New York and its institutions, 1609-1871.

Front matter

j^EW YOKK

AND ITS

INSTITUTIONS

Contents

en AFTER I.

PAGE

Early History of Manhattan 17

CHAPTER II. English Colonial History 36

Successful Administration of Colonel Nicols 36

Recapture of Manhattan by the Dutch 37

The Career and Tragic End of Leisler, the People's Choice. 39

Captain Kidd, the iSTe-w York Pirate 46

Rip Van Dam 52

The Trial and Triumph of Liberty 54

The Negro Plot of 1741 60

Triumph of the Anglo-Saxon 65

Ti-oublous Times Approaching 68

OHAPTEE III.

Important Incidents op the Revolution, and later History OF New York 72

XU CONTENTS.

PAGF

New York Government at Sea 72

Plot to Assassinate Washington 73

Shocking Barbarity of English Officers 74

Hale and Andre, the Two Spies 80

Arnold in New York 84

British Evacuation 89

The Burr and Hamilton Tragedy of 1804 90

Eobert Fulton, and the " Clermont " 96

Public Improvements of 1825 98

CHAPTER ly.

New York As It Is 101

1. Description of the Island 101

2. Population at Different Periods , . 103

3. Streets and Avenues of New York 105

The Plan, the Pavements, and the Modes of Travel.

WaU Street.

Broad Street.

Broadway.

Fifth Avenue.

The Boulevard.

4. The Architecture 114

Hotels. Astor House, Fifth Avenue, St. Nicholas, Grand

Central.

Cooper Institute.

Academy of Design.

Theaters.

The Astor Library.

American Bible House.

Publishing Houses.

The Park Bank.

Life Lisurance Buildings.

The City HaU.

The New York Court House.

The New York Post Office.

Stores. Stewart's, Claflin's, Lord & Taylor's, Tiffany's, etc

5. Business in New York 131

Causes of Business Failure.

Business in Real Estate.

Classes of Rich Men.

Politicians.

f

CONTENTS. XUl

PAcni!

Speculators and Stock Gamblers.

Success of Great Men.

6. The Churches of New York 142

Reformed Dutch.

Protestant Episcopal.

Lutheran.

Presbyterian.

Baptist Methodist.

Jews.

Roman Cathohcs. . Other Denominations and Missionary Societies.

7. Parks and Squares 158

8. How New York is supplied with Water 166

10. Public Security 180

MetropoUtan PoUce Department.

Metropohtan Fire Department.

The Health Department.

Quarantine Department.

Maritime Defences.

United States Navy Yard.

11. New York in Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter. 198

12. The Libraries, Monuments, and Markets of New York. 206

13. The Cemeteries of New York 214

The Early Cemeteries.

New York Bay.

Greenwood.

Cypress Hills.

Evergreen.

Calvary.

Wood Lawn.

CHAPTER V.

Institutions op Manhattan Island and Westchester Co. 281 Asylums 281

1. New York Institution for the Deaf and Dumb 281

2. Institution for the Improved Instruction of the Deaf

and Dumb 287

3. The New York Institution for the Blind 289

4. Bloomingdale Asylum for the Insane 294

5. The New York Orphan Asylum 299

XIV CONTENTS.

