e.

The crumbling fort was pronounced by all to be untenable. It was
originally constructed as a retreat from the savages, who could only
assail it with arrows and hatchets and a few musket balls. It was
surrounded by an earthen rampart, about ten feet high and three or
four feet thick. In all, there were twenty-four cannons within the
enclosure, which was unprotected by any ditch or palisades. In the
rear, where the throngs of Broadway now press along, there was a
series of forest-crowned eminences whose solitary summits were
threaded by an Indian trail. These hills commanded the fort. From
their crests the soles of the feet, it was said, of those walking in
the squares within, could be seen. There were not five hundred pounds
of powder in store fit for use. The gunners declared that a few hours
of fighting would exhaust it all. The stock of provisions was equally
low, and there was not a well of water within the fort.

It is probable that the majority of common soldiers, in almost any
regular army, is composed of dissolute worthless men. There are but
few persons but the lost and the reckless who will enlist to spend
their days in shouldering a musket. A young man of good character can
do better than convert himself into a part of such a military machine.
The garrison at New Amsterdam was composed of the off-scouring of
Europe. They were ready to fight under any banner which would pay
them. They were eager for the conflict with the English. At the first
volley they would throw aside their guns and join the English in the
plunder. One of them was heard saying to an applauding group:

"Now we hope for a chance to pepper these devilish Dutch
traders. They have salted us too long. We know where their
booty is stored. And we know also where the young girls live
who wear gold chains."

Under these circumstances the governor was compelled to yield. He
appointed six commissioners to confer with the same number of the
English. The parties met at Governor Stuyvesant's residence on his
farm or bouwerie, at eight o'clock in the morning of August 27th. The
terms were speedily settled, for the English would enforce any demands
which they were disposed to make. There were twenty-three articles of
agreement, entering into many details. The substance was that New
Netherland passed over entirely to the English. The Dutch retained
their property. If any chose to leave the country they could do so.
The ships of t