The history of New Jersey from its earliest settlement to the present time

Front matter

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Chapter I

New Netherland — Traffic with the Indians — Settlement on Manhattan Island — Argall's visit to Manhattan — The States-General grant commercial privileges to discoverers — Block explores the harbour of New York — Coasts with Christiaanse, Connectifcut and Rhode Island — Manhattan Island fortified — May enters the Delaware Bay — Authorities appointed to govern New Netherland — Alliance with the Iroquois — Increase of population at New Amsterdam — The Plymouth settlement — Dutch West India Company organized — A colony planted on the Delaware — Fort Nassau buUt — Administration of Minuits — Commercial prosperity of New Netherland — New plan for colonization adopted — Manors of Pavonia and Swanandael — De Vries' settlement at Hoarkill — Offence given to the Indians — Massacre of the colonists — Return of De Vries — Abandonment of the Swanandael purchase Page 19

Chapter II

Dispute between the patroons and the "West India Company — Manors of Pavonia and Swanandael abolished — "Wouter Van Twiller governor — Difficulties with the Plymouth colony — Rival trading-houses on the Connecticut — Governor Kieft — Minuits founds a Swedish colony on the Delaware — Its prosperous condition — English settlers at Salem Creek — Dispossessed by the Swedes and Dutch — Printz succeeds Minuits as governor of New Sweden — Encroachment of the Puritans upon territory claimed by the Dutch — War with the Indian tribes on the Raritan — Unsuccessful negotiations for peace — Massacre of the Indians — Their terrible retaliation — Overtures for peace — Council at Rockaway — War renewed — Settlements on the Passaic destroyed — Captain John Underhill — His successful descents upon Long Island — Arrival of reinforcements — Vigorous prosecution of the war — Interposition of the Mohawks — Peace declared — Unpopularity of Kieft — Ilis recall — Lost at sea Page 32

CHAPTER IIL

Governor Stuyvesant — His character — His wise and cautious policy — Quarrel with New England — Belligerent desires of Stuyvesant — The West India Company counsel peace — Negotiations opened — Provisional treaty concluded — Second English attempt to found a colony on the Delaware frustrated — Swedish colony threatened by Stuyvesant — Fort Cassimir constructed — Printz builds Fort Elsingburg — Rising governor of New Sweden — Takes Fort Cassimir by stratagem — The Swedes conquered by Stuyvesant — Indian hostilities — Activity of Stuyvesant — Prosperous condition of New Netherland — Lord Baltimore claims the territory on the west bank of the Delaware — Its cession to the city of Amsterdam — Perilous position of Stuyvesant — Stringent regulations of the West India Company — Concessions demanded by the people — Haughty reply of Stuyvesant — A popular assembly established — New Netherland granted to the Duke of York — Arrival of the English fleet — Stuyvesant summoned to surrender — Capitulation 44

Chapter IV

The Duke of York's patent to Berkeley and Carteret— The province of New Jersey — Liberal policy of the proprietaries — Their concessions to popular freedom — Nicholls governor of New York — His activity in colonizing New Albania — Carteret appointed governor of New Jersey — Establishes his capital at Elizabethtown — Inducements held out to settlers — Rapid increase in population — Puritan settlement on the Passaic — Threatened by the Hackensack Indians — Peace restored — Newark founded — Narrow policy of the colonists from Connecticut — First legislative session of New Jersey — Partial adoption of the harsh New England code

— Local rights of self-government claimed — Opposition to quit rents — Great dissatisfaction throughout the province — A new assembly constituted — Deposition of the governor — Carteret sails for England — Carteret's authority confirmed — Power of the assembly curtailed — War between England and Holland — Capture of New York by the Dutch — Its restoration to the English Page 55