PAGE

6. The Colored Orphan Asylum 302

7. Orphan Home and Asylum of the Protestant Episcopal

Church in New York 305

8. The Sheltering Arms 308

9. The Eoman Catholic Orphan Asylum 312

10. New York Asylum for Lying-in Women 315

11. New York Magdalen Benevolent Asylum 317

12. Society for Half-Orphan and Destitute Children 321

13. The Leake and Watts Orphan House 325

14. The New York Juvenile Asylum 328

15. The House of Mercy (Protestant Episcopal) 333

16. Hebrew Benevolent and Orphan Asylum Society..,, 336

17. House of the Good Shepherd 339

18. St. Barnabas House 341

19. The Institution of Mercy (Roman Catholic) 344

20. Orphan Asylum of St. Vincent De Paul 347

21. Society for Destitute Roman Catholic Children 349

22. New York Foundling Asylum (Roman Catholic) 354

23. The Shepherd's Pold 356

24. Woman's Aid Society and Presbyterian Home for

Training Young Girls 357

25. St. Joseph's Orphan Asylum 359

Hospitals and Infirmakies 360

1. The Roosevelt Hospital 360

2. The Presbyterian Hospital 364

3. St. Luke's Hospital 367

' 4. New York Hospital 371

5. The Hospital of St. Francis 374

6. St. Vincent Hospital 375

7. German Hospital and Dispensaiy 379

8. Mount Sinai Hospital 382

9. Bellevue Hospital 386

10. The Nursery and Child's Hospital 389

11. New York Eye and Ear Infirmary 394

12. The Woman's Hospital of the State of New York. . . 399

13. Institution for the Ruptured and Crippled 403

14. House of Rest for Consumptives 408

15. New York Infirmary for Women and Children 410

CONTENTS. XV

paoe:

16. New York Medical College and Hospital for Women. . 413

17. The Hahnemann Hospital 415

18. The Stranger's Hospital 417

19. The New York Ophthalmic Hospital 419

20. The New York Aural Institute 419

21. Manhattan Eye and Ear Hospital 421

Homes 423

1. Association for the Relief of Respectable Aged Indi-

gent Females 423

2. Ladies' Union Aid Society of the M. E. Church 426

3. American Female Guardian Society and Home for the

Friendless 430

4. The Home for Incurables 434

5. Samaritan Home for the Aged 436

6. The Colored Home 439

7. The St. Luke's Home 442

8. The Presbyterian Home 446

9. Union Home and School for Children of our Volunteer

Soldiers and Sailors 449

10. The Female Christian Home 452

11. The Home for Friendless Women 453

12. Women's Prison Association of New York (The I. T.

Hopper Home) 457

13. Roman Catholic Home for the Aged 461

14. Chapin Home for the Aged and Infirm 462

15. Baptist Home for the Aged 463

16. Home for Aged Hebrews 464

17. Ladies' Christian Union, or Young Woman's Home. . 467

18. Hotel for Working Women (A. T. Stewart's) 470

19. The Water Street Home for Women 471

Missions, Industrial Schools, and Miscellaneous Societies 477

1. The Five Points Mission 477

2. The Five Points House of Industry 483

3. Woman's Boarding House 486

4. The Howard Mission and Home for Little Wanderers. 488

5. The Midnight Mission 492

6. Wilson's Industrial School 494

7. The New York House and School of Industry 497

XVI CONTENTS.

PAGE

8. The Children's Aid Society 499

9. Society for tlie Employment and Relief of Poor "Women. 604

10. New York Association for Improving the Condition of

the Poor 505

11. Young Men's Christian Association 508

12. New York Prison Association 511

Prisons and Dispensaries 514

1. The City Prisons 514

2. The New York Medical Dispensaries 519

CHAPTEK Yl.

Institutions op Blackwbll's Island 523

1. The Islands and the Authorities 523

2. The Hospitals of Blackwell's Island 527

3. The New York Penitentiary 531

4. The New York Almshouse 536

6. The New York Workhouse 541

6. The New York Lunatic Asylum 545

CHAPTER yn.

Institutions of Ward's Island 551

1. The Buildings of the Commissioners of Emigration. ..551

2. The New York Inebriate Asylum 557

CHAPTER YIII.

Institutions of Randall's Island 562

1. The New York Nurseries 562

! Buildings for the Healthy Children.

Infant Hospital.

Idiot School and Asylum.

2. Society for the Reformation of Juvenile Delinquents 568

CHAPTER IX.

Institutions on Hart Island . . 572

The Industrial School, and the School-Ship "Mercury".. 572

CHAPTER X.

New York Institutions on Staten Island 578

1. Sailors' Snug Harbor 578

2. Seamen's Fund and Retreat 582

/|,;iT:iiiiiiiii,i'iiiniiniflf"l *i77 ~i ' t ^

NEW YORK AND ITS INSTITUTIONS.

