1667.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 89 



of the fort, (lid not meet with the approbation of Col. Nicolls. 

 In his report to the Secretary of State, he speaks dispara<:;ingly 

 of his selfish conduct in respect to the plunder, and particularly 

 of his presumption in appropriatinir "the prize to himself," and 

 of ''dispositui; of the confiseations of the houses, farmes and stocks 

 to whom he doth think fitt." The Col. soon visited the Delaware 

 to attend to the interests of his sovereign". Captain Robert 

 Needham was subsequently deputed to the command of the 

 Delaware.* 



With the change of masters, the name of New Amsterdam 

 was changed to New York^ and that of New Amstel to Netv 

 Castle. 



Even before the Duke of York had acquired tlie possession of 

 his American territory, he conveyed all that portion of it which 

 now constitutes the State of New Jersey, to Lord Berkley and 

 Sir George Carteret. At the time of the English conijuest of 

 the Delaware, the settlements on the east side of the river were 

 so few, that no notice is taken of them, in any account of the 

 transaction, that has come under my notice. 



Col. Nicolls acted as Governor of both New York and the 

 Delaware. The Swedes were benefited by the change in the 

 government, as under the new order of things, nearly all restric- 

 tions on their trade were removed. But independent of any pe- 

 cuniary advantage, they must have felt a secret satisfaction in 

 seeing their ancient enemies, the Dutch, humbled. 



Beavers still continued to be used as currency ; and in the pay- 

 ment for imported goods, the standard A'alue fixed on each 

 beaver, by the Governor, w\^s 8 guilders or 13s. 4d. The export 

 duty on beavers, was 10| per cent ; on tobacco, two cents per 

 pound.^ In 1666, an order was issued by Col. Nicolls granting 

 a temporary immunity from all duties, for the purpose of en- 

 couraging trade.^ 



In July of tliis year, an order was issued by the Court of 

 Assizes of New York, which applied to the country on tbe Dela- 

 ware, for a rencAval of all tlie old patents that had been granted 

 for land, and that those who had no patent should be supplied. 



Col. Nicolls performed the duties of Governor both of New 

 York and its dependencies on the Delaware, for about three 

 years. He was succeeded by Col. Francis Lovelace in May, 

 1667. Tlie administration of Nicolls was conducted with pru- 

 dence and judgment ; his efforts being especially directed to the 

 promotion of trade. There was no popular representation in the 

 government. " In the governor and his subservient council, 

 were vested the executive and the highest judicial powers ; with 



1 N. Y. Col. Doc. 70. 



2 Sec. State's office, Albany. Book "General Entries," i. 112. ^ jb, 143. 



