1623.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 7' 



a trade into these parts between 40 and 45 degrees, to w"*" after 

 their manner they gave their own names New Netherlands, a 

 South and a North sea, a Texel, a blieland and the like ; 

 whitlier they have ever since continued to send shipps of 30 

 and 40 Lasts,' at the most to fetch furres, w'^*' is all their trade; 

 for the providing of w""* they have certain factors there con- 

 tinually residents trading, w"" savages, and at this present 

 there is a ship at Amsterdam, bound for those parts, but I can- 

 not learn of anie Colonic eyther already planted there by 

 these people, or so much as intended." The letter of the 

 Ambassador communicating this information to the British 

 Government, is dated on the 5th of February, 1621. Sir Dudley 

 gives as an additional reason, why he arrived at the conclusion, 

 that the Dutch had not as yet planted a colony, that divers in- 

 habitants of this country (Holland,) had been suters to him to 

 procure them " a place of habitation amongst his Ma""^ subjects 

 in those parts," suggesting the improbability of these people 

 desiring to mingle among strangers, and to be under their govern- 

 ment, if they had settlements of their own. • 



He did not fail, however, to present to the States General, on 

 behalf of his government, a remonstrance against further com- 

 merce, by the Dutch, with the country in question, and to lay 

 before their High Mightinesses, the British claim thereto by right 

 of first occupation, (jurje primre occupationis.)^ 



This proceeding of the British Government was intended to 

 prevent their rights from being lost, rather than to enforce any 

 immediate claim. It was so regarded by the Dutch Government, 

 and particularly so by the West India Company, which now, 

 after having secured an amplification of their privileges, and 

 completed their preliminary arrangements, proceeded at once, to 

 carry out the very measures that had been so recently protested 

 against by the British Ambassador. They extended the com- 

 merce of the country, by building up establishments with the 

 view of securing its title to their government, and its trade to 

 themselves — the latter being always a paramount consideration 

 with the company. 



The West India Company, having by virtue of their charter,^ 

 taken possession of the country, they dispatched the ship Neto 

 Netherland with a number of people thereto, under the direction 

 of Captains Cornells Jacobson Mey, and Adriaen Joriz Tienpont. 

 Mei/ proceeded to the Delaware or South river, on the eastern 

 bank of which, fifteen leagues from its mouth, he erected fort 



' A last is nearly equal to two tons when applied to ships ; when applied to the 

 measure of grain, is equal to 80 English bushels. 



^ N. Y. Col. Doc. iii.8. 



3 For a translation of the charter at length, see Hist. New Netherland, Appendix B ; 

 Hazard's Historical Collections, i. 121-131. 