CIIAPTErt I.

EARLY HISTORY OF MANHATTAN.

rilE GREAT METROPOLIS — ORIGINAL INHABITANTS OF MANHATTAN

THE ADVENT OF THE. WHITE MAN THE FIRST GRAVE — HUDSON

EXPLORES THE RIVER FOUNDING OF THE DUTCH DYNASTY PETER

MINUITS, THE FIRST GOVERNOR — WOUTER VAN TWILLER — WILLIAM KEIFT PETER STUYVESANT, THE LAST OF THE DUTCH GOVER- NORS THE SURRENDER OF THE DUTCH DYNASTY MANNERS AND

CUSTOMS.

THE GREAT IVIETROPOLIS.

I — 1 "~" '^^v YEW YOEK is the most populous, wealthy, and splendid city on the American continent. Its location, climate, surroundings, and connections have all ^ l»cen favorable to its growth and greatnes-. ]' r^i It stands on the little island called by the I Indians Manhattan, but Brooklyn, Williamsnirgh, Greene Point, Jersey City, BLoboken, Yonp^ I - -^; ,, Ivcrs, and Tarry town, are but its suburbs, containing ISX^fe' ^'^6 residences of its laborers, clerks, and merchant JM^fel pi-inces, 'Among the earliest localities to feel the tread of the European stranger, it has through all its history been deservedly popular as a landing depot, and now receives fully five-sevenths of all entering the country. About live thousand vessels annually enter its bay, which is sufficiently broad and deep to anchor the collected navies of the world. Its imports and exports are more than fifty per cent of the whole United States, and amount to five hundred million dollars per annum ; while the aggregate trade of the city reaches nearly four thousand millions. Nearly three hundred railroad trains make daily communication with its suburbs. The taxable property of the island reported at less than half its value reaches nearly a thousaud millions, and the annual tax about twenty-five millions. New York is the great storehouse of the nation's wealth, the centre of its financial operations, and of its political, industrial, economic, scientific, educational, benevolent, and religious enterprises. New York furnishes most of the newspapers, periodicals, books, pictures, models of statuary, architecture, machinery, and handicraft, for the numerous great States clustered around it, and for the broad Canadas. There is poverty in Nevv^ York, deep and squalid ; but it is offset by wealth, countless and dazzling. There is ignorance here, profound and astonishing; but there is learning also, brilliant and extensive as can be found on the globe. There are sinners in New York, black and guilty, as ever disgraced the world ; but there are saints also, spot- •less and benevolent, as ever adorned the Church of God. All extremes meet in this great metropolis. Here are the denizens of every land, the babblings of every tongue, the productions of every clime, the inventions of every craft, and the ripened fruit of every desire. At a single glance can be seen, as in a vast mirror, pictures of age and infancy, beauty and deformity, industry and indolence, wealth and beggary, vice and sanctity.

New York, with its immense libraries, art galleries, daily press, literary associations and lectures, its benevolent institutions, and architectural wonders, is one of the richest fields of human culture in the known world. There is on every hand something to interest, please, and profit everybody, of whatever country, talent, or temperament. It is a luxury to tarry in New York, though it be but for a month, a week, or a day,

ORIGINAL INHABITANTS OF MANHATTAN.

to listen to the rninble of its wlieels, the whistle of its eni^ines, the clicking of its telegraphs, the voice of its orators, the chime of its bells, the strains of its music, and the roar of its artillery. Whose inind is not enlarged as he contemplates the progress of its growth, the rush of its improvements, and the majestic sweep of its commerce? Who can stand upon its elevated observatories and closely contemplate its leagues of solid masonry, everywhere thronged with immortals as important and hopeful as himself, without such emotions as he never experienced before? Who can press through the whirl of its daily activities, without thinking of eternity ; through its neglected sinks, without thinking of pandemonium ; or its cultivated parks, without thinking of paradise ? All do not live in New York, nor can they ; yet every thoughtful American should visit it, snuff its ocean breezes, contemplate its massive piles, peep into its institutions, and gather inspiration from the rush of its activities. For any who wish to visit it, or who do not, this book has been written. To obtain a correct and adequate knowledge ■of New York, let us begin at the foundation.

