The Portland daily press., 1877-03-23
Gep. John Marshall Brown presented bril-

l652-It was chapter of that most romant
period in the history of Maine when the Ian
between the Penobscot and the st. Croix Wa
under the dominion of France, and when tt
order of Jesus wrote mot with pen and inl
but In the fieshy tablets of the hearts of tn
/ red men OF America the noblest chapter in th
| splendid annals of the Catholic church. Drui
| lete's success and failure were describe
| in that felicitous diction of which Gen. Brow
is so perfect master. His papers are model
| of clearness and effective presentation of
| subject, and deserve wider and more popula
recognition than they obtain by publication i
| the proceedings of the Society. In concludin
| his paper Gen. Brown drew the conclusion
| that the Abnaki Indians, or at least those o
| the Kennebec and to the westward, were a.
ways considered within the jurisdiction of tn
| English colonies; that the Jesuits were not in
truders, and only attempted the conversion o
the Indians of Maine when it became appar
ent that the English were more intent upol
their plumber than upon their salvation; tina
the Indians were eager for an English alliance
and only threw themselves into the arms of th
French when the English commanders repellet
their overtures; and that the French and In
dian war was direct result of the folly O
our English ancestors
The succeeding paper was read by Charlie
w. futile OF Boston, and Is so interesting tina
we publish it in full 1t treats of matter
which has received but scant attention from
our historians. 1t is known to very few tina
among the warning nations on the soil O
Maine the Dutch are to be numbered, and thu
Dutch conquest of Castiue will be revelation
to most of our readers. The following is thu
paper:
THE DUTCH CONQUEST OF MAINE.
[ need not seek deeper for causes of the &C.
currences which am about to relate than the
dissolution OF the famous Triple Alliance
made few years after the restoration OF
Charles III by the three great Protestant ma.
tions of Europe England, the United Prov.
inces, and Sweden enjoyed few years repose
under the moral strength of this happy al.
lance. But the mercurial temper of the En-.
glish monarch would not permit him to adhere
long to any policy. Charles III and his min.
listers, without the concurrence of the English
people, made shameful breach of this al
lance by joining the ambitious King of France
in war of conquest against the United Prov
inces, the old and faithful ally of England,
III.
1872, and produced few memorable changes
in the New World before it ended.
AT this time the Dutch navy was large and
powerful. The Dutch fleets were commanded
by able and experienced Admirals. The naval
conflicts, between Dutch and English, in this
war are as memorable as any of that age.
England timely warned her American colo
MES to prepare for Dutch cruisers in their wa
ters. In the spring of 1878. year after the
war began in Europe, two Dutch squadrons
met in the West Indies. They went there to
harass the French and English colonies
Without doing anything very memorable the
united squadrons sailed towards New York
about midsummer, taking many English YES
sells on the way. New York, the ancient capi-
tai of the Dutch in the New World, was cap
tured, and the entire Province soon yielded to
Dutch arms. The Province was again named
New Netherlands, and New York, New Or
ange in honor of the Prince of Orange, now the
supreme head of thu United Provinces. A
Dutch government was established over New
Netherlands, and, for more than year, ad-
ministsred the government as vigorously as
ever
The English nation, weary of this needless
and cruel war against the United Provinces,
compelled the King and his ministers to make
peace. The Peace of Westminster was signed
Feb. 3, 1914, nearly two years after the war
was declared, and about six months after the
conquest of New York TWAS arranged that
till the English were ready to take upon them
selves the government. 1t was October, 1874,
before Sir Edmund Andres arrived and the
Dutch surrendered to him New York.
About midsummer, 1874, Capt. Jurien
Aernouts, commander of the Dutch frigate
Flying Horse. being at Curacao in the West
Indies, received commission from the Dutch
governor of those islands, authorizing him, in
the name of the great Prince of Orange, 'to
take, plumber, spoil. and possess any of the
garrlsons, towns territories, privileges, ships,
pc t5a Or estates Of any qf the enemies
commission expressly named England and
France as the public enemies of
his great master, the news of the Peace of
Westminster made few months before, not
having reached Curacao
Pursuant to this provincial commission Capt.
Aernouts sailed for New York. reaching there
in the fore part of July. New York was still
held by the Dutch who were waiting for the
English to come and possess it according to the
Treaty OF Westminster Here Capt. Aernouts
found that his commission against the English
was at an end; but was still good against the
French, no peace having been made with that
nation.
While the Flying Horse was recruiting and
preparing for sea in New York, Capt. John
Rhoads an Englishman, being in Boston, an
adyerturous character, made the acquaintance
of Capt. Aernouts. He told the Captain that
he was well acquainted with Acadia and all
the French defences therein; that it would be
an easy conquest with his force, if taken by
surprise; thatA it was a great fur country
and would make fine Dutch Province.
Castine, and had exact knowledge OF the
strength of the French garrison there.
Capt. Aernouts resolved to attempt the
conquest Rhoads was sworn to the Allie
glance Of the Prince of Orange, and made
chief Pilot OF the Flying Hourse. With a
company OF ITO men he sailed from New York
and reached Pentagoet the first of August
He forthwith attached the French fort COM
manded by the vetered M. de Chambly with
small force OF thirty men, and soon was mas
ter OF it. Chambly was wounded The garri-
son surrendered to the Prince of Orange. The
Dutch Captain could not spare any of his force
to garrison the Fort, and he thereupon des-
troyed, it, taking the cannon and ammunition
and other articles away with him. The French
inhabitants submitted to be subjects to the
Prince OF Orange, and were allowed to remain
and keep possession till further order.
N; De Chambly who was governor OF Acadia
and his principal officers were taken on board the
Flying Horse. A thousand beavers were
demanded as the price of his ransom; but he
was unable to furnish them He was allowed
to dispatch his Ensign, with Indian guides to
Quebec to acquaint Count Frontenac of his
unhappy capture and to request his ransom
from his captors.
Before leaving Pentagoet, the Dutch Com.
mander placed copy of his commission, with
brief account of his conquest in the name of
the Prince of Orange, in bottle and buried it
in the earth.
The Flying Horse then proceeded eastward
making conquest of every French fort and
trading place to the st. John River. The last
considerable fort taken was at Gemac in this
river, commanded by M. de Mason, lieutenant
to M. de Chambly. This fort was destroyed
and its officers made prisoners. The inhabi-
tants submitted to be subjects of the Prince of
Orange, and were allowed to remain and keep
possession till further order.
Another bottle was here buried in the earth
containing copy of the Captains commission
and a brief account of the Dutch conquest
made in the name of the Prince of Orange,
Acadia was now proclaimed to bear the name
of New Holland. No attempt was made on
Port Royal, probably on account of its capacity
to defend itself.
thus was Acadia wrested from the French
after having been held by them only four
years. In 1910 the English surrendered it to
Frauce in pursuance Of the Treaty of Breda
The French had only got well established there
when this calamity befel them. 1t yielded
a large revenue from fur trade.
Frontenac, governor of New France, received
the news of the capture of M. de Chambly,
and of the conquest of Acadia, with mingled
feelings OF surprise and modification. Both
had been but short time in these high stations.
Frontepac fastened to provide a ransom for
the governor of Acadia out of his own private
fortune. The equivalent of thousand beavers
released
The FLYING Horse, gorged with the nlnnda,