New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1848-09-20

tr,s-ovv oy Nyw.NrrpERLAND; or New-Yors under ne
ouch BY z B. OCALLAGHaS, NJ D. Se" on 9no
Bartlett l. Wexford, d. Appleton 20. Fo's' o'0'
pp. IIOl with plates, maps &c
The autbor Of these volumes has performed his
task IN manner which entities him to the thanks OF
al those Of Dutch descent and Of New-York birth.
We doubt indeed whether person in hundred is
,s,e Of his own ignorance on subject Of the early
bi,orv Of this state-t seems all unknown land-and
fv are acquainted with the events Of century and
half in which their own ancestors were the principal
,c,ors The patence the reserch and the labor ex
pended on this work must have been very great If we
are 10 Judge Of the amount of matter, entirely new
which has been dug out Of old MSS. written in an al
most unknown tongue, and slowed away in almost for
gotten carrots.
The first volume opens with a discovery Of the coun-
try and throws much light on the origin Of PATRONS
and their Nanors subject which has Of late greatly
spitated some sections Of our state It gives full de
tails Of the administrations Of the three first Dutch
Governors-Mnuit Van Twiller and Kieft-whose
places we take it, were no sinecures Indeed the Ad
minstration Of the astmentoned Director s series
of most exciting ncidents-Indisn wars domestic dis
content and foreign aggression: and though Chance.
lor Kent once asserted that the Dutch colonial annals
are of tame and pacific character and generally dry
and uninteresting we have abundant evidence here
that they are Just the reverse. Few more exciting
scenes took place on our Continent during the seven
teenth Century than those enacted the banks Of the
| Hudson The first volnme ends with the termination
Of Kieits reign in l641
The second volume Is entirely devoted 10 the Admin
istration Of Gov stuyvesant The Democratic spirit
which began to display itself in the times OF his prede
cessors obtained full development now and demand
for a municipal form Of Government for this City and
freedom of trade with ali the world. followed. This
contest continued nearly years and terminated
1852 By the incorporation Of this City then called New
Amsterdam. under one schout (or sheriff, two burgo
masters and five schcpens (or sdermen). The origin
Of this Of municipality and the powers and duue
Of ts officers very minuely explained and are wei
worth consultation by all who take an interest IN ou
CITY Institutions Il about this time that lega
court was erected in Fort Orange now Albany prev
Gus 70 the establishment Of which violent contest pre-
vailed for several years between the Government anc
the Patroon agents who overcome literally by
the Intervention of snyvesants armed sodiery
We have not room 10 do more than refer the reader
10 the interesting account contained IN this volume
the state OF Religion and the Churches at this early date
OF the wars with the Esopus and other Indians the DIS
covery Of the salt Springs Onondaga the negotiations
with the people Of New England and finally the passage
of the country into the hands OF the Engsh, nOtwth
standing every efor1 Of the brave old Governor, who
would fsin make a desperate though hopeless resist
auce from which he driven only by the refusal o.
the ciuzens TO take up arms
Il such l. faint outline OF New ork under the puich
ah is las the editor Of the Li0Gy Hgrid truly re
mako the only work Of real research upon the earl
/, annals Of this State which has yet been given lie
any one look into the previous bald and mesger account
of our earlier Provincial days aud compare either Of tn
81 called histories of New York with the proiuse coec
ton Of facts which OCaaghans jealous investigation
has now for the irst time brought together and he w
feel that the historian OF New Netherlsnd has entitled
himself 70 the permanent gratitude Of the people OF thu
State" Hon b, F. Butler, in his recently publshe
Discourse on the Constitutional History OF New ork,
paws equally honorable testimony 10 the merit Of thi
history on the appearance OF which he congraulates
his fellow citizens. "Dr O'Casghan has applied him
self (he sdds) TO his aborous undertaking, with III
heartness and zeal which belong to his race and wit
the patient diligence the scrupulou and the sfc
integrity which distinguish the people TO whose hstor
il relates"
We have nothing TO add to these high encomium
Apart from the mass Of historical matter, the volume
abound with particulars relating to the families of earl
settlers which cannot but be interesting now TO thoi
descendants We commend the work 10 the spec
patronage of every NewNoTker.