ORIGINAL INHABITANTS OF JIANHATTAN.

iind 1 rfOR many ages Manhattan lay buried in these western solitudes, separated by a wide and stormy ocean from all the bustling activities of the civilized world. During a long period it is now known to have been the favorite resort of the Indians of the Hudson i-iver country who gathered here in vast numbers, built their rustic viland spent the summer months in lishing, baking clams, untinir. Centuries before civilization found its way to these shores, the broad bay now whitened with the sails of a hundred nations was dotted with the canoes of an ingenious race, whose history is now too nearly obliterated. Their lands they owned in common, the only divisions being between the different tribes. Their habitations were constructed of saplings and bark, with no windows, floors, or chimneys. Their villages were located on spots of ground naturally clear of wood, and contained from twenty to several hundred families, which in time of war they surrounded with a fence or stockade. To agriculture they gave no attention, save the planting of Indian corn, beans, peas, and pumpkins. Both sexes were exceedingly fond of display in dress, illustrating the old saying, that " man in robes or in rags is a proud little animal." The Indian women wore long, black hair, plaited and rolled up behind, where it was fastened with a band. Their petticoats were ornamented with exquisite taste and skill, and would bring a fine sum in our day. This garment hung from a belt or waist-girdle made of dressed deer-skin, highly ornamented with Indian money called sewant. Pendants hung upon their foreheads, necks, and arms, and handsomely trimmed moccasins adorned their feet.

The men were no less attentive to dress. Upon their shoulders they hung a mantle of deer-skin, with the fur next their bodies, while the outside of the garment displayed a variety of designs in paint. The edges of the mantle were trimmed with swinging points of fine workmanship. Their lieads were variously ornamented ; some wearing feathers, and others different articles of a showy character. Their necks and arms displayed ornaments of elaborate workmanship. They painted themselves in a variety of colors according to their peculiar tastes, rendering their appearance grotesque and frightful. They were tall and slender, had blacic or brown eyes, snow-white teeth, a cinnamon complexion, and were fleet and sprightly. They had no care but to provide for present subsistence and secure pleasure. They were very superstitious, believing in dreams, signs, and various omens.

THE ADVENT OF THE WHITE MAN.

They had crude notions of the Great Sj)irit and the Spirit L'lnd. When one died they placed his body in a grave in a sitting posture, shielding it from contact M'ith the earth by a covering of boughs, and from the wild beasts by a burden of stone and earth. Byhis side in the grave was also placed his implements of war and pleasure, some money and food to serve him on his journey to the Sjnrit Land. The science of war was his greatest accomplishment, and to die without any <;lis|)lay of weakness or fear, his highest virtue. Oratory was considerably cultivated among them. When first discovered their manners and habits contrasted so strangely with everything in Europe, that they Avere supposed to possess few, if indeed any, of the affections and higher emotions of humanity, but to be more closely allied to tlie lower orders of creation. Time has, however, shown their native i-egard for integrity and h(;nor, and under the appliances of mental and moral culture, the Indian head and heart have proved capable of high attannnents.

THE ADVENT OF THE WHITE MAX.

HE wants of the race had fairly out- ,^^ grown the cai)acities of the East. An J accession of new ideas was demanded; human liberty could not be realized amid the crushing despotisms of the Old World, and benevolence, the divinest grace of the soul, languished for want of a broader theatre on which to work out and exhibit its sublime developments. Divine Providence opened the gates to this western world. Varrazzani, a Florentine in the em]>loy of the Frencli Government in the sixteenth century (1525), is believed to have been the first white man who sailed through the Narrows, and looked upon the placid waters of the New York bay and its green islands. In 1609 Henry Hudson, an intrepid English navigator in the employ of the Dutch East India Company^ sailed from Europe in search of a northwest passage to the East Indies. The vessel in which he sailed was a yacht, called the " Half Moon," of about eighty tons burthen, and would be considered a very diminutive thing for an explorer in our day, when canal boats carry three hundred and fifty tons. His crew consisted of fifteen or twenty sailors, partly of Dutch and partly of English birth. He traversed the American coast from Xewfoundland to the Chesapeake bay, and then turned again northward to explore more carefully the country thus passed. On the 2d of September he rounded Sandy Hook, and on the 4th he anchored near the Jersey shore in the south bay. As the waters swarmed ^vith fish, a boat was lowered to catch some, and the crew is believed to have landed on the foam-fringed beach of C-oney Island, and to have been the first white men vrho ever set foot on the soil of the Empire State.

