1G50.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 75 



Tlie summer of 1658 was a season of great sickness and mor- 

 tality at New Amstel and the surrounding country. In a letter 

 from Alrichs to the cominissioners of the City Colony, dated 

 on the 10th of October of this year, he speaks of " two parcels 

 of the best land on the river on the west bank, the first of which," 

 he says, " is above Marietens hook, about two leagues along the 

 river and 4 leagues into the interior ; tlie second on a guess, 

 about 3 leagues along the same including Skuylkil, Passajonck, 

 Quinsessingh, right excellent land, the grants or deeds whereof 

 signed in original by Queen Christina, I have seen; they remain 

 here." He also expresses the belief that " the proprietors as 

 they style themselves, or those who hold the ground briefs," 

 would willingly dispose of these lands for a trifle, according to 

 their value or worth.' 



The documents connected with this period of the history of 

 the Delaware are very voluminous, but they relate chiefly to the 

 colony of New Amstel and its vicinity. The Swedes, who were 

 the exclusive occupants of the river higher up, were constantly 

 looked upon with suspicion, which was increased by their appli- 

 cation to be considered as neutrals in case of a difi"erence between 

 Sweden and the Netherlands. The Holland directors of the 

 Company regarded the application as "a bold proposal," and 

 condemned the appointment of Swedish officers made by Stuyve- 

 sant. The error was to be corrected by supplying their places 

 with officers of the Dutch nation, and the first favorable oppor- 

 tunity was to be embraced to disarm them, upon the least 

 symptom of disaff'ection. Even the Swedish sheriff" and commis- 

 saries were to be supplanted by Dutchmen at the expiration of 

 their terms, "to render their associations fruitless and to dis- 

 cover their machinations with more ease." "Fair means" were 

 also to be used to induce the Swedes to settle among the Dutch 

 inhabitants.^ 



The prosperous commencement of the City Colony was soon 

 followed by evils that almost threatened its dissolution. Sick- 

 ness, a scarcity of provisions and failure of crops, followed by a 

 severe winter, spread dismay and discontent among the people. 

 The arrival of additional settlers not properly supplied with pro- 

 visions greatly increased the prevailing distress. In the midst 

 of this general gloom, news arrived that the Burgomasters of 

 Amsterdam had changed the conditions on which the colonists 

 had agreed to emigrate, making them less favorable to the emi- 

 grants."* Discontent was increased, and many of the inhabitants 

 deserted to Maryland, carrying with them the news of the dis- 



1 N. Y. Col Doc. ii. 53. 



2 Haz. Ann. 252, as quoted from Albany Ree. iv. 291-292. 



3 N. Y. Col. Doc. ii. 57. 



