Wilmington, Delaware - History (part 2 of 7)

the country. Nor was this all; they had, by purchase, extinguished the Indian title to large tracts of land both on the eastern and western sides of the river.

The quiet submission of the Dutch to this invasion of their territory, was probably induced by a variety of weighty considerations. Sweden at that time ranked amongst the most formidable military powers of Europe. Ferdinand II., Emperor of Germany, during the early part of the reign of Gustavus Adolphus, by a long and successful war, had obtained such vast power, as to alarm every neighbouring potentate who had not yet been subjected to his dominion. Not content with a despotic control over the civil concerns of his subjects, he determined to invade the region of mind, and destroy their religious franchises. He was an overbearing bigot, and, in the pride of victory and insolence of power, resolved to extirpate the Protestant religion from every part of his extensive empire. Gustavus Adolphus, supported by. other European powers, determined to invade Germany. In the year 1G30, he crossed the Baltic with an army, and by an unparalleled career of victory, astonished all Europe, and raised the military character of his country to the highest point of elevation. In a very short time he made himself master of nearly three hundred strong towns and fortresses, within the German empire ; and gained possession of a tract of country, extending from the borders of Hungary and Silesia to the banks of the Rhine, and from the Lake of Constance to the Baltic sea. The success of the Swedish arms having humbled the pride of Ferdinand, and prevented the execution of his designs against the Protestants, they regarded Gustavus as the champion of their cause, and venerated him as the successful defender of their faith. This elevation of Sweden as a warlike, powerful nation, no doubt awed the Dutch authority, as well in the " father-land" as in the colonies, while its exertions tor the perservation of the reformed religion may have excited their respect and sympathy, inclining them to forbearance. . However this may be, there were other circumstances which undoubtedly contributed to produce this effect. In the first place, the West India Company had taken no pains to bound their claims definitively. The country they called the " New Netherlands" was said to extend from Cape Henlopen, in lat. 38° 53' N. to Cape Cod in lat. 42° N., and westward without any definite line of demarcation. These pretensions, including the States of Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island and part of Massachusetts, were too large to be maintained either in theory or practice. The claim was weakened by its extravagance, and by the successful encroachments of the English on the Connecticut river. In the next place, the claimants were only a chartered trading company, whose members were merchants, and whose object was the greatest gain with the least outlay. Their Director, Kieft, found it was far easier, and much more economical to issue a paper protest, than to equip a squadron, or send an army. The main objection of the Dutch, to the colonization of the Swedes on the Delaware, was not any loss of territory, but the loss of trade ; not the want of the land they occupied, but of the beaver skins and peltry they got of the Indians.

By the charter granted to the " West India Company," it had not the power to declare war, or to commence hostilities, against either a foreign state or the native Indians, without the consent of the States General of the United Netherlands ; and in case a war should be waged against the company, or its settlements, the States were only bound to furnish one-half the means of equipping and manning a squadron for the occasion ; after it went into service, the expenses of maintaining the armament were to be paid wholly by the company. This wise regulation of the moneyloving legislators of Holland, had, perhaps, more to do in the preservation of peace, than any supposed phlegm or obtusity of feeling in the Dutch character. History demonstrates that when the interests of their nation were at stake, they wanted neither the courage nor the capacity to defend themselves or to annoy their enemies.

by the jarring interests of the parties, arising out of (heir peculiar relation to each other, during the whole time they held the ground of distinct and independent colonies. The Swedes conscious that under no principle regulating nations, could they sustain any claim to lands on the Delaware, were anxious to establish the doctrine that a title from the Indians was paramount to and extinguished all other claims ! It was, therefore, important that they should keep on good terms with the natives. The Dutch, who were anxious to strengthen their own title at every point, took measures to deprive the Swedes of any advantage from this fallacious doctrine, by purchasing, as fast as their means would allow, the aboriginal right to the country. The consequence was a disposition on both sides to keep up a o-ood understanding with the natives ; and it is remarkable, that during the Swedish dynasty, not a drop of Indian blood was shed oil" the Delaware, by either party.