It is not wonderful that Hudson forgot his mission, and I)ecame enchanted witli the gorgeous scenery everywhere spread out before liim. Majestic forests, that had slumbered on through the solitudes of the ages, waved on the shores ; the little hills were crowned with grass and a variety of fragrant flowers; the waters swarmed with finny tribes, while birds of strange plumage and song flitted through the air. A hitherto unknown race, with strange manners and showy trappings, came to his ship in their canoes with corn and other vegetables, for which they received from the generous commodore axes and shoes, which they hung about their necks for ornaments.

THE FIRST GRAVE.

Hudson continued at his anchorage al)out a week, and on the 6th of the month dispatched a boat to explore the harbor. The little crew passed through the l^arrows and took a view of the green hills of Manhattan, after which it sailed out toward Newark bav. On tlieir return an unfortuiiate collision

HUDSON EXPLORES THE KIVEE. 23

occurred between the party and the natives, and an Eui^lish sailor named John Coleman was struck in the neck by an arrow and killed. Two others were wounded, Coleman had long been associated with Hudson on the seas, and his death was greatly regretted. It is probable that the sailors were the lirst aggressors. A grave was dng on Sandy Hook, and on the 9th of September he was mournfully interred, and the spot has since been known as Coleman's Point.

HUDSON EXPLORES THE RIVER.

On the 11th of September Hudson sailed through the Narrows, and after anchoring one day in the New York bay proceeded up the river to the present site of Albany, hoping to find the long-sought passage to the East Indies. Unwilling to believe he had reached the head of navigation, he despatched a party to sound the river higher up. They proceeded eight or nine leagues, and finding but seven feet of water they returned with the unwelcome intelligence. The voyage up the river, though a disappointment, was a pleasant excursion. The rocky Palisades, lofty Highlands, and the majestic curves of the sweeping silver current, appear to have lingered long in the minds of these bold adventurers. The natives gave them a friendly reception, spreading befoi-e them the best the country afforded.

The country was indeed rich. Hudson declared that in one Indian village he saw a quantity of corn and beans sufficient to fill three ships, and that the neighboring fields were Iturdened with luxuriant crops.

Two unfortunate occurrences in this voyage tarnish the character of Hudson and his crew. They communicated to the red man the fatal, intoxicating bowl. Sailors must always have a revel while on shore, and one occurred during their stay at Albany— the first on the banks of that beautiful river. Secondly, he had rudely captured while at Sandy Hook two natives, whom he designed to carry with him to Holland. lK)tli escaped on his passage up the river, (m- at

24: NEW YOKK AND ITS INSilTUTIONS.

their drunken carousal, aud with manly courage collected their forces to resent this breach of faith on his return. A fleet of well-filled canoes at Spuyten Duyvil attacked and attempted to board the vessel. A nuisket shot from the ship killed one native and scattered the rest. Opposite Washington lleio-hts the attack was renewed as the vessel floated down

'HAIF MOUN ASCliNLUMt 111 the stream. Another vollev of musketry stretched nine more in the c.ld embrace of death, after> which they desisted. The thunder of the white man's weapon, and the deadly plun-e of his missile, was more than they could understand. A little caution and moderation would have saved tliese stains from that otherwise brilliant record of this peerless navigator. On the 4th of October Hudson set sail for Holland, to make known the facts of his wonderful discover^y.