Chapter V

The Duke of York confirmed in his title to New York — Andros appointed governor — Petition of New Jersey — The Quakers punished as recusants — Unjust charges against them — Their principles proscribed — Their persecution in England — Advised to settle in America — Salem settled — Governments of Fenwicke and Carteret — The boundaries of East and West New Jersey established — Constitution promulgated — Its liberal concessions — Emigration of wealthy Quakers — Anecdote of Charles II. — Difficulty with Andros, governor of New York — Burlington settled — Fear of Indian hostilities — A special treaty entered into — Speech of an Indian sachem — Progress of the colony — Increase of population 65

Chapter VI

Dispute between New York and East New Jersey — Arbitrary conduct of Andros — Claims jurisdiction over New Jersey — Carteret refuses to resign his government — His arrest — Tried at New York and acquitted — Andros attempts to control the assembly of East New Jersey — Their spirited response — Heavy tax on imports — Remonstrance of the New Jersey proprietaries — Their complaints referred to commissioners — The tax pronounced illegal — The Duke of York relinquishes his claim to govern New Jersey — Byllinge governor of West New Jersey — Appoints Jennings deputy-governor — First legislative assembly convenes — Adoption of a constitution — Burlington erected the capital of the province — The assembly maintains its prerogative — Amendment of the constitution — Jennings elected governor — Is sent to England — Olive governor — Byllinge appoints John Skene deputy-governor — Death of BylUnge — Sale of his interest in New Jersey — Dr. Coxe claims entire executive control — A change foreshadowed Page 77

Chapter VII

Quit-rent disputes — East New Jersey purchased by Penn and others — Extension of the partnership — Robert Barclay made governor — Appoints Thomas Rudyard his deputy — Session of the assembly — The province divided into counties — Administration of Rudyard — Gawen Laurie governor — Mixed character of population in New Jersey — Scottish emigrants — Scot of Pitlochie's book — Lord Campbell appointed deputy-governor of East New Jersey — James IL violates his obligations — Difficulties with New York — New Jersey threatened — Remonstrance of the proprietaries — Surrender of East and West New Jersey to the jurisdiction of the crown — Andros commissioned governor — Flight of James IL — Resumption of the proprietary governments — Hamilton governor — Land titles — Hamilton superseded by Basse — Inter-provincial disputes — Hamilton re-appointed governor — New Jersey becomes a royal province 86

CHAPTER VIIL

The New constitution for the Jerseys — The legislative power — In whom vested — Slave trade ordered to be encouraged — The judiciary — Arrival of Lord Cornbury — His demand for a permanent salary rejected by the assembly — Cornbury's illegal proceedings — Opposed by Lewis Morris and Samuel Jennings — The assembly wait upon Cornbury with a remonstrance — His response — Retort of the assembly — Conduct of Cornbury censured by the English ministry — His removal — Imprisoned by his creditors — Popular administration of Lovelace — His death — Ingoldsby deputy-governor — War between France and England — Capture of Port Royal 98

Chapter IX

Arrival of Governor Hunter — His speech to the assembly — His popularity — Invasion of Canada advocated by Nicholson — Organization of the provincial levies — Disastrous failure of the expedition — Treaty of Utrecht — Quaker difficulties in New Jersey — Opposition against Hunter — His success — Provincial demonstrations of regard — Burnet appointed governor — His removal to Massachusetts — Montgomery governor — Petition for a separate government — Administration of Crosby — Of Hamilton — Separation of the Jerseys from the government of New York — Morris commissioned governor — Rapid decline of his popularity — Maintains the royal prerogative — War declared between England and France — Shirley plans an expedition against Louisburg — Sharp controversy between Morris and the Assembly — Death of Morris — Succeeded by Hamilton — Feeble and abortive attempt to invade Canada — Peace of Aix-la-Chapelle Page 109

Chapter X

Belcher governor — Revival of quit-rent disputes — A commission of inquiry ordered by the crown — Claims of France to the Ohio valley — Mission of George Washington to Fort Le Boeuf — The works commenced at the forks of the Ohio seized by the French — Washington ordered to protect the Virginia frontier — Skirmish and death of Jumonville — Formal declaration of war — A plan of colonial confederation proposed — Rejected by the provinces and the Board of Trade — Campaign of 1755 — Defeat of Braddock — Victory of Lake George — Alarm of the colonies — Indian incursions — Campaign of 1756 —Loudoun appointed commander-in-chief — Descent of Montcalm on the forts at Oswego — Treaty with the Dela waxes 117

