cation which he had received from the hostile fleet. Threats
were uttered. Curses were heard. Resistance was declared to be
madness. The universal voice clamored for the letter. The community
was upon the eve of mutiny.

At length Stuyvesant yielded. A copy of the letter was made out from
the fragments, and it was read to the people. This increased their
disposition to capitulate. Still the indomitable governor could not
endure the thought of surrendering the majestic province of New
Netherland to a force of four frigates. He regarded the movement, on
the part of the English, as an atrocious act of highway robbery. But
he was well aware that there was no escape from the sacrifice.

In the night he sent a vessel, "silently through Hell Gate," to the
Directors in Holland, with the following laconic dispatch. "Long
Island is gone and lost. The capitol cannot hold out long." When a
man's heart is broken his words are few.

Much of the night the governor spent in drawing up a strong
remonstrance, in answer to the message of Colonel Nicholls. All the
argument was with the Dutch. All the force was with the English. But
when argument and force come into collision in this wicked world,
argument must generally yield.

In the very able manifesto of the governor, he traced the history of
the country from the earliest period to the present time. He deduced
the title of the Dutch, to the territory, from the three great
principles of Discovery, Settlement, and Purchase from the Indians. He
severely denounced the pretence, now put forth by the English, that
his, "Britannic Majesty had an indisputable right to all the lands in
the north parts of America." Courteously he added that he was
confident that if his Majesty had been well informed in the premises,
his high sense of justice would have dissuaded him from authorizing
the present hostile demonstration. In conclusion he said,

"In case you will act by force of arms, we protest before
God and man, that you will perform an act of unjust
violence. You will violate the articles of peace solemnly
ratified by his Majesty of England, and my Lords the
States-General. Again for the prevention of the spilling of
innocent blood, not only here but in Europe, we offer you a
treaty by our deputies. As regards your threats we have no
answer to make, only that we fear nothing but what God may
lay upon us. All things are at His disposal, and we can