36 ^ AUTHENTIC HISTORY 



111 1649 the subject was resamed in a corresiioudence between Gov- 

 ernor Eaton, of New Haven, and Governor Stuyvesant, wliicli resulted 

 in the appointment of a joint commission, whose deliberations terminated 

 in leaving both parties at liberty to improve their interests on the Dela- 

 ware. On the strength of that decision the inhabitants of New Haven, 

 in the following year, fitted out a vessel carrying some 50 adventurers 

 to Delaware ; the vessel called at New York and Stuyvesant, apprized of 

 its destination, arrested and confined part of the crew, seized their com- 

 mission and papers and refused to deliver them "till they were forced to 

 engage under therr hands, then to proceed on their voyage towards 

 Delaware, — but to return to New Haven, threatening that if he should 

 after find any of them in Delaware, he would seize their goods and send 

 them prisoners to Holland."^ The New Haven people, nothing daunted 

 by these menaces, re-asserted their claims in a letter to the Dutch Gov- 

 ernor, which proved however as ineffectual as their former letters on that 

 matter. An application for aid against the Dutch, addressed to the 

 sister colony of Plymouth, was unsuccessful and the New Haven people 

 Avere compelled to remain at peace. Soon after the countrj^ was granted 

 to the Duke of York and their claims rested on grounds too feeble to be 

 arrayed against his title. 



"The governor of New Netherlands had always found the New Eng- 

 land colonists troublesome neighbors.^ Their encroachments had given 

 him much uneasiness. In the year 1653, they formed the design of 

 driving the Hollanders from the continent, and applied to Oliver Crom- 

 well for assistance. Although favorably disposed to this measure, the 

 Protector, perhaps deterred by more important objects, did not make any 

 efforts to accomplish it. After his death, his son Eichard instructed his 

 naval commanders and the colonial governments to make the attempt; 

 but the subversion of his ephemeral power prevented the execution of 

 his orders. Charles II., however, influenced by his enmity to the States 

 General, entered readily into the views of his trans-atlantic subjects. He 

 granted to James, duke of York, the territory possessed by the Dutch, 

 [March 20, 1664] and soon after. Colonel Eichard Nichols, associated 

 with George Cartwright, sir Eobert Carr, and Samuel Maverick, with 

 three ships having one hundred and thirtj^ guns and six hundred men, 

 aided by forces from Massachusetts and Connecticut, summoned Stuy- 

 vesant to surrender New Amsterdam and his Avhole province. 



"This formidable force, and the favorable terms offered to the inhabi- 

 tants, disposed them to capitulate, notwithstanding the efforts of the gov- 

 ernor to excite resistance. After a few days of fruitless negotiation, 

 during which Stuyvesant pleaded in vain the justice of the title of the 

 States General, and the peace existing between them and the English 

 1 Hazard. 2 Gordon . 



