to the government. Such have been the maxims of prudence and toleration, by which the magistrates of this city [Amsterdam] have been governed; and the consequences have been, that the oppressed and persecuted, from every country, have found among us an asylum from distress. Follow in the same steps, and you will be blessed.”

It was to the good character which the colony thus obtained abroad throughout Europe, that we may attribute the continued prosecution of the same system under the English government, which had been so popular under the Dutch, and which led to the same results in both instances; although a different policy was pursued at the same time in England. In 1710, three thousand Palatines, who fled to England, the year previous, from the rage of persecution in Germany, emigrated to New York, under the guidance of Governor Robert Hunter. Some of them settled in the city of New York, and others on Livingston Manor in Columbia county, while others journeyed into Pennsylvania, where their descendants remain to the present time. And again, during the government of William Burnet in that colony, who was the son of the celebrated Bishop of that name, and began his administration in September, 1720, which continued for seven years, the persecutions in France, which followed the revocation of the edict of Nantz, drove thousands of Protestants into foreign countries. Many of them fled into that colony, and settled the town of New Rochelle, in Westchester county, which they called after their native city in France; and a few seated themselves at New Paltz, in Ulster county. From these Huguenots several of the respectable families in Pennsylvania trace their descent.

Governor Stuyvesant not only encouraged emigration to his colony, by inviting the persecuted of the old world to share its hospitalities, but he also devoted a large portion of his time to laying the foundations for the present city of New York, by establishing ordinances for its government. In 1647, he prohibited selling strong drink to the Indians, under the heavy penalty of five hundred Carolus guilders, "and the further responsibility for all the misdemeanors that may result therefrom." He not only prescribed this regulation, but also provided, that justice should be done to the aborigines; that their lands should not be taken without payment, and that the inhabitants should pay them for any VOL. LIV. NO. 115.

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work which they should do for them, "in the penalty of such a fine as, according to the occasion, shall be deemed right."

On the 23d of July, 1647, he established the first regular tariff of duties on furs, &c., shipped from the colony to Holland. It is amusing to notice the jealousy with which the first Dutch settlers regarded the interference of foreigners in the trade and commerce of New Netherlands. The Scotch, particularly, seemed to attract their attention; and the Burgomasters and Schepens of the city complained of them to the Governor and Council, and urged that their trading there, without being householders and owners in the colony, was prejudicial to its interests. On the 23d of January, 1657, the Governor and Council proceeded to consider this complaint; and they delivered, seriatim, their "consideration and advice." First of all, Governor Stuyvesant, after stating the question, observed, that "to compel any individual to make a permanent residence here is too slavish to be endured; and that it is best to stick to the letter and intention of Lords Directors (in Holland). But he is of opinion, that no foreign merchants, skippers, or sailors, be they Scotchmen or not, shall sell their goods in the country, unless they keep a store in this city, either in their own or in an hired house." After the members of the Council had also delivered their opinions, it was determined, that no foreigner should be permitted to sell goods in the country, unless he kept a store in the city; that he should first obtain that privilege from the burgomasters and schepens by making a compensation which should be deemed reasonable; and that he should also take the oath of allegiance, to be a good subject for the time he remained in the country.

The Governor also provided for the improvement of the city, and appointed three surveyors, who should attend to the erection of buildings, that none of them encroached upon the streets. This first attempt at a regular system of city improvement in New York, was by an act of July 25th, 1647. Afterwards, in conformity with that ordinance, the city government provided, that buildings or fences should not be erected without first calling the surveyors, and obtaining their approbation. Again, on the 23d of January, 1648, the Governor, with his Council, ordained, that thereafter, in New Am

sterdam, "no wooden or platted chimneys shall be permitted to be built in any houses between the fort, and the fresh water, (that is, between the Battery and the halls of Justice,) and that those already standing shall be permitted to remain during the good pleasure of the fire-wardens."

And nine years subsequently the Governor and his Council issued a proclamation, declaring, that "they have long since condemned all flag roofs, and wooden and platted chimneys," within the city.

