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CHAPTER XV. 



First Settlements in New York by the Dutch — Wars between the Dutch 

 and the English — Old Description of New Netherland and 

 New Amsterdam — Of the Country and its Natives — Inhabitants 

 — Their Customs — Vegetable and Animal Life — Mineral Ore — 

 Definitive Occupation of New Netherland and New Amsterdam 

 by the English — War of Independence — Treaty of Peace signed 

 by the English and the North Americans — Declaration of 

 Independence of the United States — George Washington 

 elected President of the United States. 



J HE first who entered the harbour of New York was 

 lH John Verrezani, in 1524, as I mentioned before. In 

 1609, Henry Hudson, an Englishman, in the service of the 

 Dutch East India Company, sailed from the Texel in the 

 frigate, Half Moon, with instructions to seek for a passage 

 from America to China. He landed first at Newfoundland, 

 and from that place, he continued southward and arrived at a 

 great river (the Hudson of to-day), which he ascended to a 

 good distance. On its banks, he met some men robed with 

 buffalo skins. From there, he returned safelv to Amsterdam. 

 The narrative of his expedition determined many Dutch 

 merchants to prepare several expeditions, with the object of 

 establishing firm settlements in that part of America, for 

 which purpose they obtained letters patent in 16 14, granted 

 to them by the States in the Hague : — That they might only 

 traffic to New Netherland, as the place was called by the 

 Dutch Government. In that same year a colony was sent 

 and a fort was erected on the western bank of the river, near 

 Albany, and its government was entrusted to Henry 

 Christaens. This feeble settlement was scarcelv established 

 when Sir Samuel Argal, Governor of Virginia, came to 

 dispute them possession of the land. And although they 

 pleaded that they had bought all Hudson's rights and interests 

 in the country, as well as all his maps, they obliged the Dutch 

 Governor to surrender his command, and pay a tribute to 

 the government of Virginia. The States of Holland, fearing 

 to offend a new and powerful ally, submitted to those terms 

 for a while ; but soon after, a new governor, Jacob Elkin, was 