Chapter

About this time, [1638] the Dutch began to look more diligently to their interests on the Delaware. Van T wilier had just been displaced, and was succeeded by Kieft, who arrived in a ship called the Ilareng, March 28th, 1638.* In the spring of the following year [March 22d, 1639,] the new Director General instituted a scrutiny into the conduct of the retiring officer, in relation to the public expenditures. t Van 'f wilier was accused of mismanagement and neglect of the company's concerns. In his own justification he summoned Gillies Peterson Van Der Gouw, to appear as a witness, who being duly qualified, did affirm, that sundry buildings had been constructed by him for the company, at New Amsterdam, and elsewhere on the public property; and that at Fort Nassau on the Delaiuare he had built, one large house, and had repaired the fortifications. From which it appears that, during Van Twiller's administration, which lasted but five years, and expired just before the Swedes arrived, the fort had been an object of care. The report of A. Iludde, who was a commissary in the service of the West India Company, and a commander at Fort Nassau, is positive, that in 1638, when the Swedes first came, the fort had "a sufficient garrison," "men and ammunitions of war."J

By the public records at Stockholm it appears, that in the year 1640, several companies of emigrants left Sweden for this country. One ship called the Fredenburg, commanded by Captain Jacob Powelson, laden with men, cattle, and implements of husbandry, was licensed by the Swedish authorities to proceed to New Sweden, as the country on the west side of the Delaware

By a letter of the same date from the'same authorities, addressed to the Commandant Minuit, and oilier inhabitants of Fort Christina, we learn that permission had been granted to Gofhbert de Rehden, Wm. De Horst, and others, to send out and establish a colony on the north side of the Delaware. In a charter of the same date, granted to this company, we learn something in relation to the principles adopted for the regulation and government of colonics under the Swedish crown. To them was granted a tract of land, without defining the quantity, about eighteen English miles from Fort Christina ; they paying to the crown -three florins of the empire for every family settling within the grant. The company had power, within its own limits, to administer justice, found cities, villages, and communities, with police regulations ; to appoint magistrates and other officers of government, and to take the title and arms of a province or colony. The sovereignty of the crown, and right of appeals to it and to the governors established by it, were reserved ; and all laws and ordinances were subject to the revision and approbation of said governors. Different religions were tolerated, on conditions honourable to the authority that imposed them, to wit, " that those who professed either, should live in peace, abstaining from every useless dispute, from all scandal, and all abuse." The colonists were at liberty to engage in every species of manufacture, and- in domestic and foreign commerce ; all to be carried on in vessels built in the colonies, the foreign trade restricted to Swedish ports. No imposts to be laid within ten years ; after that period a duty of five per cent, on all imports and exports, to be paid in New Sweden, for the support of government there. lhese with some other minor regulations, constituted the plan for the government of companies, settling under charters from the crown of Sweden.

rlhe authorities of Sweden appointed one Jost deBogart, or as Acrelius names him, Jost von dem Boyandh, as the chief or municipal director of all the Hollanders who had settled in New

Sweden, under the authority of government. lie bound himself to be faithful to her majesty, and not only to aid by his counsel and fictions the people at Fort Christina, but to use exertions to procure, as occasions should present, whatever might be advantageous to her majesty, and to suffer no opportunity to escape him of communicating to the government any information he might receive, calculated to promote the prosperity of the colony and the crown. He was to have a salary of two hundred rix dollars per annum.*

From the preceding statements we learn that emigrants from Holland, at this early period of the Swedish settlement on the Delaware, had so much confidence in its stability as to accept a license from the government at Stockholm, to set-1 tie on lands claimed by the West India Company. From which we may infer that the Dutch authorities in Holland had yet taken no active measures to interfere with the pretensions of the Swedes, or to interrupt their proceedings, though considered as intruders.

These Dutch settlers arc no doubt the same that are alluded to in the instructions given to Governor Printz, in 1612, as preserved in Rudman's Memoirs, translated by Collin ; where it is said, " those Dutch families which had settled on the west side [of Delaware] under allegiance to the crown of Sweden, were to retain their granted privileges, but to move further down from the vicinity of Christina Fort, by mild persuasion, but not by compulsion, if willing [or desiring] to remain."

