Peter Stuyvesant, the Last Dutch Governor of New AmsterdamAbbott, John S. C. (John Stevens Cabot)
History
Peter Stuyvesant, the Last Dutch Governor of New Amsterdam
Abbott, John S. C. (John Stevens Cabot)
New York (State) -- History -- Colonial period, ca. 1600-1775; Stuyvesant, Peter, 1592-1672
The next day he went to Flatbush, where there was a renewal of the
scenes which we have above described. Though the people could present
no resistance, he found no voice to cheer him. The want of success
exasperated Scott. He went to New Utrecht. There was a block fort
there, armed with cannon, and over which floated the Dutch flag. He
hauled down that banner and raised in its stead the flag of England.
Then, with Dutch cannon and Dutch powder, he fired a salute in honor
of his victory. All passers-by were ordered to uncover their heads and
bow in submission to the English flag. Those who refused to do so were
pursued by his soldiers and cruelly beaten.
Governor Stuyvesant, upon being informed of these transactions,
immediately sent three of his principal men to Long Island, to seek
some arrangement with Scott for the termination of such disorders.
They met him at Jamaica. After much discussion they entered into a
partial agreement, which was to be submitted to the approval of
Governor Stuyvesant. As the Dutch deputies took their leave, Scott
said to them,
"This whole island belongs to the king of England. He has
made a grant of it to his brother, the duke of York. He
knows that it will yield him an annual revenue of one
hundred and fifty thousand dollars. He is soon coming with
an ample force, to take possession of his property. If it is
not surrendered peaceably he is determined to take, not only
the whole island, but also the whole province of New
Netherland."
With these alarming tidings, the Dutch envoys returned to New
Amsterdam. Disorders were now rapidly multiplying. Scott rallied
around him all the most turbulent of the English population, and the
Dutch towns were menaced with violence. The Dutch families in the
English villages, were many of them compelled to abandon their houses,
and repair to the Dutch villages for protection. Frequent collisions
occurred. There was no longer any happiness or peace to be found in
these dwellings agitated by the approaching tempests of revolution.
The inhabitants of New Amsterdam became greatly alarmed from fear that
their rich and beautiful city would be attacked or plundered by the
English. The burgomasters and principal men drew up a petition to the
authorities urging additional fortifications for the city and the
enlistment of an increased armed force.
In this petition they said,
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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