t of returning to Holland,
which would depopulate the country. It is therefore
advisable to inclose the villages, at least the principal
and most opulent, with breastworks and palisades to prevent
surprise."

Looking into the future with prophetic eyes, which discerned the
future glories of the rising republic, the Directors added,

"When these colonies once become permanently established,
when the ships of New Netherland ride on every part of the
ocean, then numbers, now looking to that coast with eager
eyes, shall be allured to embark for your island."

This prophecy is now emphatically fulfilled when often one or two
thousand emigrants, from the old world, land at the Battery in a day.
When the prophecy was uttered, New Amsterdam was a small straggling
village of one story huts, containing about seven hundred inhabitants.
The whole island of Manhattan belonged in fee to the West India
Company. A municipal government was soon organized, which about the
year 1653, gave birth to the city of New Amsterdam.

Holland and England were now in open and deadly warfare. It will
hardly be denied by any one, that England was responsible for the
conflict. The New England colonies wished to avail themselves of the
opportunity to wrest New Netherland from the Dutch, and to extend
their sway from Stamford to the Chesapeake. Governor Stuyvesant
perceived his danger. He could be easily overpowered by the New
England colonies. He wrote very friendly letters to the governors,
urging that, notwithstanding the hostilities between the
mother-countries, commercial intercourse between the colonies should
continue on its former peaceful footing. At the same time he adopted
very vigorous measures to be prepared for defence should he be
assailed.

Rumors reached New Amsterdam of active military preparations in
progress in New England. It was manifest that some hostile expedition
was contemplated. Fort Amsterdam was repaired. The city was enclosed
by a ditch and palisade, with a breastwork extending from the East
river to the North river. The whole body of citizens mounted guard
every night. A frigate in the harbor was ready at any moment to spread
its sails, and its "guns were kept loaded day and night." The citizens
without exception, were ordered to work upon the defences, under
penalty of fine, loss of citizenship and banishment.

Thus barbaric war came again to mar all the prosperity of the col