In 1651, Cromwell, after his successes in Ireland, wishing to show his good will and regard for New England, offered any of its people who chose to emigrate, estates and settlements in the conquered island. But his offers were declined, “for the emigrants already loved their land of refuge, where their own courage and toils had established the liberties of the gospel, and created the peaceful abundance of thriving republics.” When, also, four years later, he conquered Jamaica, he offered it as a free gift to his favourites, the people of New England. The war between England and Holland hardly disturbed the tranquillity of the colonies. The western settlements, who would have suffered extreme misery from a combined attack of the Dutch and Indians, wished to reduce New Amsterdam; but Massachusetts, which could deliberate more coolly and wisely, answered, that “the wars of Europe ought not to destroy the happiness of America;” and peaceful intercourse was still preserved with Manhattan. “The European republics had composed their strife before the fleet which was destined to take possession of the Dutch settlements reached America; and though peace then prevailed between England and France, the English forces, apparently unwilling to return without conquest in one quarter or another, turned northward and took possession of Acadia—an acquisition which no remonstrance or complaint would induce Cromwell to restore, perhaps because he knew that New England would be benefited by its possession.”