It. is not very easy with certainty to point out the settlement of these Hollanders ; nothing in the records relating to that period give any clue to the discovery of their location. When the three clergymen, Andrew Rudman, Erick Biorck, and Jonas Auren, came to America as missionaries, in 1G97, and landed at a place on the Elk River called Transtown, [perhaps the same now called Frenchtown,] they found there was a Swedish settlement within " an English mile" of their landing. t From the church records at Christina, avc loam that when Biorck, in 1698, was raising the means to build the church near the old fort, a certain Hans Stellman advanced him on bond £400 which he finally released for the benefit of the. congregation. The instrument styles him [ " Hans Stellman, of the county of Cecil, in the province of Maryland, merchant." And by the same records we learn, that, in those early times, the services of their clergyman, in relation to baptisms, burials, &c, were required in the vicinity of Apoquinnimink* and St. Georges. These circumstances lead us to look in that direction for the location of the Dutch colonies, the more so because the distance nearly corresponds with that designated in the grant, and because, in the instructions to Printz, it is clearly shown that the settlements were below the fort, inasmuch as he was ordered to persuade them to " move further down from the vicinity of Christina Fort."

It was also in the year 1640, [some say 1641,] that a number of English families settled on Salem Creek, at a place called by the Indians Asamohaking. We have no certain knowledge how at this early period the English came to settle at this place. Some have supposed they were squatters from New Haven, some adventurers from Maryland, and others, the pioneers of Sir Edmund Ployden. Be that as it may, this attempt was regarded with great uneasiness by both the Dutch and Swedes. It is said that they united their means to expel the English, but when or how we are not informed.!

In Prinlz's instructions dated 1642, he is directed by gentlemeans to effect their removal. If they did not incline to remove, he was to take them under the protection of the Swedish government.

* Some confirmation of this conjecture, may perhaps, be derived from the fact that on Lindstrom's Map of 1654, the Apoquinnimink Creek is laid down with more precision than usual with him, under the name of Anoquonema.

In the following year [1641] the colony was deprived by death of their governor and faithful friend, Peter Minuit ; their pioneer to the new world, and vigilant guardian, after their settlement. Acrelius says, " he did great service to the first Swedish colony; - during three years he protected this small fort, [Christina,] which [in his time] the Dutch never attempted." He appears to have been well qualified for the station he filled; being an active, enterprising, judicious commander. His colony was the first on the Delaware that survived its founder. It was planted without bloodshed, and maintained in peace, to the end of his days.

The disagreement between him and the West India Company, in 1632 or 1(133, during his administration at New Amsterdam, so far as a conclusion can be drawn from all the facts transmitted to us, is not chargeable to Minuit. A lively picture of the distracted and discordant state of the directors, about the time of Minuit's discharge, is given b}r De Vries. When the latter arrived at Manhattan, July 24th, 1633, he found them at variance with each other. " As I was at variance with my associates and they being all directors of the West India Company, and continually quarrelling with one another, I have resigned. The directors have done nothing but fight with their own shadows."'* The truth is, that the patroons or large land-holders had interests distinct from, and opposed to the interests of the company ;^and at the same time were in the directorship of the concern. Under these circumstances the integrity of the governor would make them his enemies ; a more flexible officer must have been more acceptable ; and such a one they probably had in Van Twiller, who succeeded Minuit.

The little that can be gathered of his character, lies scattered in small fragments, amongst the different authors of that day : enough, however, lias been discovered to justify the character before given of him. Van der Donck, in his description of the New Netherlands, quotes a letter of Minuit's, which shews his concern for the agricultural interests of the company. He tells us, " Mr. Minuit writes, that he has sown canary seed, and that it grew and yielded well, but he adds, that the country is new, and in a stale of beginning; and (hat the time of (he cultivators should not be spent on such experiments, but to the raising of the necessaries of life ; of which, God be praised, there is plenty and to spare, for a reasonable price. And we begin to supply provisions and drink, in common with our Virginia neighbours, to the West Indies and to the Carribbee Islands, which we expect will increase from year to year, and in time become a fine trade in connection with our Netherlands and Brazil commerce." And again, " Commander Minuit testifies that cummin seed, canary seed, and the like, have been tried and succeed well, but are not sought after."*

