the 9th
of November, 1609.

It will be remembered that Sir Henry Hudson was an Englishman, though
he was sailing in the service of the Dutch East India Company. When
the Dutch Directors heard of his arrival in England, and of the
important discoveries he had made, they sent orders for him
immediately to repair to Amsterdam. At the same time the Dutch
government claimed, by the right of discovery, all that portion of the
North American continent along whose coasts Hudson had sailed and upon
whose shores he had occasionally landed, taking possession of the same
in the name of the Dutch government.

The English government, jealous of the advantage which had thus been
gained by the flag of Holland, peremptorily forbade Hudson to leave
his native country; and for several months the Half Moon was detained
at Dartmouth.

CHAPTER II.

THE PROGRESS OF DISCOVERY.

Value of the Territory Discovered.--Fate of Hudson.--The
Conspiracy.--Aspect of Manhattan Island.--The Trail which
has Widened into Broadway.--The Opening Commerce.--The Fur
Trade.--Visit of the English Man of War.--Exploring the
Sound.--Commercial Enterprise Receives a New
Stimulus.--Erection of Forts.--Character of the Fur Trade.

The Half Moon was detained in England eight months, and did not reach
Amsterdam until the summer of 1610. The Dutch Directors, though
disappointed in not finding in the region they had explored the much
hoped-for Northwest Passage to the Indies, were somewhat elated by the
magnificent discoveries which had been made. The territory they
claimed, by virtue of these discoveries, extended from the mouth of
the Delaware on the South, to Cape Cod on the Northeast. The grand
river of Canada, the St. Lawrence, was deemed its northern frontier.
Its western boundaries were unexplored and unknown.

This was indeed a princely territory to be owned by any power. The
climate was as favorable as any to be found upon the globe. The soil
was fertile, the landscape being picturesquely diversified by
mountains and valleys. Vast forests, of the most valuable timber,
covered immense portions. Wild fruits and nuts in great variety were
found in profusion. The territory was watered by several truly
magnificent rivers. The region was filled with game; and furs, of the
richest kind and apparently in exhaustless quantities, could be
purchased of the natives, at an almost nominal price.

It may be worthy of no