A very rigid police existed in the city under the administration of Stuyvesant, as is evident from various regulations still extant in the ancient records of the colony. The following is given as an instance. On the 3d of December, 1657, the Corporation of the city, then known as "the Schout, Burgomasters, and Schepens," issued a proclamation, declaring, that,

"Warning is hereby given to all the Chirurgeons of this city, and they are advertised, that by the magistracy of this city it is demanded of them all, that, whenever they are called upon to dress a wound, they shall ask the patient, who has wounded him; and give information thereof to the Schout, or, in failure thereof, they shall pay the pecuniary penalty incurred by the infliction of the wound."*

The Burgomasters of the city, under Stuyvesant, not only administered its corporate regulations, but also formed a Court of Justice, which heard and determined all civil, and some criminal cases, with an appeal to the Governor and Council. Their meetings were opened by prayer, offered up by the presiding officer. The form is preserved to us, as a preface to the ancient records. The magistrates ask for grace, "that we may with fidelity and righteousness, serve in our respective offices." The prayer then proceeds;

"To this end, enlighten our darkened understandings, that we may be able to distinguish the right from the wrong, the truth from falsehood; and that we may give pure and uncor

In some of their regulations they descended to minutie, which we should regard as very singular in the present day. Thus we find, that in 1650, while they declared the bakers" have the privilege for the accommodation of the community of baking white bread," they prohibited them from making" cakes or cracknels." The reason for this distinction is not now apparent, although, no doubt, a good one was then thought to exist.

rupted decisions, having an eye on thy word; a sure guide, giving to the simple wisdom and knowledge." 'Deeply impress on all our minds that we are accountable, not to men, but unto God, who seeth and heareth all things. Let all respect of persons be removed from us, that we may award justice unto the rich and the poor, unto friends and enemies, to residents and to strangers, according to the law of truth, and that not one of us may in any instance swerve therefrom." "Grant unto us, also, that we may not rashly prejudge any one without a hearing, but that we patiently hear the parties, and give them time and opportunity for defending themselves." "Graciously incline our hearts, that we exercise the power which thou hast given to us, to the general good of the community," &c.

The inhabitants of the city and colony seem, at that early period, to have carried their rejoicings and sports on New Year's day, and May day, rather further than was deemed consonant with a proper regard to the well-being of the community. And we find that Governor Stuyvesant and his Council, on New Year's eve, 1655, declared, that "from this time forth, within this province of New Netherlands, on the New Year and May days, there shall be no firing of guns, nor Maypoles planted; nor shall there be any beating of the drum; nor shall there be on the occasion any wines, brandy wines, or beers dealt out." The Dutch inhabitants seemed to have been very fond of firing guns, when they went the rounds visiting their neighbours' houses on New Year's eve and New Year's day; a practice, which, notwithstanding that ordinance, continued in full force in many parts of the State of New York, until after the Revolutionary war, when it was made a penal offence by an act of the Legislature.

The Dutch government under Stuyvesant also made several attempts to introduce the culture and manufacture of various articles of commerce in the colony. Tobacco was cultivated with great success on several plantations in Brooklyn, opposite the city. And, such was the high character which it attained in the European market, from a rigid inspection established by the colonial government, that it for some time obtained the preference over that from any other colony. Its culture for the purposes of trade soon began to diminish under the English administration, until, in the course of about thirty years, if not sooner, it ceased to be exported. At

tempts were also made to introduce the culture of silk. And in 1656, the West India Company sent instructions to Governor Stuyvesant "to attend to the cultivation and increase of the silkworm" in the colony. This too was lost sight of by the English government. The vine was also cultivated, and, according to Vander Donck, several persons had vineyards and wine hills" under cultivation; "and Providence blessed their labors with success, by affording fruit according to the most favorable expectation." They also introduced foreign grape stocks, and induced men to come over from Heidelberg, who were vine-dressers, for the purpose of attending to the vineyards. The clove tree was likewise introduced during this administration, but with what success we are not told.

Our white and red roses, cornelian roses, and stock roses, with gilly flowers, tulips, crown-imperials, white lilies, marigolds, and violets, were brought from Holland into the colony by the Dutch settlers, who had a fine taste for flowers. The sun-flowers, red and yellow lilies, several species of bell-flowers, mountain-lilies, with a great variety of others, were indigenous, and found in the country by the colonists; as were also peaches and apples; but the quince tree was introduced by the Huguenots and Palatines from the banks of the Danube.

His

After the surrender of his government to an overwhelming English force in 1664, Governor Stuyvesant was so highly esteemed by his fellow-citizens, that he passed the remainder of his life, being eighteen years, on Manhattan Island. remains are interred in the family vault, constructed originally within the walls of the second church in the city of New York, also known as the Governor's Chapel, which, for pious purposes, he had built at his own expense on his Bouwery or Farm. And when the first church was erected in the then new plantation of "Brenkelen," opposite the city, and the congregation were too few to afford a sufficient support to a minister of the Gospel, he agreed, if they would call and settle the Reverend Henry Selyns, of whom we have before spoken as an able and learned man, he would pay one half of his salary, and Mr. Selyns should preach in the afternoon in his chapel, which was accordingly done. That chapel is gone, and its site is now and has been for many years occupied by St. Mark's Episcopal Church.