the estates of Quakers, who refused to assist in defending the colony; but this law being generally condemned by the people, was never executed.

When Andross was made governor of New England, he dissolved the charter government of Rhode Island, and ruled the colony, with the assistance of a council appointed by himself. After he was imprisoned, at Boston, the freemen met at Newport, and voted to resume their charter. All the officers, who three years before had been displaced, were restored.

The benevolence, justice, and pacific policy of Williams, secured to the colony an almost total exemption from Indian hostility. In 1730, the number of inhabitants was 18,000; in 1761, it was 40,000. Brown university was founded, at Warren, in 1764, and was removed a few years after to Providence. Its founder was Nicholas Brown, who gave to the institution five thousand dollars.

CHAPTER VI.

NEW YORK.

In 1609, Henry Hudson, an Englishman, but sailing in the service of the Dutch East India company, discovered Long Island, the harbour of New York, and the river to which his name has been given. In 1613, several Dutch merchants,

H

to whom the republic of Holland had granted the exclusive right of trading to this part of America, erected a fort near Albany, which they named fort Orange, and a few trading houses on the island of New York, then called by the Indians, Manhattan.

In the same year, Captain Argal, who had been sent by Virginia to drive the French from their settlements on the bay of Fundy, visited, on his return, the Dutch on Hudson's river. Claiming the country for his nation, by right of prior discovery, he demanded their acknowledgment of its authority. Being few in number, they prudently submitted, without attempting to resist.

But, receiving a reinforcement, the next year, they again asserted the right of Holland to the country, and erected fort Amsterdam, on the south end of the island. The English, for many years, forbore to interfere in their pursuits or claims. In 1621, the republic, desirous of founding a colony in America, granted to the Dutch West India company, an extensive territory on both sides of the Hudson. The country was called New Netherlands. The boundaries were not accurately defined, but were considered, by the company, as including Connecticut river at the north, and Delaware river at the south.

In 1623, they erected a fort on the Delaware, which they called Nassau; and, ten, years afterwards, another on the Connecticut, which they called Good Hope. Near the former, the Swedes had a settlement. From the interfering claims of

the two nations, quarrels arose between the set

tlers, which, after continuing several

years, terminated in the subjugation of the Swedes. Towards the fort on the Connecticut, the settlements of the English rapidly approached, and soon occasioned disputes, which had a longer duration and a different result.

The Dutch did not escape the calamity of war with the savages. Hostilities commenced in 1643, continued several years, and were very destructive to both parties. William Kieft, the governor of the New Netherlands, invited Captain Underhill, who had been a soldier in Europe, and had made himself conspicuous in New Hampshire, for his eccentricities in religion and conduct, to take command of his troops. Collecting a flying party of one hundred and fifty men, he was enabled to preserve the Dutch settlements from total destruction. The number of Indians, whom he killed in the course of the war, was supposed to exceed four hundred. In 1646, a severe battle was fought on that part of Horse-neck called Strickland's Plain. The Dutch were victorious; on both sides great numbers were slain; and for a century afterwards the graves of the dead were distinctly visible.

In 1650, Peter Stuyvesant, then the able governor of the New Netherlands, met the commissioners of the New England colonies at Hartford, where, after much altercation, a line of partition between their respective territories was fixed by mutual agreement. Long Island was divided between them: the Dutch retained the lands which they occupied in Connecticut, surrendering their claim to the residue.

But Charles the Second, denying their right to any portion of the country, determined to expel them from it. In 1664, he granted to his brother, the Duke of York and Albany, all the territory between Nova Scotia and Delaware Bay; and though England and Holland were then at peace, immediately sent three ships and three hundred troops to put him in possession of his grant. Colonel Robert Nichols conducted the expedition. The squadron, having visited Boston, reached the place of its destination in August.

The commander summoned governor Stuyvesant to surrender the town, promising to secure to the inhabitants their lives, liberty, and property. At first, he refused; but the magistrates and people allured by the proffered terms, constrained him to consent. Fort Orange surrendered, soon after, to Sir George Carteret. In compliment to the Duke, the name, Manhattan, was changed to New-York, and Orange to Albany.

Nichols assumed the government of the country he had conquered, and continued, for three years, to rule over it, with absolute power, but with great lenity and justice. During his administration, New York was made a city. Upon his return to England, he was succeeded by Colonel Lovelace, who administered the government with equal moderation.

In 1673, England and Holland being then at war, a few Dutch ships were despatched to reconquer the country. On their arrival at Staten Island, a short distance from the city, John Manning, who had command of the fort, sent down a

messenger and treacherously made terms with the enemy. The Dutch sailed up the harbour, landed their men, and took possession of the fort and city, without firing or receiving a shot.

Captain Anthony Colve was appointed governor, but he retained the authority for a few months only. The next year, peace was concluded, and the country restored to the English. The Duke obtained a new patent, confirming his title to the province, and appointed Major Andross, the same who was afterwards the tyrant of NewEngland, to be governor over his territories in America.

Neither the administration of Andross, nor that of his successor, Anthony Brockholst, was distinguished by any remarkable event. In 1682, Colonel Thomas Dongan, who, as well as the Duke, was a Roman Catholic, was appointed governor, and the next year arrived in the colony. Until this time, the governor and council had possessed absolute power. The inhabitants, who, whether Dutch or English, were born the subjects of a state comparatively free, having, in an address to the Duke, claimed a share in the legislative authority, Colonel Dongan was directed to allow the freeholders to meet and choose representatives.

On the 17th of October, the first assembly met, consisting of the council and eighteen representatives. By the declaration of the governor they were invested with the sole power of enacting laws and levying taxes; but the laws could have no force until ratified by the Duke. With this participation of power, the people were gratified