History informs us that Minuit died and was buried at Christina, in 1641, and that Torkillus, the first Swedish clergyman who came to this country, died at. the same place, on the 7th September 1643.1 We know of no grave yard in our country, which was laid out at that time, but we do know that sixty years before the erection of the old church, a considerable number of families were settled in this immediate vicinity. The little town of Christinaham stood within two or three hundred yards of the present old cemetery. Round this spot, and within a few miles of it, the great body of emigrants clustered from the first planting of the colony. Religiously educated, and always manifesting much respect for the particular customs of their church, we cannot suppose they were ind 'liferent as to the place or manner of burying their dead. At the time of their landing, and for many years afterwards, all the surrounding country

Note. - Moulton says, "Minuit built two or three wind mills at Manhattan, by which corn was ground and boards sawed." - Moultoifs N. V. part 2, p. -JOS.

t Torkillus married in the colony, and left a wife and one child. Perhaps his descendants remain among us under some Anglicized name, of a more euphonious character.

was in a wild, uncultivated state, inhabited by the natives. The little settlement at " the Rocks" was the principal residence and sole rendezvous of all the emigrants. There they resorted for intelligence from the " fatherland." There they went for many of the necessaries, and for all the luxuries of life. There they went to mingle together in the solemn duty of public worship ; and to this cherished and venerated spot, we cannot reasonably doubt, they went to bury their dead ; at least until the erection of the Crane-hook Church in 1GG7. Under these circumstances there can be little doubt that the present grave yard was a place of sepulture long before the present church was erected.*

Where do the remains of Minuit, the first Governor, and of Torkillus, the first missionary lie? There is no stone to tell ! More than half a century after their decease, when Biorck, and his church councillors selected the present site, for the erection of a place of worship, some of their cotemporaries were on the stage of action. The place of their interment was then known. t Some, perhaps, of those who had followed their remains " to the house appointed for all living," could point to the spot where their relics had been consigned to the earth, and that spot, already devoted to the dead, would have strong claims to a preference, over all others, as a suitable location for a cemetery. Under these considerations, we arc inclined to believe, that the mortal remains of the two most distinguished men who had ever died in the colony, lie some where within the present walls of the old grave-yard.

* This conjecture is made almost certain, by the phraseology of the articles of agreement between the church wardens and Joseph Yard, for building the old church. The language implies that the ground was a church-yard before the church was built- It says; " which is to bo built in and upon the church-yard at Christeen/' - which we suppose was so called because it was the grave-yard of the church which formerly stood close by it.

t. At the time the church was built, there were thirty-nine families on the Delaware, the male heads of which were born in Sweden. See Campanius, p. ]G 1. &c.

command and administration at Christina. He was a native Swede, and a soldier by profession ; but of his character as a governor, nothing is known. After holding his office for one year and a half, he returned to Sweden, and was made Commander of the Naval Arsenal at Stockholm.* His course is not marked by any act, either of benefit or injury to the colony; but a governor who does no harm, deserves the favourable regard of posterity.

Some Englishmen residing in New Haven, as early as the year 1610, had sent an exploring party into the Delaware with a view of establishing a colony. Like the Swedes before them, they chose to assume the ground, that an Indian title was altogether sufficient ; and without any inquiry about prior claims, or prior rights, they purchased large tracts of land on both sides of the bay and river. In the spring of 1612 they went up the Schuylkill, took possession of the country and "began to plant, and set up houses for trade." At this juncture Fort Nassau was commanded by Jan Janscn, under the Dutch Governor Kieft, who having duly received information of this daring invasion of the company's territory, despatched two armed vessels from New Amstcrdam, with an order to Jansen, dated May 22d, 1642, to the following effect: " So soon as the sloops Real and St. Martin arrive he shall go aboard. If necessary, he may collect more forces, and enter the Schuylkill, and approach the place of which the English have lately taken possession, demanding by what authority they presume to deprive us of our land and trade. If they have any royal commission, either the original, or a genuine copy of it, he shall, in complaisant manner, desire them to withdraw, for preventing of bloodshed. If they refuse he shall make them prisoners, and carry them aboard the sloops : and for the rest take care to preserve dominion, and to defend the honour of the High and Mighty States, and of the Honourable West India Company. When the English are removed he shall entirely demolish that place. He shall provide

Go History Op The

Of this procedure on the part of the Dutch the squatters afterwards heavily complained, reporting to the commissioners of the colonies at Boston, that in 1642, the Dutch Governor Kieft, " without cause or warning given, without showing any title to the place, or hearing what the English could say for themselves," - " sent armed vessels and men, in hostile manner, when they were altogether unprepared for defence, as expecting nothing but peace, seized their goods, carried away the men prisoners, and with such violent haste burnt down their trading houses ; that two hours respite for entreaty or consideration could not be obtained ; nor so much time as to inventory the goods taken out of their charge."! The commissioners remonstrated, some altercation ensued, but the spirited action of Kieft, probably convinced the intruders, that to pursue their projects might cost more than would be repaid by the adventure ; and they abandoned the scheme.

