The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-08-13
SOME NEW hooks
Peter SIuyvesnut.

Sf,pesanL but incidentally u presents n
authentic and vivid picture OF tho political an
social evolution OF tho Dutch colony Of Nc
Eetherland from Its foundation up to Its cor
quest by England. Tho original sources {
Information concerning the early Dutch sci
tiers OF Manhattan Island are neither man
nor rich. but Mr.. Tuckerman has turned Their
to more account than any other writer wit
whom we are acquainted. Tho readers OF hi
clear and fluent narrative may imagin
that the materials lay ready to his hand
but students will appreciate the pa
tient labor with which. in order 4
describe the social conditions OF New AIMS ter
dam. tho author has explored the proceeding
Of the burEomasters and schepens preserved
in the City Hall and the books OF the Surro
gates and Registers Offices. The small spac,
ct the authors disposal-the volume before
MS contains less than 200 pages literally
packed with curious and illuminatlvo facts.
Before marking the part which Peter Stuy.
vesant played In the history Of New Neither
lands. We should mark what tho author has to
say regarding the fundamental causes OF the
slow growth OF the colony compared with the
peighboring English settlements. and the OK
pedisnts to which tho States General and tho
Dutch West India Company resorted in order
to promote emigration. 1t was In 1909 that
Hudson discovered the river which bears his
name. and during the Ave following years
the coasts between the Connecticut and the
Delaware were pretty thoroughly explored by
Dutch naviRators. and tho advantages Of the
fur trade were ascertained. Nevertheless. 1t
was not till 1923 that the first agricultural
eolonists were sent out. and. as late as $780,
the Dutch possessions on the mainland OF
America were little moro than trading posts.
It was recognized that tho West India Com
pany was unified by it's military and COM
meroial character for the task Of planting per-
manent colonies. Moreover. tho Dutch had
but little surplus population inclined to emil
CRATE and no body OF men like the English
pon-conformists, who through tho lack Of
liberation at homo. felt constrained to seek
new quarters in n distant Wilderness. At
the Same time actual occupation Of the
soil was essential to secure possession Of New
Netherlands. in view OF the present and pros
pective encoaohments Of English settlers Ac-
cordingly. the directors OF tho company had
to apply an artificial stimulus to colonization.
and the result was the system Of PATRON
ships Of which Mr.. Tuckerman Civ es an intel
Lgible account.
To appreciate the motives prompting tho 30
called PATRONS to invest money In the Amer-
can Wilderness, one must keep in view tho
fact that the people Of Holland were divided
lands: the burghers. who controlled the cities:
and the common people Many Of the burgh-
ers were rich and desired to enter the highest
class through acquiring landed estates and
the feudal rights connected with them. This
wish could not be gratifled In Holland. where
the limited territory was held tenaciously by
its owners. The burgher of Amsterdam or
The Hague. however. might becom Q the feudal
chief OF an American domain. This idea was
embodied in the Charter OF Privileges and
Exemptions" adopted in 1880. by which any
stakeholder in the West India Company who
should plant a colony of fifty souls in New
Netherlands was to acquire title to land six
teen miles in length on one side of the river, |
or eight in length il situated on both sides. |
and as far into the interior rs the owner could |
occupy. Such an owner was to be called |
PATRON" and to possess the hered-
irary rights Of feudal noble-power
to make laws. to establish courts of
justice and to control hunting. fishing and the
grinding OF grains. subject only to allegiance
to the States General. The PATRONS were al
lowed to trade along the American coast and
with Europe, on paying duty OF FIVE per cont
on the cargoes to the West India Company
They were also permitted to take part In the
fur trade. on condition that the exports should
be sent through the companys agents at Man.
haitian. Thus. on the one hand. colonists
were tempted to emiRrate by FREQ transporta-
tion and the promise OF good lands at a nom
inal rental. while rich burehers were tempted
to assume the expense involved In transport
Ing emigrants By the prospect Of attaining the
dignity Of feudal lords
Chief among the burghers who sought the
the honors Of patroonship wasi Kiliaen. Van
rich jsweller OF Amsterdam. In
1880 he purchased from the Indians. through
the company's agent at Fort Orange NEAR the
site OF Albany. great tract OF land lying on
ths river to the north and south Of the fort
He made good his title by sending out emil
grants. and thus planted the colony of Rens-
1slaerwyck. Two other directors of the COM
pany Godyn and Bommaert, secured lands on
the Delaware or South River. their patent nte-
dating by two years that given by Charles |. to
Lord Baltimore Michael PAW soon afterward
purchased from the Indians Staten Island and
Psulus Hook 1.-THE site Of Jersey City,. to which
he gave the name OF Pavona- But tho rapidity
With which these enterprsing directors had
seized upon the best territory excited so much
jealousy among their colleagues that some of
hem were obliged to share their acquisitions
with other members Of the company by TAX
Ing them into partnership. The Same jealousy
caused the recall OF Peter Minuit who, as
resident Director General had confirmed the
grants. The influence OF Van Rens-
selaer. however. was strong enough to procure
he appointment to tho dictatorship OF Wouter
Van Twiller. who had married his niece and
had served as his agent in shipping coonists
Ind cattle to Rensselaerwyck. but who was
only clerk In the company's employment
md quito unfit for the superior post.
The patroonships failed as a colonizing sys-
em. with the single exception OF Rensselaer,
vyck. That prospered exceedingly. although
he first PATRON never came to New Neither.
ands and although his agents frequently in
'olved him In aunrrels with the Director GEN
'ral OF the West India Company at Manhattan.
n 1914 the PATRONS agent, Van Gull
or. erected q fort on Beeren Isl
md. commanding both channels OF the
liver. to which he gave the name OF
claim OF staple right" !
vas set up a toll OF Ave guilders was levied on :
'assing vessels. and all were ordered to strike 7
heir colors to the fort. This claim led to a
ong struggle between tho authorities of New :
'etherland and OF Rensselaerwyck tho former
PROTESTING against the attempt to control the
PIPER course of the Hudson Riyer whiIa tba |