New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-05-23
NEW PUBLICATIONS
BRoDHEADs HISTORY OF NEW YORK

The period embraced in this fresh installment of
Mr.. Brodhead's elaborate work extends from the
surrender of the province of New Netherland to the
English in 1864, to the rebellion and execution OF
Jacob LeSler in 1901. Crowded with events of SUI
preme interest in the early annals of the colony the
narrative sustains vigorous and dignihed march,
and like the preceding volume exhibits the fruits of
wide and ndefatigable research in the examination
of original authorities, and is marked by compact
ness and lucidity Of statement accuracy OF detail
temperate and impartial judgment, and certain
ehaSte austerity of style In his calm recital of the
course of events Mr.. Brodhead abstains from all at
tempts at picturesque embellishments He makes
no of the arts of ambitious rhetoric. He never
confounds the functions of history and poetry. HIS
object is evidently to inform the understanding
rather than to crafty the fancy. He writes In terse
idiOmatic, home-bred English, with no hankering
after quaint conceits affected forms of expression
The Doric simplicity of his language may be found
Of too severe a cast for readers who demand the
graces of art in historical composition. But the sin
cere student of the oden times who seeks to trace
the transition of colonial New-York from the do
mnon of its Dutch founders to the English rule can
find no more trustworthy and in the long rum no
more agreeable guide in his inquiries 'n'n -
presented in the instructive pages OF this Voie'
MIR. Brodhead relates with great minuteness Oh NC
tail, the story of the conquest OF New Ne'noii
which he describes as an act OF pecuhai H"'o
baseness on the part of England planned III Seoie'
and accomplished with deliberate uecei, Vo"uu
friendly government. None but Enghshmen'" ne
ror,arls nth bitterness that contrasts strongly
with his nsnal moderation of tone, none but En-
glisbmen had the impudence to do so vile awrong"
which was eminently characteristic OF an lnsolent
and overbearing nation" They carefully concealed
the true nature of the transaction, which was TO
gain an advantage over their great maritime rval,
by deriving him of the possession of an important
province in one of the fairest regions OF the New
World In the interest of her selfish and grasplng
navigation laws England seizedas prey, the couh-
try TO which she could assert no rightful elam But
nv the ACQUISITION of New Netherland, she was as
sured of her colonial prominence on the continent
and became mistress of al the Atlantic coast be-
tween Acadia and Florida. On the north and west
her colonies were now bounded by the French pos
sessions on the south by those of SPAIN on the east
by the ocean. The change, however, did not impair
the social and political identity of New-fork' nor
her SANITARY moral influence 1t her lot to tenn
per the narrowness of the original English colonies
with the larger ideas which she had derived from
Holland. For more than a century she guarded her
long frontier against the attacks OF Canaoa' un'n
st length she took the position of the central prov
ince on which hinged the most important movements
in the war of the Revolution.
But the Dutch inhabitants Of New Netherland
did not gain political freedom by their incorporation
with the government of England Fresh names
did not secure fresh liberties. Amsterdam was
changed to York and Orange to Albany. But the
difference of title only illustrated the influence OF
conoueror 1t was almost twenty years before the
people of New-York began to enjoy for brief pc
nod the faint degree of representative government
which thew had possessed when the three-colored
ensign of Holland was hauled down from the flag
staff of New Amsterdam. They exchanged Stuy-
yesant for Nicolls, the West India company for a
royal proprietor and republican sovereignty for a
hereditary king. The province was not repre-
scented in Parliament could the voice OF
the people reach the chapel of st. Stephen at
Westminster as readily it had reached the cham
bers of the Bnnenhof at the Hague. STILL they
submitted TO all the changes which were brought
upon them with perfect good faith The English
crown had no more loyal subjects. Yet they re-
tanned a deep hereditary attachment to Holland.
They took no pleasure in seeing the red cross OF En-
gland where the embems of the Netherlands mad
waved for fifty years. and two centuries have scarcely
weakened the proud veneration which is cherished
nv the citizens of NewYork of Dutch lineage for the
glorious and genial memories of their ancestors
The new civil code, called The Dukes Laws"
which was promulgated at the convention at Hemp
stead in the year after the surrender is made the sub
iect of a full discussion by Mr.. Brodhead who gives
an ANALYSIS of its provisions that possesses great
antiauarian interest The tenure Of lands was made
to depend on the Duke of York. All persons were
required to bring in their old grants and take out
new patents from the Governor, on which a fee was
to be paid No barter with the savages in ammuni-
tion firearms strong hquors,!or furs, was allowed
without the Governors license. All harm done to
them OF their CATTLE Cor corn-felds by the English
was 10 be Justly satisfied. if the case had been
between Christian and Christian" But no Indian
was to be suffered to pOwOw or perform outward
worship TO the devil in any town within the pre-
cincts of the government No religious denomina-
ton was more favored than another. The Episcopal
Church was not established. The Reformed Dutch
Church preserved its ancient ecclesa teal system
church was required to be built in every parish,
the expenses of which were to be provided
for by the church-wardens. Each minister
was TO preach every Sunday, on the fifth of
November, the anniversary of the gunpowder trea-
son and on other stated political anniversaries He
was also to pray for the king and royal family, bap-
tie the children of Christian parents, and marry
persons after illegal publication sufficient
license" Persons protesting Christianity not to
be molested for differences of opinion in matters of
religion. Negro Slavery recognized but ser
wants were protected from tyranny and abuse, and
10 Christians could be kept in bondage except III
consequence of judicial sentence. All males above
sixteen years old, except certain exempt persons,
were liable to military duty, and IN each town there
were 10 be four days Of training every year. Once
In every two years there was to be general tram
ing of all the soldiers within the province MOI per
son was obliged to bear arms beyond the limits OF
the government, but volunteers might be raised by
beat of drum to assist the neghboring English colo
mics. Inn-keepers were not allowed TO charge
and