de,
on the St. Lawrence.

(2) Farewell, brethren; yours officially.

Rev. Henricus Selyns to the Classis of Amsterdam (October 4, 1660)

Reverend, Wise and Pious Teachers:

We cannot be so forgetful as to omit to inform you concerning our
churches and services. While at sea, we did not neglect religious
worship, but every morning and evening we besought God's guidance and
protection, with prayer and the singing of a psalm. On Sundays and
feast-days the Holy Gospel was read, when possible. The sacrament was
not administered on shipboard, and we had no sick people during the
voyage. God's favor brought us all here in safety and health. Arrived
in New Netherland, we were first heard at the Manhattans; but the
peace-negotiations at the Esopus,(1) where we also went, and the general
business of the government necessarily delayed our installation until
now. We have preached here at the Esopus, also at Fort Orange; during
This time of waiting we were well provided with food and lodging. Esopus
needs more people, but Breuckelen more money; wherefore I serve on
Sundays, in the evenings only, at the General's bouwery,(2) at his
expense. The installation at Brooklyn was made by the Honorable Nicasius
de Sille, fiscaal,(3) and Martin Kriegers, burgomaster,(4) with an
open commission from his Honor the Director-General.(5) I was cordially
received by the magistrates and consistory, and greeted by Domine
Polhemius. We do not preach in a church, but in a barn; next winter we
shall by God's favor and the general assistance of the people erect a
church.

(1) The Indians of Esopus had broken out in hostilities in
the autumn of 1659. The next summer Stuyvesant went there,
after some defeats of the tribe, and made peace formally,
July 15, 1660. A congregation had lately been formed there,
which called Domine Harmanus Blom to be its pastor.

(2) Stuyvesant's Bowery, or farm, acquired by him in 1651,
lay in the present region of Third Avenue and Tenth Street.
Near the present site of St. Mark's Church he built a chapel
for his family, his negro slaves, some forty in number, and
the other inhabitants of the neighborhood.

(3) Of New Netherland.

(4) Of New Amsterdam.

(5) For this letter of induction, see _Ecclesiastical
Records_, I. 480.

The audience is passably large, coming from Middelwout, New Amersfort,
and often Gravesande increases it; bu