he Dutch merchants could, for the six months next
ensuing, trade freely with the Netherlands, as heretofore. The people
were to be allowed liberty of conscience in divine worship and church
discipline. No Dutchman should be impressed to serve in war against
any nation whatever. All the inferior civil officers were allowed to
continue in office until the next election, when they would be
required to take the oath of allegiance to the king of England.

The next day was Sunday. These articles were therefore not ratified
until eight o'clock Monday morning. It was agreed that within two
hours after the ratification, "the fort and town called New Amsterdam,
upon the island of Manhatoes," should be delivered up. The military
officers of the fort, and the soldiers were to be permitted to march
from their intrenchments with their arms, drums beating and colors
flying.

Colonel Nicholls took possession of the government. He changed the
name of the city from New Amsterdam to New York, in honor of the Duke
of York, the brother of the King of England. The fort was called fort
James. Colonel Nicholls became the deputy governor for James, the Duke
of York, in administering the affairs of the extended realms which the
British government had thus perfidiously seized. We regret to say, but
history will bear us out in the assertion, that there is no government
in Christendom whose annals are sullied with so many acts of
unmitigated villany as the government of Great Britain.

Colonel Nicholls immediately sent an armed force up the river, to take
possession of fort Orange; and another to the Delaware, to unfurl the
English flag over New Amstel. The name of fort Orange was changed to
fort Albany, the second title of the Duke of York. Three frigates were
sent to the Delaware. The severest punishment was denounced against
the Dutch and Swedes there, should they make any resistance. The same
terms were offered them which were granted to the people at New
Amsterdam.

The command of this expedition was entrusted to Sir Robert Carr.
Notwithstanding the sacred stipulations into which Carr had entered,
he trampled them all beneath his feet. Governor Stuyvesant writes,

"At New Amstel, on the South river, notwithstanding they
offered no resistance, but demanded good treatment, which
however they did not obtain, they were invaded, stript bare,
plundered, and many of them sold as slaves in Virginia."

This testimony is corro