CHAPTER XL

Increase of British power in the colonies — Subordination of colonial oflBcers — Indignation in Pennsylvania and New Jersey — Campaign of 1757 — Co-operation of New Jersey — Expedition against Louisburg — Inactivity of Loudoun at Halifax — Energetic movements of Montcalm — Siege of Fort "William Henry — Surrender of Munro — Attempted massacre of the prisoners — Heroic conduct of Montcalm — Alarm of General Webb — Death of Governor Belcher — Campaign of 1758 — Masterly arrangements of Pitt — Hearty response of the colonies — Capture of Louishurg — Repulse of Abercrombie before Ticonderoga — Fort Frontenac taken by Bradstreet — Evacuation of Fort Duquesne — Indian council at the forks of the Delaware — Campaign of 1759 — Invasion of Canada projected — Ticonderoga and Crown Point abandoned by the French — Surrender of Fort Niagara — Capture of Quebec — Peace of Fontainebleau — Change of governors in New Jersey — Indian outrages. Page 130

Chapter XII

Colonial expenditures during the war — Project to tax America — Obnoxious to the colonists — Unanimity of the provinces — Stamp Act proposed — Remonstrance of the colonies — Stamp Act passed — Spirited resolutions of Virginia — National Congress recommended — Disapproved of by the New Jersey house — Indignation of the people against their representatives — House again convenes at Amboy — Delegates appointed to the Congress — Petition and remonstrance forwarded to England — New Jersey stamp-distributor resigns — Stamp Tax repealed — Party lines drawn — Opposition to the Quartering Act — Townsend's tax bill passed — Agitation in the colonies — Language of the New Jersey house — Non-importation agreements — Violated by New York traders — Their reception in New Jersey — Repeal of all taxes except the duty on tea — Popular tumults in Monmouth and Essex counties — Odious nature of the tax on tea — Rendered nugatory by non-importation agreements — Parliament endeavours to force tea into America — Tea destroyed at Boston and in New Jersey — Port of Boston closed — New Jersey people sympathize with their Massachusetts brethren — National Congress of 1774 — Battle of Lexington 143

CHAPTER XIIL

Affair of Lexington — Military activity of the provincials — Proceedings of Congress — Ticonderoga surprised by

Ethan Allen — Lord North's conciliatory plan rejected by New Jersey — Organization of the militia — Battle of Bunker Hiil — Evacuation of Boston by the British — Declaration of Independence — State of New Jersey formed — Livingston elected governor — New York menaced by Howe — Activity of Washington — Battle of Long Island — New York evacuated by the Americans — Capture of Fort Washington by the British — Retreat of Washington across the Jerseys — Condition of his troops — Meeting of the first state legislature — The American army crosses the Delaware — Capture of General Lee — Surprise of the Hessians at Trenton Page 157

Chapter XIV

Washington takes post at Trenton — Comwallis advances against him — Perilous situation of the American commander — His daring scheme to escape — Attacks and defeats the enemy at Princeton — Subsequent movements of the contending armies — Washington goes into winter quarters at Morristown — Inspiriting eflFect of the late victories — Outrages committed by the enemy — New Jersey militia take the field — Skirmishes near Springfield and Hillsborough — Washington's proclamation to the disafi"ected inhabitants — Exceptions taken to it — Legislature convenes — Difficulties in framing a new militia law — Non-resistance principles respected — Dissatisfaction of Livingston — "Council of Safety" appointed — Its extraordinary powers — Bill to confiscate the estates of Tories — Its favourable conditions — Plundering expeditions of the Tories from New York 168

