h the
Director had sent over to them. "These statements," they said,
"contain as many lies as lines." The memorial was concluded with the
following forcible words:

"Honored Lords; this is what we have, in the sorrow of our
hearts, to complain of. We shall end here, and commit the
matter wholly to our God, praying that he will move your
lordships' minds, so that a Governor may be speedily sent to
us with a beloved peace, or that we may be permitted to
return with our wives and children, to our dear fatherland.
For it is impossible ever to settle this country until a
different system be introduced here, and a new Governor sent
out."

In response to this appeal Kieft was recalled. Just before he received
his summons peace was concluded with the Indians, on the 31st of
August, 1645. The war had raged five years. It had filled the land
with misery. All were alike weary of its carnage and woes. A new
governor was appointed, Peter Stuyvesant. The preceding account of the
origin of the Dutch colony and its progress thus far is essential to
the understanding of the long and successful administration of the new
governor, whose name is one of the most illustrious in the early
annals of New York.

It may be worthy of brief remark that a few weeks after the arrival of
Governor Stuyvesant, Kieft embarked in the ship Princess for Holland.
The vessel was wrecked on the coast of Wales Kieft and eighty-one men,
women and children sank into a watery grave. Kieft died unlamented.
His death was generally regarded as an act of retributive justice.

CHAPTER VI.

GOVERNOR STUYVESANT.

New Netherland in 1646.--Early Years of Peter
Stuyvesant.--Decay of New Amsterdam.--The Germs of a
Representative Government.--Energetic Administration.--Death
of Governor Winthrop.--Claims for Long Island.--Arrogance of
the Governor.--Remonstrance of the Nine Men.--The Pastoral
Office.--Boundary lines.--Increasing Discontent.--Division
of Parties.--Dictatorial Measures.

It is estimated that the whole population of New Netherland, in the
year 1646, amounted to about one thousand souls. In 1643, it numbered
three thousand. Such was the ruin which the mal-administration of
Kieft had brought upon the colony. The male adult population around
Amsterdam was reduced to one hundred. At the same time the population
of the flourishing New England colonies had incr