10 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1620. 



Gustavus Adolplius, the reigning monarch of Sweden, through 

 ■whose wisdom and valor that nation had acquired an elevated 

 standing among the governments of Europe, now sought to con- 

 fer still further benefits upon his country by extending its com- 

 merce. Chiefly with this view, a charter was granted by him 

 for a Swedish West India Comijany} This company, which 

 was to go into operation on the 1st of May, 1627, and to con- 

 tinue twelve years, had every necessary power conferred upon it 

 for the establishment of a colony, with the promised aid of the 

 government, to a very liberal extent. William Usselinex, a 

 native of the low countries, represented as having spent much 

 time in seeking out new ports, and as being " the inventor in 

 Holland of the West India Company," had counselled and ad- 

 vised the adoption of the measure, and was to have a share in its 

 management. 



While these proceedings were in progress, the war in Germany 

 in which Gustavus became so largely engaged, postponed for a 

 time the project of Swedish colonization in America ; and his 

 death which happened in 1632, would have led to a total aban- 

 donment of the scheme, but for the persevering energy of his 

 renowned minister Oxenstiern. 



Seventeen years had now elapsed since the discovery of the 

 country by Hud^n, and yet but little had been accomplished to- 

 wards making it a permanent home for civilized man. The 

 whole population of Manhattan the seat of government, at this 

 period, was two hundred and seventy souls, consisting chiefly of 

 the officers and servants of the company w^th their families.^ 

 But few others resided elsewhere on the Hudson, and as has been 

 shown, no permanent establishment of any kind was maintained 

 on the Delaware. The trade of the country was, however, by no 

 means inconsiderable, the Delaware contributing a fair propor- 

 tion of it. The ship that carried to the "Fatherland" the news 

 of the purchase of Manhattan from the Indians, was freighted 

 with 7246 beaver skins, 853J otter skins, 81 mink skins, 36 

 wild cat skins, and 34 rat skins, besides a considerable quantity 

 of oak and hickory timber.^ But this was chiefly Indian trade 

 — a trade that must necessarily diminish in proportion to the 

 vigor with which it was prosecuted. 



Foreseeing this, and with the more prosperous colonies of the 

 English on either side of them, the settlement of the country 

 was determined upon by the Dutch as the only means by which 

 it could be saved from passing into other hands, while its trade 

 at the same time would be augmented. 



' For a translation into English of this Charter, see Haz. Ann. 16, <fcc. 



2 Wassenaer in Documentary Hist. N. Y. iii. 48. 



3 N. Y. Col. Doc. i. 37. 