Chapter XV

Opening of the campaign of 1777 — American stores at Peekskill destroyed — Skirmish at Boundbrook — Washington takes a strong position at Middlebrook — Howe's feint to draw him from his camp — Its ill success — Howe retreats to Amboy — Washington advances to Quibbletown — Howe returns to attack him — Is again foiled — Retires to Staten Island, and embarks for the southward — Perplexity of Washington in regard to his movements — Loyalists on Staten Island become troublesome — Sullivan's attempt against them — Howe lands at the head of Chesapeake Bay — Battle of Brandywine — "Wayne surprised at Paoli — Howe enters Philadelphia — Clinton ravages East Jersey — Battle of Germantown — American successes at the north — Movements on the Delaware — American works at Byllinsport captured — Defences near the mouth of the Schuylkill — Donop assaults Red Bank and is repulsed — Re-election of Livingston — Dickinson's attempt against the Staten Island Tories — Fort Mifflin evacuated and Red Bank abandoned — British in full possession of the Delaware — Skirmish near Gloucester Point — Washington goes into winter quarters at Valley Forge Page 179

Chapter XVI

Distress of the American prisoners in New York — Sufferings of the army — Measures taken by the state for their relief — Articles of confederation brought before the legislature of New Jersey — Alliance between France and the United Colonies — Objections of the legislature to the Articles of Confederation — British foraging party under Mawhood enters Salem county — Conflict at Quinton's Bridge — Gallant exploit of Andrew Bacon — British forces a second time repulsed at Quinton's Bridge — Americans massacred at Hancock's Bridge — Correspondence between Mawhood and Colonel Hand — British return to Philadelphia — Expedition against Bordentown — Narrow escape of Lafayette at Barren Hill — Clinton ordered to evacuate Philadelphia — He retreats across the Jerseys — Washington starts in pursuit — Battle of Monmouth Court House — Lee's conduct during the action censured — He is arrested, tried, suspended, and finally dismissed from the service 193

CHAPTER XVIL

D'Estaing arrives with a French fleet — Sullivan's unsuccessful attempt against Newport — Massacre of Baylor's cavalry regiment near Tappan — British expedition against Little Egg Harbour — Chestnut Neck burned — Pulaski's legion sixrprised in the vicinity of Tuckerton — New legislature elected — Livingston re-chosen governor — Articles of Confederation approved — French fleet sails for the West Indies — Campaign of 1779 — Difficulty with the Jersey brigade — Capture of Stony Point by the British — Recaptured by A^^ayne — Major Lee surprises the English garrison at Paulug Hook — Sullivan's expedition against the Indians of New York — Fierce partisan contest in New Jersey — Operations in the south — Financial difficulties of Congress — New Jersey legislature orders nine millions of dollars to be raised — Distress of the American army at Morristown — Washington's requisition upon New Jersey for supplies — Unsuccessful attack upon Staten Island Page 207

CHAPTER XVIIL

Campaign of 1780 — South Carolina invaded and overrun by the British — Discontent inWashington's army — Knyphausen lands at Elizabethtown Point — Marches toward Springfield — Burns the village of Connecticut Farms — Retires to the Point — Is joined by Clinton — Patriotism of the Rev, James Caldwell — He becomes obnoxious to the Tories — His wife is murdered by a refugee, during the attack on Connecticut Farms — He is shot by a sentinel at Elizabethtown Point — Clinton advances against Springfield — Is met by Greene — Springfield burned — Clinton retires to Staten Island — Arrival of Rochambeau — Gloomy opening of the year 1781 — Revolt of the Pennsylvania line — Part of the New Jersey brigade mutinies — Mutineers shot — Cornwallis in the south — Battle of Cowpens — Battle of Guilford Court House — Greene partially recovers South Carolina — Cornwallis enters Virginia — Fortifies himself at Yorktown — Is besieged by the allied armies, and the fleet under De Grasse — He capitulates — Prospect of peace — Tory outrages in New Jersey — Murder of Captain Huddy — Peace 219

CHAPTER XIX.

