66 IV. were repaired, but again destroyed. Nothing deterred CHAP. by this opposition, they purchased the land from the natives, and commenced their settlement.' But Swen 1648. Schute, the Swedish Lieutenant, protested, and expressed his determination not to allow a single post to be set in the ground, or a tree to be cut, such being his orders from Printz. He accordingly ordered his men to destroy all the building materials, which they did, "using their swords instead of axes." Hudde endeavored, by reasoning, to Nov. 5. stay the violence; but the Swedish Lieutenant responded by calling him "a villain and a rascal; as for his Governor, he cared not for him." Boyer took fire at this abuse. You must be a villain yourself to slander a man thus to his face." Schute in a moment was in Boyer's hair. Further mischief would have, doubtless, followed, had not the more sensible of the bystanders interfered. Having Nov. 7. "no other arms than paper," Hudde sent Printz another protest against this act, which must foster bitterness and rancor, instead of conciliating animosities among neighbors who ought to live in peace, as we have always been inclined to do; carefully avoiding whatever might disturb harmony, though opportunities enough were offered to indulge such propensities." Adriaen van Tienhoven, "clerk of the court on the South River," reported to Stuy- Nov. 9. vesant the particulars of the whole outrage, "and so it happened that Symen Root's house could not be completed." Advices were forwarded, at the same time, that the Dutch commerce in this quarter was nearly spoiled, as they "were obliged to give two fathom of white and one of black wampum for a beaver, and one fathom of cloth for two beavers ; every fathom of wampum being equal to three ells." This trade was considered ruinous, "for the Indians always take the largest and tallest among them to trade with us." 1 "Of which purchase and the names of the lands, further cognizance may be taken from the Letters Patent, and transfers which were then made of it, and which have been deposited in the Secretary's Office at New Amsterdam; so too the names of the chief settlers." Alb. Rec. xviii., 270. Alb. Rec. iii., 257; v., 1, 2, 5-8, 70, 71 ; vii., 206; xvii., 338-348. Hol. Doc. viii., 35, 36, 57. Acrelius, History N Sweden. In Van der Kemp's Translation, Hudde's last protest is dated 7th "September." This is an error; it ought to be November. The error has been copied by all who have followed Van der Kemp. BOOK IV. CHAPTER V. Melyn arrives at New Amsterdam-The commonalty meet in the church-Letter from their High Mightinesses proposed to be read-Scuffle ensues-Seal torn off-Stuyvesant summoned to appear at the Hague-Melyn demands a written answer from the Director-general-Reply of the Council-Melyn's son-in-law forbidden to visit the South River-Protest against the Directorgeneral-The latter's letter to the States General-Sends agents to the Hague-Melyn also returns thither-The Nine Men propose again to send a remonstrance to Holland-Stuyvesant calls on them to communicate their grievances to him-They are not inclined to comply-Go from house to house to learn the sentiments of the commonalty-Consequent rupture between them and the Director-general-The "Bellwethers" prosecuted-Delegates from the militia and citizens called together-The Nine Men prepare a remonstrance -Adriaen van der Donck employed for that purpose-Stuyvesant arrests him and seizes his papers-The Vice Director protests against Stuyvesant-Further proceedings-Van der Donck expelled the Council and the board of the Nine Men-The Prince William arrives with arms for the Indians-Consequent excitement-Stuyvesant explains his conduct-Council satisfied-The Directors at Amsterdam censure him-Impediments thrown in the way of the remonstrants-Dominie Backerus resigns his charge-Returns to HollandDelegates sent by the commonalty to the Hague-A Dutch settler killed by the Indians-The Director-general concludes a treaty with the Hackensacks -Speech of the Sachem-The Rev. Mr. Megapolensis appointed Minister at New Amsterdam. ARMED with a summons which no Dutch subject dare disregard, Cornelis Melyn, so recently banished in disgrace, 1649. returned now in triumph to New Netherland, and with the opening of the new year, presented to Stuyvesant the mandatory dispatches from the States General and the Prince of Orange.' The commonalty of the capital and Mar. 8. surrounding villages being assembled some weeks afterwards in the church, on the invitation of the Directorgeneral, the Patroon of Staten Island demanded that their High Mightinesses' letter be read and explained to the people, through the Nine Men. Considerable excitement 1 Roger Williams, writing to John Winthrop, Jr., December, 1648, says: "Skipper Isaac and Moline, (Melyn,) are come into the bay with a Dutch ship; and (as it is said) have brought letters from the States, to call home this present Dutch Governor, to answer many complaints, both from Dutch and English, against him. 3 Mass. Hist. Coll. ix., 277. V. and some high words ensued. The point, however, was CHAP. at length conceded, and Arnoldus van Hardenberg, one of that board, received the mandamus for that purpose from 1649. Melyn. The Director, hereupon, demanded a copy of the paper, and snatched the original from Van Hardenberg's hands. In the scuffle the seal was torn off. Melyn now offered the Director-general a copy of the instrument, whereupon the latter was induced, by the interference of some of the bystanders, to return the original, which was then read, together with the summons commanding Stuyvesant to appear, without delay, either personally or by attorney, at the Hague. "I honor the States, and shall obey their commands," was his reply; "I shall send an attorney to sustain