agree with any of the neighbouring townes, &c.These are thereffore, that the freeholders and inhabitants doe give full power to the said Intrusties, for to agree and compounde with any of the neighbour townes concerning our bounds, and all what our said Intrusties shall doe and agree with them, we shall stand to itt." This proceeding was recorded by order of the Court of Sessions, on the 13th of May, 1702.

DIFFERENCE WITH BUSHWICK.

The difference as to the bounds of these two towns seems generally to have been contested between individuals. The following is the only general order on record respecting the same:

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At a Court of Sessions, held at Flatbush for Kings County, May 10, 1699. Uppon the desire of the inhabitants of Breucklyn, that according to use and order every three yeare the limmitts betweene towne and towne must be runn, that a warrant or order may be given, that upon the 17th day off May, the line and bounds betwixt said townes of Breucklyn and Boswyck, shall be runn according to their pattents or agrements." Ordered, "That an order should be past according to theire request."

DIFFERENCE WITH FLATBUSH.

The dispute between this town and Flatbush, respecting their bounds, appears to have been of more importance than that with any other place, excepting New-York.

At a Court of Sessions, held for the West Riding of Yorkshire, upon Long-Island, the 18th of December, 1678, the following order was made:

"There being some difference between the townes of Flat Bush and Breucklyn concerning their

bounds, the which they are both willing to refer to Captain Jaques Corteleou and Captain Richard Stillwell to decide. The Court doth approve thereof, and order their Report to be determinative."

Messrs. Cortelyou and Stillwell complied with the requisition of the above order as will appear by the following report: but subsequent disputes shew that the same was not "determinative."

"To the worshipfull Court of Sessions, now sitting at Gravesend, June 21, 1683. These may certiffie that in obedience to an order from said Court, and by consent of both towns of Breucklyn and Flattbush, to runn the line betwixt the said townes which are we underwritten have done and marked the trees betwixt towne and towne, as wittnesse our hands the daye and yeare above written. JACQUES CORTELYOU,

RICHARD STILLWELL."

It appears by the following Certificate, that a subsequent survey was made in 1684, of the division line between this town and Flatbush.

"To satisffie whom itt may concerne, that I being with Mr. Jacobus Cortland, about the twentyeth day off November, 1684, imployed by Breuckland and Fflackbush, to vew and run out the line betweene the two towns to the south of the hills found that the line run fformerly by Capts. Jaques, Cortelyou and Mr. Stillwell, is right and just, which wee both being agreed, gave in our approbation of the same.

PHILIP WELLS, Surveyor." Staaten-Island, in the County of Richmond, this 4th day of Aprill, 1687."

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The above Certificate was recorded by order of several of the inhabitants of Brooklyn.

At a Court of Sessions for Kings County, held the 4th day of October, 1687, the following proceeding was had:

"Complaint off Jan Oake, and Cornelis Barduff, authorised by the inhabitants of Fflackbush being read against Pieter Cronwer, concerning the building uppon the land in question, betwixt Breucklyn and Flackbush, Itt is ordered, that none off the partys shall meddle themselves with the said land before the question off the said land shall be finished."

December 4, 1689. Jooris Bergen, Jan Dorlant and H. Claes Vechte, Commissioners of this town, together with Jurrian Bries, Constable, granted to Jeronimius Remsen, a piece of land lying at Bedford, in lieu of a piece of land which they had formerly sold him, lying at the Port or entrance, and which was claimed by the town of Flatbush.

At a town meeting, held in this town the 11th day of April, 1702, by order of Justices Machiel Hanssen, and Cornelis Seberingh; it was

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Purposed to choise townsmen, in place off George Hanssen, Jacob Hanssen, and Cornelis Van Duyn, by cause theire times being past the 29th off this instant. Resolved to prolong the old townsmen's time to the twenty-fifth off May next, by reason they are in action off lawe with them off Fflackbush, to be tryed this May court."

The differences between these two towns have been amicably settled, and proper monuments placed on the boundary lines, to prevent, if possible, all future disputes.

DIFFERENCE WITH NEW-UTRECHT.

February 14, 1702. George Hansen, Jacob Hansen and Cornelius Van Duyn, Trustees on the part of the town of Brooklyn, and Cornelius Van Brunt,

Peter Cortelyou, and Aert Van Pelt, Trustees on the part of the town of New-Utrecht, entered into an agreement, which, after setting forth the said Trustee's powers to enter into the same, proceeds to say, "that the courses and lines hereafter specified shall be the exact bounds between the said two towns of Brookland and New Utrecht and soe to continue to perpetuity without any alteration; viz. The bounds to begin in the sloott or pond lying and being by and between the house of Agyes Vandyke, of the said towne of Brookland and the house of Thomas Sharax, of the said towne of New-Utrecht, where the water runns into the salt water River, by a certaine fence from thence stretching away south-east one degree southerly, two hundred eighty and eight English rod, to a winter white oake tree markt on the south and north-west side; and from thence running east eight and twenty degrees northerly to a white oake tree, being on the east side of the path leading to New-Utrecht aforesaid, to the Gowanos soe called in the towneship of Brookland abovesaid, said tree being markt on two sides, and being formerly the old markt tree betweene the said townes, &c."

At the time of the execution of the above-mentioned agreement, the Trustees of the town of Brooklyn, gave a bond to the Trustees of the town of New-Utrecht, in the sum of one thousand pounds

currant money of New-Yorke."--The condition of which Bond or obligation was, "That if the above bounden George Hansen, Jacob Hansen and Cornelius Van Duyne, severally and their severall heires and assigns, doe and shall from time to time and at all times hereafter, well and truly observe, performe and keepe, all and every the covenants, articles of agreements, which on their and every of their parts, are or ought to be observed, performed

and kept, contained and specified in and by certain articles of agreements of the date hereof and made betweene the above bounden George Hansen, Jacob Hansen and Cornelius Van Duyn of the one part, and the above-named Cornelius Van Brunt, Peter Cortilleou and Aert Van Pelt of the other part, of, in and concerning the limmitts and bounds of their townes pattents, and that in and by all things according to the true meaning of the said articles of agreement in such wise that no breache be made of the premises in said articles of agreement by the towne of Brookland aforesaid, at any time or times hereafter, then this obligation to be void and of none effect, otherwise to stand and remain in full force, virtue and power in law."

In the year 1797, a survey was made of all the bounds of this town, and a map thereof transmitted to the Surveyor General of this state.

REVOLUTIONARY INCIDENTS.

This town had a full share of the military operations during the Revolutionary war; and was for a long time in the possession of the British army. It is covered with the remains of fortifications which were thrown up by the Americans(14) and English for their defence against each other. In this town was fought the most sanguinary part of the battle of Long-Island, August 27, 1776; which took place on the retreat of the American army within their lines, and the attempt of a portion of them to ford the mill ponds at Gawanos; in which attempt nearly the whole of a Regiment of young men from Maryland were cut off.

Many of the minor events connected with this battle, and the Revolutionary contest, are fast sink

(14) The fortifications at Red Hook were erected by a Regiment of Continental troops, the night of April 8, 1776.