Embarrassed situation of the country — Conditional cession of public lands Iby Virginia — Objected to — Grounds of New Jersey's objection — Virginia withdraws her condition, and the cession is accepted — Federal imposts proposed — Favoured by New Jersey and other states — Defeated in conse- 2* quence of the opposition of New York — 111 feeling thus created — Embarrassing resolution of the New Jersey legislature — National convention recommended — Meets at Philadelphia — "New Jersey Plan" — "Virginia Plan" adopted — Constitution submitted to the states — Ratified by the New Jersey convention — Republican and Federal parties — Polities of New Jersey — Washington chosen president — His journey from Mount Vernon to New York — His reception at Trenton — Trenton established permanently as the capital of the state — Death of Governor Livingston — William Patterson governor — Is made an associate judge in the Supreme Court of the United States — Resigns the executive of New Jersey — Is succeeded by Richard Howell — New partisan differences — Alien and sedition laws — Decline of the Federalists — Joseph Bloomfield elected governor of New Jersey by the Republicans — Removal of the Brotherton Indians Page 232

CHAPTER XX.

Re-election of Bloomfield — Act for the gradual abolition of slavery — Aaron Burr — Sketch of his life — Origin of his quarrel with Hamilton — He kills Hamilton in a duel — Is indicted for murder by a New Jersey grand jury — His journeys to the West — His arrest, trial, and acquittal — His subsequent career and death — Is buried in the Princeton grave-yard — Difiiculties between the United States, England and France — British orders in council — Napoleon's retaliatory decrees — American Embargo Act — Continued aggressions of England — Affair of the Chesapeake — Hostilities declared — Exemption of New Jersey from invasion — Naval victories of Bainbridge and Lawrence — Death of the latter — American successes — Peace — Governors Aaron Ogden, William S. Pennington, Mahlon Dickerson — School fund created — Isaac H. Williamson governor — Act to expedite the extinction of slavery — Common schools established — Peter D. Vroom governor — Jacksonian and Whig parties — Governors Samuel S. Southard, Elias P. Seeley, Philemon Dickerson — Financial embarrassments — Triumph of the Whigs — William Pennington governor — Constitutional convention — New constitution ratified by the people — Governors Dan. Haines, Charles C. Stratton, George F. Fort — Present condition and prospects of the state — Conclusion 246

HISTORY OF mW JERSEY.

Chapter I

New Netherland — Traffic with the Indians — Settlement on Manhattan Island — Argall's visit to Manhattan — The States General grant commercial privileges to discoverers — Block explores the harbour of New Fork — Coasts with Christiaanse, Connecticut and Rhode Island — Manhattan Island fortified — May enters the Delaware Bay — Authorities appointed to govern IVew iVetherland — Alliance with the Iroquois — Increase of population at New Amsterdam — 'The Plymouth settlement — Dutch West India Company organized — A colony planted on the Delaware — Fort Nassau built — Administration of Minuits — Commercial prosperity of New Netherland — New plan for colonization adopted — Manors of Pavonia and Swanandael — De Vries's settlement at Hoarkill — Offence given to the Indians — Massacre of the colonists — Return of De Vries — Abandonment of the Swanandael purchase.

Although discovered by a navigator in the service of a Dutch company, the territory adjacent to the Hudson River was not formally claimed by Holland until after the lapse of several years. In 1610, a few merchants of Amsterdam fitted out a ship with various sorts of merchandise, and despatched it to the newlyfound lands, in order to open with its native inhabitants a traffic in furs, which were there both abundant and cheap. Success attending this venture, similar voyages became frequent, and trading-houses began to spring up on Manhattan Island, and at Beaverwyck, where Albany now stands.

Antagonistic as these establishments were to the pretensions of England, they did not long remain unnoticed by that country's agents in America. In November, 1613, Captain Argall, of Virginia, while returning from an unjust and useless expedition against the French in Acadia, visited the feeble trading-post at Manhattan, and compelled the Dutch to stipulate allegiance to Great Britain, tribute to Virginia, and the partial payment of his own expenses. But no sooner had Argall left the bay than the Dutch flag was again hoisted, and every thing went on as before.

