled; for he decided and ordered all events, by his own edicts, without the forms of law, in a court. The sheriff executed all his edicts, even without complaint, and all was peace, order, and concord in the colony. Notwithstanding the inhabitants of Long-Island petitioned the legislature of Connecticut to take them under their jurisdiction, yet they say at the same time, that the administration of Gov. Nicoll is both mild and benevolent.

The Duke of York appointed Francis Lovelace as Governor, and successor to Gov. Nicoll, and he entered upon his administration in May, 1667. He ruled with wisdom and moderation, down to the year 1672, when the Dutch seized on the colony in the second Dutch war, which closed his administration. It is a well known historical fact, that at the commencement of this war, Charles II. by his profligate manners, had not only involved himself in debt, but to extricate himself, had actually listened to certain pecuniary propositions from Lewis XIV. king of France; by the means of which, Lewis had acquired such an ascendancy over Charles, as led him into the confederacy against the Dutch; the trifling pretext to which Charles resorted; as just grounds for the war, may be seen in the following extract from a writing of those times.

"The king (of England) reproached the Dutch with disrespect, in not directing their fleet to lower their flag before an English ship; and they were also accused in re

gard to a certain picture, wherein Cornelius De Witt, brother to the pensionary, was painted with attributes of a conqueror. Ships were represented in the back ground of the piece, as either taken or burnt. Cornelius De Witt. who had really had a share in the maritime exploits against England, had permitted this trifling memorial of his glory; but the picture, which was in a manner unknown, was deposited in a chamber wherein scarce any body ever entered. The British ministers who presented the complaints of their king against Holland, in writing, therein mentioned certain abusive pictures. The states, who always translated the memorials of Ambassadors into French, having rendered the word abusive, by the words faulifs trompeurs, replied, they did not know what those roguish pictures (ces tableux trompeurs) were. In reality it never entered into their thoughts that it concerned this portrait of one of their citizens, nor could they ever conceive that this could be a pretence for declaring war."

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I have given this extract barely to shew that when men are disposed to quarrel they can never want a pretext, and that even the slightest will often serve their purpose. however serious may be the consequences.

Their Highmightinesses took care to remember, that in the last war the English had taken possession of their colony of New-Netherlands in America, and that they had confirmed the possession by the peace of Breda. They now considered themselves at liberty to enter into possession again of their former colony, if they could obtain it; accordingly they dispatched a small squadron to NewNetherlands, under the command of Cornelius Evertse, and Jacob Beekes. This fleet entered the harbour of NewYork on the thirtieth of July, 1673, and summoned the fort in the narne of the States General. Captain Manning, either through treachery, or cowardice, delivered up the fort at the discretion of the captors, and they took pos

session without firing a gun. The commoderes held a council of war at the state-house, where they summoned the magistrates and constables, from East-Jersey, LongIsland, Esopus, and Albany, to appear immediately at NewYork: they appeared accordingly, and swore allegiance to the Prince of Orange. They ordered Governor Lovelace to depart the province, and by the consent of the Dutch commodore he embarked on board his ship, and sailed for England. The Dutch claimed the acquisition of all NewJersey, and erected the colony into three jurisdictions, viz. Niewer Amstel, Upland and Hoer Kill, and appointed Anthony Colve as their governor, by the following commission.

"The honourable and awful council of war for their Highmightinesses the States General of the United Netherlands, and his Serene Highness the Prince of Orange, over a squadron of ships now at anchor in Hudson's River,: in New-Netherlands: and all those who shall see or hear these-Greeting. As it is necessary to appoint a fit and able person, to carry the chief command over this conquest of New-Netherlands, with all its appendencies, and dependencies, from Cape Henlopen, on the south side of the South, or Delaware Bay, and fifteen miles more southerly, with the said bay and river included; so as they were formerly possessed by the directors of the city of Amsterdam, and after by the English government, in the name and right ofthe Duke of York; and further from the said Cape of Henlopen along the great ocean to the east end of LongIsland, and Shelter-Island; from thence westward to the middle of the Sound, to a town called Greenwich on the > main, and to run landward in, northerly, provided said line shall not come within ten miles of North River, conformable to a provincial treaty made in 1650, and ratified by the States General in 1656, and 1664, with all lands, islands,