Stadt Huys, (City Hall), New York, 1642.

[The above is a representation of the ancient "Stadt Huys" or City Hall, which was built early in the Dutch dynasty, in 1642. It was built of stone at the head of Coenties Slip facing Pearl street. About the year 1700, it became so weakened and impaired, it was sold, and a new one erected by the head of Broad street, which was afterwards the Congress Hall, on the corner of Wall street.]

"The city was laid out in streets, some of them crooked enough, in 1656. It then contained by enumeration 120 houses, with extensive garden lots,' and 1000 inhabitants. In 1677 another estimate of the city was made, and ascertained to contained 368 houses. In the year 1674, an assessment of the most wealthy inhabitants' having been made, it was found that the sum total of 134 estates amounted to 95,000l.

During the military rule of Governor Colve, who held the city for one year under the above mentioned capture, for the States of Holland, every thing partook of a military character, and the laws still in preservation at Albany show the energy of a rigorous discipline. Then the Dutch mayor, at the head of the city militia, held his daily parades before the City Hall (Stadt Huys), then at Coenties Slip; and every evening at sunset, he received from the principal guard of the fort, called the hoofd wagt, the keys of the city, and thereupon proceeded with a guard of six to lock the city gates; then to place a Burger-wagt-a citizen-guard, as nightwatches at assigned places. The same mayors also went the rounds at sunrise to open the gates, and to restore the keys to the officer of the fort. All this was surely a toilsome service for the domestic habits of the peaceful citizens of that day, and must have presented an irksome honor to any mayor who loved his comfort and repose.

It may amuse some of the present generation, so little used to Dutch names, to learn some of the titles once so familiar in New York, and now so little understood. Such as,-De Heer Officier,

or Hoofd-Schout-High Sheriff. De Fiscael, or Procureur Gen. Attorney General. Wees-Meesters-Guardians of orphans.Roy-Meesters-Regulators of fences. Groot Burgerrecht and Klein Burgerrecht-The great and small citizenship, which then marked the two orders of society. Eyck-Meester-The Weigh Master. The Schout, (the Sheriff) Bourgomasters and Schepens -then ruled the city as in all the cities of the Fatherland.' Geheim Schryver-Recorder-of secrets.*"

In the year 1623, the Dutch may be said to have commenced the regular settlement of Albany, by the construction at this place of Fort Orange, and giving to the little village the name of Auranie-names given in honor of their Prince of Orange. The place for a time bore the name of Beverwyck then Fort Orange until 1647: then Williamstadt until 1664; when it received at the British conquest the name of Albany. It was for a long period the advanced post for the fur trade. Here was the proper market for all the "Five Nations" or Iroquois, could gather from their hunting grounds, and for more than a century was a great place of resort for Indian visitors.

"The fort, a great building of stone was constructed on a high steep hill at the west end of State-street, having around it a high and thick wall, where they now have a state house and a fine commanding view over the town below. The English church was just below it, at the west end of a market; and the original old Dutch church, now down, of Gothic appearance, stood in the middle of State street of the eastern end-of which the cut seen on the opposite page is a representation.

* Watson's Sketches of Olden Times in N. Y.

Professor Kalm, who visited Albany in 1749, has left us some facts. All the people then understood Dutch. All the houses stood gable-end to the street; the ends were of brick and the side walls of planks or logs; the gutters on the roofs went out almost to the middle of the street, greatly annoying travelers in their discharge. At the stoopes (porches) the people spent much of their time, especially on the shady side; and in the evenings they were filled with people of both sexes. The streets were dirty, by reason of the cattle possessing their free use during the summer nights. They had no knowledge of stoves, and their chimnies were so wide that one could drive through them with a cart and horses. Many people still made wampum to sell to the Indians and traders. Dutch manners every where prevailed; but their dress in general was after the English form. They were regarded as close in traffic; were very frugal in their house economy and diet. Their women were over-nice in cleanliness, scouring floors and kitchen utensils several times a week; rising very early and going to sleep very late. Their servants were chiefly negroes. Their breakfast was tea without milk, using sugar by putting a small bit into the mouth. Their dinner was buttermilk and bread; and if to that they added sugar, it was deemed delicious. Sometimes they had bread and milk, and sometimes roasted or boiled meats."

At the period of the first settlements in New-York and NewEngland, there was some collision between the Dutch and English authorities, originating in conflicting claims to the same territory. The following correspondence between Governor Kieft of NewNetherlands and Governor Eaton, and the commissioners of the United Colonies, will serve to show the nature of these difficulties.

The letters here inserted, with many other of the like nature, are to be found in the 2d vol. of Hazard's Historical Collections.

