The first public officer appointed by the Dutch Government for this town after its settlement in 1625, was a “Superintendant,” whose duties were to preserve the peace, and regulate the police of the town. A few years after the office of Superintendant was abolished, and the offices of Schout, Secretary, and Assessor, created; these officers were also appointed by the Governor. In 1646, the town having considerably increased, the inhabitants were permitted to elect two magistrates; subject, however, to the approval or rejection of the Governor. These magistrates had increased powers: they were authorised to give judgment in all cases as they might think proper; provided that the judgment so given be not contrary to the charter of New-Netherland. Subsequently this Town Court was new modelled by the Dutch Government, and its power and authority more clearly defined. The inhabitants suffering very much under the arbitrary exercise of power on the part of the government, frequently remonstrated against the same. Finally a convention of delegates from this, and the other towns under the Dutch government assembled at New Amsterdam, November 26th, 1653, on an invitation from the Governor. Where they, on the 11th of December, following, entered into a remonstrance against the exclusion of the people from their share in legislation, and generally against their mode of government. The Governor and his Council sent them no answer, but entered one on the minutes; in which they denied the right of this town, Flatbush, and Flatlands, to send deputies, and protested against the meeting, notwithstanding the same was held at the Governor’s request. Entertaining a just sense of the responsibility attached to them, the deputies made another, but ineffectual attempt, to obtain a recognition of their rights, and on the 13th of the last mentioned month, presented another remonstrance, in which they declared, that if they could not obtain them from the Governor and Council, they would be under the necessity of appealing to their superiors, the States General.--The Governor in a fit of anger dissolved their meeting, and sent them home. In 1654, it appears that the country was very much infested with robbers; to disperse whom, April 7, 1654, the magistrates of this town, together with those of Midwout and Amersfort, united in forming a company of soldiers to act against “robbers and pirates,” and determined that there should be a military officer in each town, called a Sergeant. In order to prevent the depredations of the Indians, the Governor in 1660, ordered the inhabitants of Brooklyn to put the town in a state of defence; and commanded the farmers to remove within the fortifications, on the pain of forfeiting their estates.[15]