the sentence that was pronounced." This verbal answer was not considered sufficient. Melyn demanded a written reply, but this neither Stuyvesant nor his secretary would give. Similar summons were served March on the several members of the Council, and elicited satisfactory or unsatisfactory answers, according as the parties were friendly or unfriendly to the appellant. Vice Director Dinclage frankly acknowledged that he had been deceived throughout the whole of the proceedings. It had been ruled on the trial that Melyn and Kuyter had not been empowered nor qualified to write on public affairs. On the contrary, various documents and affidavits had been produced to their prejudice, whereby he had been induced to vote against them, whilst affidavits favorable to them had been carefully suppressed. La Montagne would answer when he should learn Melyn's reasons for summoning him; Newton did not understand the matter; Van Dyck insisted that his acts were merely official, and that he was no party in the case. Others gave other excuses, whilst Van Tienhoven refused to give any answer what- March soever. The season was now advanced, and the ill-feeling entertained by Stuyvesant towards the Patroon of Staten Island experienced no abatement. On the contrary, it extended to all his connections. Jacob Loper, his son-in-law, previous to this a captain in the Dutch service at Curaçoa, 16. 23. June 14. BOOK applied for permission to trade to the South River. StuyIV. vesant opposed granting the license, on the ground that the 1649. Directors at Amsterdam had averred that Melyn would do all in his power to injure the Company with the Swedish colony. The Vice Director and La Montagne now attempted to plead in favor of the petitioner. But Stuyvesant was not to be moved. Melyn had summoned him to appear at the Hague to defend himself, and "Loper had married the daughter of the said Melyn." "But," demanded the other councillors, "will you visit the sins of the father on the son?" "This time it cannot be otherwise," was the reply; "he shall not go !" July 29. Baffled, now, in obtaining justice, Melyn drew up a strong protest against the Director-general, calling on him again to appear at the Hague, but warning him, at the same time, that one "criminal" (meaning Van Tienhoven) could not appear for another. He demanded copies of all affidavits, papers, and documents which had already been refused him; and, in case these papers were again denied, he objected against their being produced in Holland, and protested against all losses and damages which he might sustain by Stuyvesant's acts. This "irreverent proAug. 1. test" was served by Van der Donck and Van Hardenberg on Stuyvesant's wife. But it elicited no reply from the Aug. 9. Director-general, who maintained that he was not bound to make any restitution to Melyn, since he had not received anything from him, nor any reparation, whilst the cause was in appeal. He did not consider himself responsible for any damages or loss, inasmuch as he did not require Melyn to pay any costs, nor to return, anew, to Fatherland. "We give and grant him free use and quiet possession of his lands and houses, so long as the case is undecided. God and the judge can best tell who is the criminal." A copy of the sentence pronounced on the appellant had been communicated; the other papers in the case would be furnished, "according to the precedence and knowledge of the judge as to what affidavits were necessary-as to whether these were legally taken, or only clandestinely introduced to affront and insult the judge;" a discrimination, by the way, V. subversive of all the advantages expected from an appeal CHAP. to a superior tribunal; for it would deprive the court of last resort of the means of reviewing the whole of the pro- 1649. ceedings on both sides, and virtually place the complainant and his interests at the mercy of the tribunal from whose decision he appealed. The Director-general finally stated, that he could not oblige the other parties to appear at the Hague, "as this did not quadrate with the mandamus”— a decision in which the other members of the Council readily coincided, inasmuch as it relieved them from all the trouble and vexation which such an appearance would necessarily entail. The The rebuke implied on his administration by the suspension of the first sentence which he had, with so much circumstance, pronounced, and by the summons to sustain and defend that judgment, was felt acutely by the Directorgeneral. In acknowledging the receipt of their orders, he took occasion to thank their High Mightinesses for Aug. 10. having kept one ear open, especially as the papers relating to his defence were lost in the unfortunate Princess. safe conduct granted to Melyn had rendered the English, he represented, more bold in their claims regarding the limits, and his government more unpopular with them. Melyn had not only pretended that he was empowered to send the Director-general home in chains; he had reported, that their High Mightinesses were surprised that the people of New Haven had not dragged him to the nearest tree, and there hanged him, for having cut the St. Beninio out of their harbor, and had, moreover, given out, that the Director-general had sent to Holland for seven or eight hundred soldiers, in order to wage war against the people of New England. Stuyvesant next complained in strong terms of Melyn's mutinous and unbecoming demeanor in the church, to the great scandal of his authority and commission, and to the imminent danger of causing bloodshed had he, the Director-general, not interfered. He referred to the circulation of rumors that the West India Company was bankrupt, and emphatically declared, that he had rather never have received their High Mightinesses' com |