"The Commissioners of Connecticute complayned of seueral insolencies and iniuries with an high hand lately committed and mayntained by the Dutch agent, and some of his family to the Disturbance of the peace there; and a protest lately sent by the Dutch Governoure against New Haven, with the answer returned were read. The Protest was written in Latine, the contents in English was as followeth. 'We William Kieft generall Director, and the Senate of NewNetherlands for the high and mighty Lords the States of the Vnited Belgicke Provinces, for his Excellency the Prince of Orange, and for the most noble Lords, the Administrators of the West India Company to thee Theophilus Eaton Governoure of this place, by vs called the Red Hills in New Netherland, but by the English called New Haven, we give notice that some years past, yours (without any occasion given by vs, and without any necessity imposed vpon them, but with an unsatiable desire of possessing that which is ours, against our protestations, against the law of Nations, and the auncient league the Kings Majesty of greate Britaine, and our superiours) haue indirectly entered the limitt of New Netherland, vsurped diuerse places in them, and haue bene very injurious vnto vs, neither haue they given satisfaccon though oft required: And because you and yours haue of late determined to fasten your foote neare Mauritius River in this Proviuce, and there not onely to disturb our trade (of noe man hitherto questioned) and to draw it to yourselues, but vtterly to destroy it, were compeled againe to Protest, and by these presents doe protest against you as against breakers of the peace, and disturbers of the publicke quiet, That if you do not restore the places you haue vsurped, and repaire the losse we haue suffered, we shall by such meanes as God affoords, manfully recover them. Neither doe we thincke this crosseth your publicke peace but shall cast the cause of the ensuinge euill vpon you. Given in Amsterdam forte August 3, 1646, Newstile. WILLIAM KIEFT.

The Answere was returned in Latine to the said protest the Contents as followeth.

To the Right Worshipfull WILLIAM KIEFT Gouernoure of the Dutch in NEW NETHERLAND.

SIR,

BY some of yours I haue receaued a Potest vnder your hand Dat. Aug. 3. 1646 wherein you pretend we haue indirectly entered the limits of New Netherland, vsurped diuerse places in them, and haue offred you many injuries, Thus in generall, and in reference to some yeare past, more particulerly that to the disturbance, nay to the vtter destruction of your trade, we haue lately set foote neare Mauritius Riuer in that province &c.

We doe truely professe we know noe such River, nor can cou ceiue what Riuer you intend by that name vnlesse it be that which

the English haue longe and still doe call, Hudson's Riuer. Nor haue we at any time formerly or lately entred vpon any place to which you had, or haue any knowne title, nor in any other respect beene injurious to you. It is true we haue lately vpon Pawgussett Riuer, which falls into the sea in the midst of the English Plantations, built a small house within our owne limits, many miles nay leagues from the Manhattoes from your tradinge house and from any porte of Hudson's River, at which we expect little trade but can compell none, the Indians beinge free to trade with you, vs, Connecticute, Mattachusetts, or with any others: nor did we build there till we had first purchased a due title from the true proprietors: what injuries and outrages in our persons and estates at the Manhattoes in Delawar River &c. we haue receiued from you, our former letters and protest doe both declare and proue to all which you have hitherto given very vnsatisfyinge answeres: But whatever our losses and sufferinge haue beene, we conceive we haue neither done, nor returned any thinge euen vnto this day, but what doth agree with the law of God, the law of Nations, and with that ancient confederation and amity betwixt our Superiours at home, soe that we shall readily refer all questions and difference betwixt you and vs euen from first to last to any due examination and judgement, either heere or in Europe and by these presents doe refer them, being well assured that his Majesty our soueraigne Lord Charles Kinge of great Britaine and the Parliament of England now assembled will maintaine their owne right and our iust liberties against any who by vnjust encroachment shall wronge them or theirs, and that your owne Principalls vpon a due and mature consideration will also see and approue the righteousnes of our proceedings.

New Haven in New England August 12th 1646. old stile.

T. E.

The premisses being duly considered both in reference to Hartford and New Hauen the Commissioners thought fitt to expresse their apprehentions in writinge to the Dutch Gouernor in latine but the Contents as followeth.

To the Right Worshipful WILLIAM KIEFT, Gouernor &c.

SIR,

VPON a due consideration how peace (a choice blessinge) may be continued, we are carefull to enquire and search into those differences and offences soe long continued betwixt some of our confederates and your selues: it is neare 3 yeares since the Governor of Mattachusets by consent and advice of the Counsell of that Colony, did particularly propounde to your consideration sundry injurious and vnworthy passages done by your Agent vpon the fresh Riuer, and some of his family vpon our brethren at Hartford to all which you returned an Ignoramus with an offensiue addicon which we leaue to a Review and better consideration, what inquiry and order you after made and tooke to suppresse such miscarriages for the future, we haue not heard, but certainly your Agent, and his company are now growne to a strange and vnsufferable bouldnes (we hope without commission) An Indian