101 



been the fashion to speak of the Dutch colonial annals as dry 

 and unimportant ; and it is not to be denied, that the details 

 of colonization are usually meagre and uninteresting ; but in 

 opposition to the received opinion, I venture to predict, that 

 when the settlement and progress of the New-Netherlands, 

 with correct notices of its inhabitants, their institutions, prin- 

 ciples and manners, and of the consequences which have re- 

 sulted from their amalgamation with emigrants from Europe 

 and New-England, shall be embodied in classic story by a 

 philosophic pen, this portion of our history will be found to 

 comprise facts and topics of peculiar interest and importance. 



with that of the other states, the various incidents growing 

 out of the wars with the French and their savage allies — the 

 contests between the colonial assemblies and their governors 

 — the political parties which, from time to time, divided the 

 sentiments of the people — the opposition to the arbitrary poli- 

 cy of the parent country — and the measures preparatory to the 

 revolution. It is distinguished, by the peculiar condition of 

 society arising from the general prevalence of (he habits and 

 language of the first settlers, and by many events of local in- 

 terest, among which may be enumerated — the usurpation of 

 the government by Leisier, and the incidents which grew out 

 of it — the visit to our coast, and the proceedings whilst here, 

 of the renowned pirate, Captain Kidd — the contentions of the 

 leading religious societies — the struggle for the liberty of the 

 press in the case of Zenger — the disputes concerning the insti- 

 tution and powers of the court of chancery — the negro plot, 

 and several popular commotions — the controversy with the 

 hardy sons of the Green Mountain — and the transactions, 

 throughout the whole period, with the Indians resident in the 

 colony. 



4. The history of New-York, as an independent state, is 

 rich in facts and consequences of the greatest variety and im- 

 portance. It is connected with many of the most important 

 events in the war of the revolution, and in that of 1812. In 

 each of those contests our frontiers were exposed to invasion ; 

 and. in each, our territory, often the theatre of conflict, was 

 illustrated by the most splendid triumphs — triumphs, whose 

 influence is felt to the present hour. It is not too much to say 



