mmediate opening of the bombardment, a boat was sent on shore with a
flag of truce, to demand the surrender of the city. At the same time a
boat was sent by Colonel Manning, from the fort to the ships. The
boats passed each other without any interchange of words. Colonel
Manning's boat bore simply the message to the Dutch Admirals, "Why do
you come in such a hostile manner to disturb his Majesty's subjects in
this place?" As England and Holland were then engaged in open war, one
would hardly think that such an inquiry was then called for. When
Colonel Nicholls came to New Amsterdam with his English fleet, the two
nations were in friendly alliance. Such a question then would have
been very appropriate.

The boat from the Dutch fleet bore a flag of truce at its stern, and
was accompanied by a trumpeter, who asked for the English officer in
command and presented the following message to Colonel Manning:

"The force of war, now lying in your sight, is sent by the
High and Mighty States-General and his serene Highness the
Prince of Orange, for the purpose of destroying their
enemies. We have sent you therefore, this letter, together
with our trumpeter, to the end that, upon the sight hereof,
you surrender unto us the fort called James, promising good
quarter; or by your refusal we shall be obliged to proceed,
both by land and water, in such manner as we shall find to
be most advantageous for the High and Mighty States."

Captain Manning returned an answer simply acknowledging the receipt of
the message, and informing the Dutch Admirals that he had already
dispatched officers to communicate with him. He promised upon the
return of those messengers to give a definite reply to his summons.

The Dutch Admirals, Benckes and Evertson, were not disposed to waste
any time in parleying. They probably remembered the circumstances
under which the province of New Netherland had been wrested from them
by its present possessors, and they rejoiced that the hour of
retribution had thus unexpectedly come.

They therefore sent back word that their batteries were loaded and
shotted and ready to open fire; that one half hour and one half hour
only, would be granted for deliberation; that immediately upon the
arrival of the boat at the fort the half hour glass would be turned
up; and that if, when its last sands fell, the white flag of surrender
were not raised upon the fort, the bombardment woul