of empire, and of the effect of his dreams 203 BOOK III. IN WHICH IS RECORDED THE GOLDEN REIGN OF WOUTER VAN TWILLER. CHAP. I.—Of the renowned Wouter Van Twiller, his unparalleled virtues—as likewise his unutterable wisdom in the law-case of Wandle Schoonhoven and Barent Bleecker—and the great admiration of the public thereat 217 CHAP. II.—Containing some account of the grand council of New Amsterdam, as also divers especial good philosophical reasons why an alderman should be fat—with other particulars touching the state of the province 232 CHAP. III.—How the town of New Amsterdam arose out of mud, and came to be marvellously polished and polite—together with a picture of the manners of our great-great-grandfathers 248 CHAP. IV.—Containing further particulars of the Golden Age, and what constituted a fine lady and gentleman in the days of Walter the Doubter 261 CHAP. V.—Of the founding of Fort Aurania—Of the mysteries of the Hudson—Of the arrival of the Patroon Killian Van Rensellaer; his lordly descent upon the earth, and his introduction of club-law 271 CHAP. VI.—In which the reader is beguiled into a delectable walk, which ends very differently from what it commenced 277 CHAP. VII.—Faithfully describing the ingenious people of Connecticut and thereabouts—showing, moreover, the true meaning of liberty of conscience, and a curious device, among these sturdy barbarians, to keep up a harmony of intercourse, and promote population 286 CHAP. VIII.—How these singular barbarians turned out to be notorious squatters—How they built air-castles, and attempted to initiate the Nederlanders into the mystery of bundling 295 CHAP. IX.—How the Fort Goed Hoop was fearfully beleaguered—How the renowned Wouter fell into a profound doubt, and how he finally evaporated 304 BOOK IV. CONTAINING THE CHRONICLES OF THE REIGN OF WILLIAM THE TESTY.