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Page 51
Intelligence from Boston that an English expedition against New
Netherlands had sailed from Portsmouth was soon communicated to
Stuyvesant by Captain Thomas Willett; and the burgomasters and
_schepens_ of New Amsterdam were summoned to assist the council with
their advice. The capital was ordered to be put in a state of defense,
guards to be maintained, and _schippers_ to be warned. As there was
very little powder at Fort Amsterdam a supply was demanded from New
Amstel, and a loan of five or six thousand guilders was asked from
Rensselaerswyck. The ships about to sail for Cura�ao were stopt;
agents were sent to purchase provisions at New Haven; and as the enemy
was expected to approach through Long Island Sound, spies were sent to
obtain intelligence at West Chester and Milford.
But at the moment when no precaution should have been relaxed, a
dispatch from the West India directors, who appear to have been misled
by advices from London, announced that no danger need be apprehended
from the English expedition, as it was sent out by the King only to
settle the affairs of his colonies and establish episcopacy, which
would rather benefit the company's interests in New Netherlands.
Willett now retracting his previous statements, a perilous confidence
returned. The Curacao ships were allowed to sail; and Stuyvesant,
yielded to the solicitation of his council, went up the river to look
after affairs at Fort Orange.
The English squadron had been ordered to assemble at Gardiner's
Island. But, parting company in a fog, the _Guinea_, with Nicolls and
Cartwright on board, made Cape Cod, and went on to Boston, while the
other ships put in at Piscataway. The commissioners immediately
demanded the assistance of Massachusetts, but the people of the Bay,
who feared, perhaps, that the King's success in reducing the Dutch
would enable him the better to put down his enemies in New England,
were full of excuses. Connecticut, however, showed sufficient
alacrity; and Winthrop was desired to meet the squadron at the west
end of Long Island, whither it would sail with the first fair wind.
When the truth of Willett's intelligence became confirmed, the council
sent an express to recall Stuyvesant from Fort Orange. Hurrying back
to the capital, the anxious director endeavored to redeem the time
which had been lost. The municipal authorities ordered one-third of
the inhabitants, without exception, to labor every third day at the
fortifications; organized a permanent guard; forbade the brewers to
malt any grain; and called on the provincial government for artillery
and ammunition. Six pieces, besides the fourteen previously allotted,
and a thousand pounds of powder were accordingly granted to the city.
The colonists around Fort Orange, pleading their own danger from the
savages, could afford no help; but the soldiers of Esopus were ordered
to come down, after leaving a small garrison at Ronduit.
In the meantime the English squadron had anchored just below the
Narrows, in Nyack Bay, between New Utrecht and Coney Island. The mouth
of the river was shut up; communication between Long Island and
Manhattan, Bergen and Achter Cul, interrupted; several yachts on their
way to the South River captured; and the block-house on the opposite
shore of Staten Island seized. Stuyvesant now dispatched Counsellor de
Decker, Burgomaster Van der Grist, and the two domines Megapolensis
with a letter to the English commanders inquiring why they had come,
and why they continued at Nyack without giving notice. The next
morning, which was Saturday, Nicolls sent Colonel Cartwright, Captain
Needham, Captain Groves, and Mr. Thomas Delavall up to Fort Amsterdam
with a summons for the surrender of "the town situate on the island
and commonly known by the name of Manhatoes, with all the forts
thereunto belonging."
This summons was accompanied by a proclamation declaring that all who
would submit to his majesty's government should be protected "in his
majesty's laws and justice," and peaceably enjoy their property.
Stuyvesant immediately called together the council and the
burgomasters, but would not allow the terms offered by Nicolls to be
communicated to the people, lest they might insist on capitulating. In
a short time several of the burghers and city officers assembled at
the Stadt-Huys. It was determined to prevent the enemy from surprizing
the town; but, as opinion was generally against protracted resistance,
a copy of the English communication was asked from the director. On
the following Monday the burgomasters explained to a meeting of the
citizens the terms offered by Nicolls. But this would not suffice; a
copy of the paper itself must be exhibited. Stuyvesant then went in
person to the meeting. "Such a course," said he, "would be disapproved
of in the Fatherland--it would discourage the people." All his
efforts, however, were in vain; and the director, protesting that he
should not be held answerable for the "calamitous consequences," was
obliged to yield to the popular will.
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