FOrNDING OF THE DUTCH DYNASTY. 25

FOUNDIXG OF THE DUTCH DYXARTT.

7UDSON had scarcely made known the - fj results of his voyage in Holland, ere

^^^J_[^ ti-ading vessels were fitted out by the enterprising merchants, and despatched to these shores to reap the golden liarvest held out in the valuable fur trade. These experiments were highly successful, and agents were stationed here to continue tlie business during tlie absence of the ships. These agents established their lieadquarters on the southern point of Manhattan Island. The '• United New Netherland Company," composed of a number of merchants, was chartered in 1614, for a brief period, and in 16'21 the "West India Company,'' larger and riclier than the former, was permanently incor];orated. This great company was invested with nearly all the prerogatives of a general government. They were allowed t(") appoint their own governors, settle the ends and foi-ms of administi'ative justice, make treaties, enact laws, and were granted the exclusive control of trade on the whole American coast. In 1623 a stanch vessel (tlie "New Netherland," which continued her trips regularly for more than thirty years) brought over thirty families to begin a colony These were landed at Albany, and a settlement began. Two years later (1625) another company came over in two ships, bringing horses, cattle, sheep, swine, agricultural implements, and seed grain, and ])egan a settlement on Manliattan. Tlie first fort was erected in 1615 by the traders, and stood in the rear of the present Trinity church, on the bank of the river, the tides then reaching where the western wall of the churchyard now stands. In 1751 some workmen digging in the bank in the rear of the church, discovered a stone wall which was afterwards ascertained to be the remains of the long-forgotten fort. In 1623 1 new fort, a block-house, was constructed a little south of what is now the Bowlinnr Green, which served the matter of defence for ten years.

PETER MLNTJITS, THE FIEST GOVERNOR.

The affairs of the colony having become sufficiently important to reqnire the presence of a director-general, Peter Miuuits, of Westphalia, was appointed in 1624, and immediately assumed the reins of government. To conciliate the Indians he purchased the entire island of Manhattan for twenty-four dollars. The Governor established his residence in the block-house, around which he erected strong palisades The imports into the colony in 1624 amounted to ^10,61)4^ and the exports, wholly of skins and furs, amounted to $V ,000, In 1631, the last year of his administration, the imports wcra $23,000, and the exports $27,204. During the administration of Minuits the rival claims to territory between the English and the Dutch were started, but no adjustment was reached. Minuits, having been recalled by the company, waa in April, 1633, succeeded by

WOUTER VAN TWILLER.

Yan Twiller was a relative of Mr. Van Rensselaer, one of the principal directors of tlie company, and whose descendants have been exteusive landholders in America. It was this relationship that secured him his appointment, he having been previously but a clerk for the company. In person he is described as close-jointed, short, and exceedingly corpulent. As some one has said, "He looked as if Dame Nature had designed him for a giant, but changed her mind." His administration was marked by the rebuildiug of the fort on a greatly enlarged scale ; by the purchase from the Indians of "Nut" (now Governor's) Island; also two in the East river above Hurl Gate, now known as Ward's and Eandall's Islands. Everardus Bogardus, the first cleigyman of Man

WILLIAM KEIFT, THE TIIIKD GOVERNOR. 27

hattan whose name has come down to us, is believed i'> have come over in the ship with the Governor, Daring this reign the first church edifice was erected. It M^as a wooden structure, and stood on Pearl street, near Broad. Adam Roelandsen, the first schoolmaster, was introduced about the same time. The town was but a hamlet of thatched buildings at that period. Hundreds of painted savages still roamed over the island, pursuing game through the tangled woodlands, and grew their vegetables in its mellow deposits. A steady trade with them was continued, in which they exchanged their furs and vegetables, receiving too often gin, rum, or glass beads in return. Indeed, one has well said, " The kindhearted Dutchmen had conceived a great friendship for their savage neighbors, on account of their being pleasant men to trade with, and little skilled in the art of makina: a bargain."

DO

WILLIAIVI KEIFT, THE THIRD GOVERNOR.

