HISTORY

OF THE

STATE OF NEW YORK.

BY

JOHN ROMEYN BRODHEAD.

SECOND VOLUME.

FIRST EDITIO N.

NEW YORK:

HARPER & BROTHERS, PUBLISHERS,

FRANKLIN SQUARE.

1871.

Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1871, by

JOHN ROMEYN BRODHEAD,

In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington.

PREFACE

TO VOLUME SECOND.

WHEN this volume was begun, it was my purpose to bring its contents down to the accession of Queen Anne of England, and the chapters embracing the years between 1691 and 1702 are ready for the printer. But, by the affluence of original authorities, and the temptation to use them, perhaps, too liberally, this book, in spite of laborious condensation, may have grown unfashionably large; and these chapters must be reserved for another volumeshould the public manifest a desire to learn more of early New York, down to the inauguration of Washington.

Descended from an English officer who helped his king to conquer Dutch New Netherland, as well as from a colonial Hollander who stood up manfully for his Republican Fatherland, I feel no partiality in telling the history of the greatest European plantation in America. My object has been to exhibit the truth honestly and minutely. In doing this, I have long and carefully studied the received authorities relating to the colonial annals of our country, and also all that I have seen, recently brought to light. If I have missed my aim, let my failure be imputed to incapacity rather than to lack of industry or candor.

New York, February, 1871.

JOHN ROMEYN BRODHEAD.