Page:History of the United States of America, Spencer, v1.djvu/111

] in any such scheme, it came to nought.

The inhabitants of New Amsterdam, having obtained by petition to the authorities at home, certain municipal privileges, were desirous of proceeding still further in the path of popular liberty. A convention of two delegates from each village assembled, and were disposed to demand for the people a share in legislation and the appointment of magistrates. Sturdy old Stuyvesant dissolved the convention, rejected their demand as absurd and presumptuous, and gave them to understand that he needed no help from the ignoble crowd to sustain his authority, or aid him in the discharge of his duties. His conduct and bearing were highly approved by the Company in Holland.

The Swedes by a stratagem, got possession of Fort Casimir; but as Sweden no longer held the rank of a formidable power, the Company directed Stuyvesant to subdue the Swedes and take possession of the South Bay and River. The year following, the Director embarked for the Delaware with a force of six hundred men, and without difficulty accomplished his object, so that New Sweden became again a part of New Netherland.

The affairs of New Netherland seemed to be now decidedly on the improvement. Amicable relations were kept up with Virginia, and a mutually profitable trade was carried on. With Maryland, however, there was a dispute as to the occupancy of the western bank of the Delaware, the governor of Maryland claiming the territory as within the limits of that colony, and the Dutch stoutly denying the Maryland claim, and insisting upon their right of prior occupancy. Further difficulties, too, occurred this year (1659) with the Indians, whose thirst for blood was stimulated by selling or giving to them the poisonous "fire-water." Murders on their part were followed by retaliatory steps on the part of the Dutch, and many lives were lost in consequence. A peace was made the next year; but in 1663, the savages, who had been waiting an opportunity to revenge the sending away some Indians by Stuyvesant to the West Indies, attacked the settlers at Esopus with unpitying fury. Late in that year the Indians were nearly all subdued, and tranquillity was restored for the time.

The dispute with Maryland was vexatious and troublesome, but, comparatively, was of small moment: it was the restless New England spirit which seemed destined to be the plague of Stuyvesant's life. Connecticut was eager in the pursuit of territory, and on obtaining a royal charter, began to press a claim to Long Island, Westchester, and in fact, all the land east of the Hudson. Stuyvesant went to Boston, and sent agents to Hartford : the New Englanders spoke fairly, but their actions still excited the suspicions of the old soldier; and despite his contempt for popular assemblies, he was fain to ask the advice of the people in the emergency. Unfortunately the Assembly could not yield him any assistance: the