In April following this occurrence, the States- General of Holland issued a decree, granting to such persons as should discover new lands, the right of exclusive trade to them for four successive voyages. In order to secure the benefits of this grant, a number of merchants entered into partnership, and fitted out five ships, the chief command of which they gave to Hendrick Christiaanse, with Captains Adrien Block and Cornelius Jacobsen May as his subordinates.

1613.] MAY ENTERS DELAWARE BAY. 21

Block was the first to reach the Bay of New York, where, his ship being accidentally destroyed by fire, he built a sniall yacht, and passed through the East River into Long Island Sound. Near Cape Cod he encountered Christiaanse, returning from Massachusetts Bay, and together they examined the shores of Connecticut and Rhode Island with considerable care and thoroughness.

Immediately on their arrival at Manhattan, a rude fort was erected on the southern extremity of the island ; and, in the following year, a small redoubt was thrown up on the opposite bank of the Hudson, probably at the present Jersey City Point.

May extended his researches farther south. Sailing along the eastern coast of New Jersey, he rounded the cape that now bears his name, and entered and explored the lower waters of Delaware Bay.

In the ensuing autumn a special grant was made to the merchants by whom Christiaanse had been employed, dignifying their simple partnership with the title of " The United New Netherland Company," and confirming the privileges promised by the previous decree of the States-General. It was now that the name New Netherland was first applied to that part of the continent lying between Cape Cod and the Delaware Bay. Christiaanse, as Upper Hoofdt, or chief-commander, "was placed at the head of affairs, with Jacob Elckens, at one time a merchant's clerk in Amsterdam, as his lieutenant.

These officers appear to have discharged the duties entrusted to them with judgment and tact. In the summer of 16^1 they concluded a formal treaty of peace and alliance with the Iroquois, or Five Nations, at which the Delawares and Mohicans were also present. This alliance was kept up for many years, and proved of the highest advantage. Meanwhile, settlers were gradually coming into the country, and the little station at Manhattan, which presently took the name of New Amsterdam, began to wear the appearance of a town. Attempts were likewise made to extend the colony ; and, in the year following the treaty with the Iroquois, a few traders planted the village of Bergen, the first of white settlements in New Jersey.

Although the charter of exclusive privileges, granted to the New Netherland company, had by this time expired, a brisk trade continued to be carried on with the settlement at Manhattan for several years, under special licenses to individual enterprise. The benefits of the lucrative traffic of the new country were thus opened to a larger number, but yet with little advantage to its growth into a permanent colony.

In the mean time, a body of English Puritans, who had fled from persecution at home to

1620.] THE PLYMOtTH SETTLEMENT. 23

the more tolerant institutions of Holland, becoming dissatisfied with their residence in the Low Countries, determined to seek some new land, where they might avoid the less austere manners of the Dutch, and still be free to practise and teach the faith they professed. The glowing description given by Sir AYalter Raleigh, of Guiana, first drew them toward that country; but, wishing to retain their national character and language, they finally decided upon procuring a patent for lands from the London or South Virginia Company.

Accordingly, on the 6th of September, 1620, after having completed their arrangements, they made their final embarkation at Plymouth, on board the Mayflower, for the new world. Their voyage was long and perilous. Bufi'eted about by adverse winds and currents, they were compelled to land a considerable distance north of where they intended, and entirely without the limits of the patent they held. Resolving to remain, however, on the 20th of December they began to erect their dwellings of hewed logs, and the town of New Plymouth quickly sprung up on the shore of Cape Cod Bay. The colonists soon after procured a charter from the Plymouth council, which had superseded the old company of that name, and to which the British crown had granted, in total disregard of the Dutch claim, all that part of the American continent, extending from the middle of New Jersey to the Bay of Chaleurs.