The ship "Herring" arrived at Manhattan on the 2Sth of March, 1638, bringing the newly appointed Governor. The affairs of the colony had progressed but slowly. It had been founded by a company of merchants, who weighed everything from a financial standpoint; high tariffs were laid upon the industry of the settlers, which produced dissatisfaction and led to frequent alter(;ations between the people and the authorities. They were held together, however, by the fear of a savage enemy constantly prowling around them. Keift's administration continued nine years, and became unpopular and unprofitable to the comj)any in consequence of the Indian war, into which he was unfortunately drawn. The first advance toward popular government was, however, taken under his administration. The people were allowed to elect eight representatives to assist the Governor in administering the affairs of the colony. Building lots were then first granted the citizens. In 1642 a stone tavern Avas erected on what is now Pearl street, which afterwards became the Citv Hall. A stoiie cliurcli was also erected in the south-east corner of the fort. Governor Keift, having been relieved from office, set sail for Holland in the ship " Princess," July, 1647. Several prominent persons were on board, among whom was Dominie Bogardus, who had married a wealthy widow on Manhattan, but had resolved to make one mure visit to the fatherland. The voyage proved disastrous. The pilot mistook the channel, entered the Severn, and wrecked his vessel on the coast of Wales. Of the one hundred persons on board but twenty were saved.

PETER STUTV^ESANT, THE LAST OF THE DUTCH GOVERNORS.

Success had not particularly crowned the undertaking of the company. It was computed that the West India Company had, between the years 1626 and 1644, expended upon the settlement over two hundred thousand dollars above all returns made to it, and that not more than one hundred men remained in the city, exclusive of the officers and employes of the company, at the close of the Indian war in 1645. Stuyvesant, it was hoped, would retrieve these losses, and secure the enlargement and stability of the town. He had been tlie director of the Dutch colony at Cura9oa, where, in a battle with the Portuguese, he had lost a leg. He was a brave man, with considerable breadth of mind and great force of character. He was also imperious, impatient of contradiction, absolute and despotic in his notions of government. He, however, excelled all his predecessors in efforts for the advancement of the colony, and the good of the people, among whom he settled after the English conquest, and remained a private and amiable citizen until the close of his life, leaving an honorable posterity not extinct at this day. His administration was characterized by great vigor, and the town soon exhibited marked improvements. As is usual, some of his subjects were pleased, and some dissatisUcd. Drunkenness and profanity were strictly prohibited, and no

PETER STUYVESANT, THE LAST DUTCH GOVERNOR. 29

liquors were to be sold to the Indians. Other abuses were speedily corrected. In 1648 he established a weeklymarket ; in 1(352 the city was regularly incorporated ; the next year the palisades on the line of AVall Street were erected, and in 1657 the streets were laid out and named. The population of the place had also wonderfully increased. But the martial tires of the old Governor still slumbered in his capacious frame, and waited an opportunity for an outburst. This was soon given. Three nationalities had established their colonies on these shores. The English in Virginia and Maryland, and on the eastern coast, had protested against the establishment of New Amsterdam, which divided their colonies. The Swedes established themselves on the banks of the Delaware, under the protest of the Dutch. The Swedes built Fort Christina as a matter of common defence, and the Dutch, to protect their own trade in that locality, erected in 1650 Fort Casimar, near the mouth cf the Brandywine, and iMit five miles from this Swedish fortification. Kegarding this an encroachment, the Swedish Governor in 1654 adroitly captured the fort, changed its name, disarmed and paroled the little garrison. The next year Stuyvesant received orders to recapture the fort, and drive the Swedes entirely from the river. This was a welcome message to the old M'arrior.

The whole force of Xew Amsterdam was soon ali<'at in seven ships of war, with the intrepid Go\ernor as commander, and the whole Swedish territory speedily capitidated. But the victorious Dutch had no time to rejoice over their successes. Two thousand armed savages, taking advantage of the defenceless state of the colony to avenge the shooting of a squaw some time previously, overran stuyvesant-s seal.