ousands of pipes smoked, and many a dull joke honored with
much obstreperous fat-sided laughter.

I must not omit to mention that to this far-famed victory Peter Stuyvesant
was indebted for another of his many titles, for so hugely delighted were
the honest burghers with his achievements, that they unanimously honored
him with the name of Pieter de Groodt; that is to say, Peter the Great;
or, as it was translated into English by the people of New Amsterdam, for
the benefit of their New England visitors, Piet de pig--an appellation
which he maintained even unto the day of his death.

FOOTNOTES:

[56] This castle, though very much altered, and modernized, is
still in being and stands at the corner of Pearl Street, facing
Coentie's Slip.

_BOOK VII._

CONTAINING THE THIRD PART OF THE REIGN OF PETER THE HEADSTRONG--HIS
TROUBLES WITH THE BRITISH NATION, AND THE DECLINE AND FALL OF THE DUTCH
DYNASTY.

CHAPTER I.

The history of the reign of Peter Stuyvesant furnishes an edifying picture
of the cares and vexations inseparable from sovereignty, and a solemn
warning to all who are ambitious of attaining the seat of honor. Though
returning in triumph and crowned with victory, his exultation was checked
on observing the abuses which had sprung up in New Amsterdam during his
short absence. His walking-staff which he had sent home to act as his
vicegerent, had, it is true, kept his council chamber in order; the
counsellors eyeing it with awe as it lay in grim repose upon the table,
and smoking their pipes in silence; but its control extended not out of
doors.

The populace unfortunately had had too much their own way under the slack
though fitful reign of William the Testy; and though upon the accession of
Peter Stuyvesant they had felt, with the instinctive perception which mobs
as well as cattle possess, that the reins of government had passed into
stronger hands, yet could they not help fretting and chafing and champing
upon, the bit in restive silence.

Scarcely, therefore, had he departed on his expedition against the Swedes,
than the whole factions of William Kieft's reign had again thrust their
heads above water. Pot-house meetings were again held to "discuss the
state of the nation," where cobblers, tinkers, and tailors, the
self-dubbed "friends of the people," once more felt themselves inspired
with the gift of legislation, and undertook to lecture on every movement
of government.

N