Designing to make the settlement on the Hudson the basis of a more extended American colonization, the States-General of Holland, in the year following the landing of the Pilgrims, authorized the formation of the celebrated West India Company, to the means of which they largely contributed, thus giving it the weight and character of a great national association.

To this company it was determined to commit the care of New Netherland, with an exclusive privilege of trade and settlement therein. That territory was at the same time formally erected into a province, to be known and distinguished by certain armorial insignia.

The new company sent out their first ship in 1623, under the command of May, with a number of colonists, and a large store of provisions, merchandise, and arms. Having landed a portion of his passengers and cargo at New Amsterdam, May sailed to the Delaware Kiver, where it was proposed to plant a colony. He chose a spot on the eastern shore, near the mouth of Timber Creek, a few miles below the present city of Camden, and there built Fort Nassau. Leaving a small body of men as a guard for the infant settlement. May returned to the Hudson, high up which Fort Orange was soon afterward built, on the present site of Albany.

1627.] COMMERCIAL PROSPERITY. 25

In the following year, Peter Minuits, a native of Wesel, in Westphalia, arrived at New Amsterdam, to act as governor, or commercial director of the colony. Under his administration, which lasted till 1631, affairs glided on smoothly, and, in a commercial point of view, prosperously. Lands were now purchased from the Indians ; among others, the whole of Manhattan Island, for sixty guilders, or about twenty-four dollars. The fort at New Amsterdam was enlarged, and that place made the capital of the colony. The trade of the province was extended, even to the Indians upon the St. Lawrence ; and in the first four years it increased one-half, while the income derived from it was full a third more than the outlay of the company.

In 1627, Minuits, for the first time, held communication with the Puritans, now firmly established at Plymouth, after six years of wearisome effort. Letters were sent to the governor of New Plymouth, congratulating him and his people upon the success of their adventure, and proposing a friendly intercourse and trade. Governor Bradford and his council answered in courteous language, expressing their lasting remembrance of the kindness they had received while in the native country of the Dutch. With regard to the proposal for commercial intercourse, they said that "it was very acceptable to them, and they did not doubt but that in a

26 HISTORY OF XEW JERSEY. [1628.

short time they might have profitable trade together." In concluding, however, they plainly intimated their doubt as to the validity of the title of their neighbours to the lands they were then occupying; and requested them ''to forbear to trade with the natives in the bay and river of Narraganset," as, " otherwise, they were resolved to solicit his majesty for redress, if by any means they could not help themselves."

To this the Dutch replied firmly, yet with unrufiled calmness, insisting upon the justness of their claim, and declaring their determination to uphold it.

The good feeling between the two colonies does not appear to have been interrupted by this difference ; for but a short time elapsed when De Razier, second in command at New Amsterdam, was sent, with much pomp and ceremony, as special envoy to the English. The Pilgrims were greatly pleased with the appearance and demeanour of the Dutch envoy, who, on his part, was equally gratified at the manner of his reception and entertainment. Yet he was unable to procure any definite treaty with the English, they urging that, in the then doubtful condition of the title to New Netherland, a matter so important should be arranged by the ministers of their respective nations.

As yet the colonization of New Netherland had increased but slowly. In 1629, a scheme to promote the peopling of the country was adopted by the directors of the West India Company, and sanctioned by the States-General. A charter of privileges and exemptions was drawn up, under which any person, who within four years planted in New Netherland a colony of fifty souls, above the age of fifteen, might acquire, by purchase from the Indians, as an " eternal heritage," and with the title of patroon, or lord of the manor, a tract of land extending sixteen miles along one side of a navigable stream, or half that distance on each bank, and reaching as far inland as he deemed necessary. With the approbation of the director and council of the province, all other persons, emigrating on their own account, were free to take up as much land as they could properly cultivate. The company was pledged to protect the colonists of every degree and condition, from '' outlandish and inlandish wars and powers," and to furnish the manors with negro slaves, if the traffic were found profitable. At the same time it reserved to itself the trade in furs, and monopolized the sale of woollen, linen, and cotton fabrics, by prohibiting their manufacture in the colony.