Page:History of the United States of America, Spencer, v1.djvu/72

48 . The people of Plymouth, meanwhile, had taken steps to establish a post on, the Connecticut, which they did. and when Van Twiller sent a company of soldiers to drive them out, they stood on their defence, and the Dutch withdrew without making trial of force.

The new governor was zealous in his efforts to improve New Amsterdam: a church was erected, as were barracks for the soldiers, mills, etc. But the disputes with the patroons proved a serious hindrance to the progress of the colony; to get rid of ;these controversies, it was proposed lo buy up the patroonships, and Swansdale was sold back to the Company for about $6,000. On the Connecticut the Massachusetts people were gradually crowding the Dutch out, and Fort Nassau, on the Delaware, was attempted to be surprised by a party from Plymouth. Van Twiller, with an eye to his own interests, secured several valuable tracts on Long Island and other smaller islands near by. Complaints having been made against him at home by Van Dincklagen, late Sellout-fiscal at New Amsterdam and an able and upright 1687. man, he was soon after recalled, and William Kieft was sent out as his successor, in March of the next year.

While the people of New England were steadily advancing towards possession of the country claimed by the Dutch on the Connecticut, new competitors also appeared in Delaware Bay, in the persons of hardy and energetic Swedes. The illustrious Gustavus Adolphus had early perceived the advantages which would ensue from colonization in America, and under his auspices a commercial company was formed for this purpose. The untimely death of Gustavus, at the battle of Lutzen, in 1632, and the breaking out of the German war, prevented any decisive action for some years. The chancellor Oxenstiern favored the plan of the company, and renewed their patent; but it was not till the close of 1637 that an expedition was actually fitted out. Under the command of Minuit, who had been previously Director of New Netherland, two vessels with fifty men entered the Delaware; lands were purchased of the natives near the head of the Bay, and a fort was built, called Christina, in honor of the queen of Sweden. The Dutch governor, Kieft, protested against this intrusion, but to little purpose: it was unwise to attempt hostilities against the Swedes, and he desisted. Emigration continued to increase for several years, and Printz, the governor, established a residence, and built a fort near Philadelphia: thus Pennsylvania was occupied by the Swedes long before Penn became proprietary, and the banks of the Delaware, from the ocean to the falls near Princeton, were known as. At enmity with the Dutch in all other things, the Swedes, nevertheless, joined with them in keeping out the English, who occasionally attempted to settle within the limits which they claimed as their own: all who came were either driven out by force or rigidly compelled to submit to Swedish authority. 