1656.]

DISCONTENT OF THE PEOPLE.

85

were subsequently made by the people to obtain some concessions of authority, all such efforts were stigmatized as factious, and speedily repressed.

After numerous complaints had been made, commercial privileges were extended, but political enfranchisement was steadily denied. A convention, called by the people to assert their right to share in the enactment of laws for the proper government of the province, was dissolved by Stuyvesant, who regarded the demand as an innovation from New England, and fraught with the most dangerous consequences. In answer to a petition which was presented to him, requiring that no new laws should be enacted but with the consent of the people, he haughtily told the deputation that the directors would never make themselves responsible to subjects, and that his authority was derived from God and the West India Company," and not from the pleasure of the wavering multitude.

In this bold and arbitrary avowal, Stuyvesant was fully and amply sustained by the directors in Holland. They instructed him to pay no regard to the clamours of the people; but to let them fully understand that they must "indulge no longer the visionary dream that taxes could be imposed only with their consent." But the discontent had already taken root, and although the acts of the sturdy old governor were sullenly

tolerated, the sentiment of loyalty was weakened, and a change of rulers began to be regarded not only without aversion, but as an object of desire.

servants.

The western shore of the Delaware, being claimed by Lord Baltimore, the proprietary of Maryland, the West India Company, fearful of encroachments from that quarter, and desirous of building up a barrier against any aggressions on their southern frontier, transferred their claim to all that portion of Delaware lying between Cape Henlopen and the falls of Trenton to the city of Amsterdam, which immediately proceeded to colonize it, principally with indented This scheme, however, soon proved partially unsuccessful. A condition of freedom, under the more liberal government of Maryland, induced many of the Dutch settlers to break through the restraints imposed upon them by their task-masters, and seek refuge in the territory of the English. During the year 1659, Fendall, the governor of Maryland, laid formal claim to the possession of Delaware; but he was answered by the Dutch envoy, that his people had purchased and colonized the territory in dispute, before the patent of Lord Baltimore was in existence. The reply of Fendall being of a threatening character, and the claim of Lord Baltimore being pertinaciously reasserted by his agents, the directors of the West India Company adopted

1659.]

PROPRIETARY DISPUTES.

87

the spirited resolution to defend their rights, "even to the spilling of blood."

Similar troubles were already in agitation at the north. Massachusetts claimed the right to extend the territory of that colony to the upper waters of the Hudson, and thence westwardly as far as they thought proper; while Connecticut had no sooner obtained a royal charter than claims were asserted under it to a considerable portion of territory over which the Dutch had previously exercised undisputed jurisdiction.

Conscious of his inability to resist by force of arms the encroachments of his English neighbours, Stuyvesant went in person to Boston, in order to try what he could effect by negotiation. He met a convention of the New England colonies at that place, in September, 1663; but was compelled to return as he went, without being able to obtain, either then, or during the subsequent month at Hartford, the recognition of any territory at all, as belonging of right to the province of New Netherland. To the cautious Puritan diplomatists, the Dutch province was a fiction, inasmuch as the English laid claim to the whole of the continent discovered by Cabot.

In the midst of these proprietary disputes, Stuyvesant, foreseeing the danger that was impending over the colony, sought to restore harmony among the people of New Netherland themselves, by granting them certain privileges which

ever, after much contention, and aided by the good offices of Winthrop, the aged governor of Connecticut, Stuyvesant was driven to consent to a capitulation. The other settlements on the Hudson and Delaware swore allegiance to the English soon after, and the conquest of New Netherland was completed.

CHAPTER VII.

New Netherland becomes New York-Colonel Nichols gover nor-Meeting on Long Island-Incorporation of the city of New York-Arbitrary system of government established Lovelace appointed governor-War with the Dutch-New York reconquered-Administration of Colve-Retrocession of New York-Government of Andros-Difficulties with Connecticut--Spirited conduct of the Puritans Disaffection of the people-A representative government demanded-Reply of the Duke of York-Description of the province-Its prosperity -City of New York, its population and public buildings→→→→ Character of the people-Andros recalled-Dongan appointed governor-Concession of political privileges-Indian affairsConvention at Albany-Designs of the French--Instructions of the Duke of York-Conduct of Dongan-Invasion of the Five Nations by the French-Peace solicited-Speech of De. la Barre-Reply of Garrangula.

NEW NETHERLAND having thus, without bloodshed, become subjected to the English crown. Colonel Sir Richard Nichols took upon himself the government of the conquered province as deputy-governor, and in honour of the proprie

1665.] THE CITY INCORPORATED.

91

tary, that portion of the territory retained by him, together with the little capital of New Amsterdam, acquired the name of New York.

All the tract of land previously belonging to New Netherland, which was bounded by the Delaware Bay on the west, by the ocean and the Hudson River on the east, and by the present state of New York on the north, having been granted by the duke to Lord Berkeley and Sir George Carteret, became henceforth a separate and distinct jurisdiction, under the name of the province of New Jersey.

During the short period that Nichols remained governor of New York, commissioners, appointed for that purpose, determined the boundary between the latter province and Connecticut, and under their decision the whole of Long Island was included within the territory of the new proprietary.

On the 1st of March, 1665, a convention of delegates was held at Hempstead, on Long Island, for the purpose of adjusting the limits of their respective townships, and the appointment of proper local officers. Three months later, the city of New York was incorporated, the exercise of municipal authority being intrusted to a mayor, five aldermen, and a sheriff; but the people themselves derived no political privileges from a change of rulers. The governor, and a council devoted to his interests, retained the sole right