The sun., 1897-06-24
NEW YoRK rWo oBrrUR1Rs Aao.
The Records ef wow Amsterdam Translated
1nto Rngtish-An OLD nahnes Law.


Supervisor Of the Citp Record Sleicher has
received a copy of the first volume of the trans
lation Of tho Records of New Amsterdam from
1853 to 1874" edited by Bcrthold Fernow. These
records consist Of tho ordinance of the Director
General and Council OF New Nethorland and tho
minutes of tho Court OF Burgomasters and
Schepons from 1858 to 1855 They contain tho
earliest Dutch records that have boon pre-
served Of the territory included In tho present
city Of New York. the earlier onos having long
ago disappeared.
The first six volumes woro translated in tho
early part Of the present century by Mr.. West
brook. Tho next step toward making these
records intelligiblo to tho people OF this timo
was taken in 1s4s, when tho thon Mayor Of
New York approved q resolution Of the Common
Council appointing DIR. Edmund b. O'CallaChan,
the author OF tho History of New Notherland to
translate the Ave remaining volumes. The
task was undertaken and completed by DR..
O'Callaghan. and his fivo volumes. together
with one volume of Mr.. Westbrook's translation,
remained sido by side for years with tho six
original Dutch volumes in the manuscript room
Of the City Library, practically forgotten by
overy one but o few students Of history. A few
pages OF the tranaatiOnS were published In the
HisforieaI lfaodrine during tho lifetime OF its
editor, Henry i. Dawson.
In October, 1895, Mayor Strong appointed a
committee, consisting Of Isaac Townsend Smith,
cey, Charles Burr Todd, and William L. stone,
and to make suggestions for It's Improvement.
| Later the Board Of Aldermen authorized tho
tho o Of oS
| 1000 to carry on the work. Mr.. Fornow was ap-
sT
printed. The ordinances and court records were
translated anew by N him He discarded @ entirely
tions OF DR.. o'Cailaghan are retained. simply
adapting their formal phraseology to that en-
The first ordinance quoted in Mr.. Fernow's
first yolume is probably the original ma, American
q .ne % b Peter
Bee @ Of New ðorland % and otSoi
islands thereto pertaining, and Captain @ and
regulation Of the liquor traffic on Sunday. Ii
IThereGs. We have experienced the insoence
| of some of our Inhabitants whom drunk; theil
Sn sH Snd Of S MSsS s"sa
have witnessed the painful example last Sunday
in contrnyention OF law. to the contempt and
ance Of our neighbors. and to the disgrace, nay
contempt Of Gods holy laws and ordinances
Therefore. by the advice Of the late Director
General and Of our Council. and to the end that
receive His blessing. we charge. order, and on
join herewith principally all brewers. tapsters
and innkeepers that none Of them shall sell OF
strong water OF any kind and under any prete3
before 2 OF the clock In case there is no preach
ing, or else before !, except only to a travelle
and those who are daily customers. fetching tn
drinks to their own houses; thus under tn
| penalty of being deprived of their occupation
| and besides fine of carolus guilders for eacl
person who shall be found drinking wine or bee
| within the stated time"
Later on the ordinance is amended to preven
the sale OF liquor to Indians under the penalt
Of 500 carolus guilders, " besides the responsible
ity Of the mishaps resulting therefrom."
| The volume Is replete with quaint and inter
esting laws for the regulation OF the conduct Q
| New Workers, and curious and amusing detail
| Of the court trials of that time.