1G40.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. '25 



Indian title to our lands, — a policy first introduced by the Dutch 

 as a matter of exjjediency, and subserjuently adopted by William 

 Penn on the score of strict justice to the natives. 



But it cannot be contended, that in accordance with national 

 law, this purchase from the natives, gave to the Swcilish govern- 

 ment any legal claim to the country. They had no hujal right 

 to make purchases from the Indians. To the Dutch, as discover- 

 ers of the river, belonged the right of pre-emption, or if any 

 doubt existed on this point, it would be in favor of the English. 

 As against the Swedes, the Dutch claim rested not only on dis- 

 covery, but the exercise of preemption and occupancy. 



The Rev. Reorus Torkillus, accompanied the Swedish expedi- 

 tion and remained with the Colony at Christina as its pastor, 

 ■where he died about five years afterwards. The Dutch who had 

 a small garrison at Fort Nassau at the time of the arrival of the 

 Swedes, continued to maintain it there, as well for the purposes 

 of trade, as to keep a strict watch on the movements of the new 

 comers, of which Director Kieft was kept constantly advised. It 

 is from his rather ill tempered communications' to the West India 

 Company that we have the little that is known in respect to the 

 Christina Colony, for the next two years. 



In 1G39 they had so much interfered with the Dutch trade on 

 the river, as to reduce it to "a small amount," and "by under- 

 selling, had depressed, and continue still, to keep down the 

 market." Up to October of that year, the Dutch trade had " fal- 

 len short full 30,000 (beavers,)" but hopes were entertained, 

 '^ that they must soon move off, if not reinforced.'" The location 

 of Fort Cliristina was not very favorable to health, and it is pro- 

 bable that the despondency incident to ill-health had something 

 to do with the projected removal of the Colony. That it did not 

 happen was owing to the timely arrival of fresh settlers, we learn 

 from a letter of Director Kieft, dated the last of May, 1640, of 

 which the following is an extract. 



" The Swedes in the South river were resolved to move off and 

 to come here. A day before their departure a ship arrived with 

 a reinforcement.'"- The same in substance is repeated in another 

 letter from the Dutch Director, dated on the 15th of October, 

 following. This timel}' arrival at once revived the confidence of 

 the Colony, and blasted the hopes of the Dutch. 



On the 24th of January, 1040, a passport was granted by the 

 Swedish government to " Captain Jacob Powellson, with the 

 vessel under his command, named Fredenburg, laden with men, 



' N. Y. Col. Doc. i. 592. For a translation fnun '' Beschrijving Van Virginie, Neiu 

 Nederland. Ac.'" publi?hed at Amsterdani in 1051, of an account of the first settlement 

 of the Dntuh and Swedes on the Delaware, see llaz. Reg. i. 4. 



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