Original Settlements On The Delaware. Ci Chapter Vi

We have now arrived at a period of our history when the Swedish colony began to excite more interest both in Europe and America. On the return of Ilollendare, if not before, John Printz, a native of Sweden, and lieutenant-colonel in the service of the queen, was appointed to govern and direct the colony. The authorities at Stockholm had determined to enlarge the sphere of their operations, and they sent out Printz in the capacity of a colonist, as well as of a governor. lie came with a squadron of two ships of war, the Svan and Charitas, and an armed transport called the Fame, having on board arms, ammunition, troops, and a large number of emigrants. John Campanius, a distinguished clergyman, and grandfather of the historian, came out at this time as a missionary. They left Stockholm on the 16th of August, 1642, and passing by the West India Islands, arrived in our bay, and anchored olT the Hoorn-kill, on the 3d of January, 1643. Here they encountered a tremendous storm, accompanied with snow. The Fame lost three large anchors, her mainmast, and some of her sails, but after running aground and incurring great danger of a total loss, she was got off, and they all finally arrived in safely at Christina on the 15th of Feb., 1643.*

Printz, in search of a location for his colony, found at a short distance above the spot where Chester now stands, a beautiful piece of land, with a high_bold shore, lying between the Delaware and a navigable creek, running up into the Indian country, and opening a fine avenue for trade with the natives. The place was called by the Indians Tenacongt since modified into Tinicum. This name it now bears, and is the beautiful site of the Pennsyl-

This land was at that time surrounded by water, having the Delaware on the east, Tenacong's Kilen, now Darby creek, on the south and west, and on the north a sound or branch, passing across a morass, and connecting Darby creek with the Delaware, near Fort Mifflin. The greater part of the land within these limits and to the westward, was high or fast land ; extremely rich and fertile, and well supplied with wood and timber. Here the governor built for himself a " very handsome" and commodious dwelling, which he called Printz-Hall.* Here also he built " a pleasure house," planted orchards, laid out gardens, and otherwise beautified and improved the place, intending it as the seat of government, and great emporium of commerce in New Sweden. " On this island," £ays Campanius, speaking of the colonists under Printz, " the principal inhabitants had their dwellings and plantations." Here he built a fort and named it "New Gottenburg;" and here was erected a church, which, in 1646, was consecrated by Campanius, the grandfather of the historian; and a grave yard laid out, in which we are informed the first corpse was interred on the 2Sth of September in that year. It was the body of Catharine, the daughter of Andrew Hanson.

It is evident from various circumstances, connected with this second attempt of the Swredes, 10 plant a colony on our shores that the authorities of Sweden, had now determined to use effectual means to secure a permanent establishment inAmerica ; and to maintain by force of arms, a claim to the whole western shore of the Delaware. No armament had ever entered the Delaware that could compare with the one under the command of Printz, either for its numbers or its military strength. His instructions were intended to give vigour to his government, and the warlike force under his command, gave him power fully to carry them out.

Original Settlements On The Delaware- 03

From " Rudman's Memoirs" we liavc obtained a very interesting account of the duties devolved on Print/, by the Swedish Government. As it throws some light on an interesting period of our colonial history, and is a very rare document, we believe, it will not be deemed a trespass on his patience to give it to the reader in exlcnso. It is in the hand wilting of the venerable Nicholas Collin.

" John Print/, Lieutenant Colonel in the army, was, in his commission, styled Governor ok New Sweden. His Instructions dated Stockholm, 16 12, 15th of August, contain twentyeight Articles, which in a judicious manner detail all the objects of his Official charge. They are reducible under three heads, respecting the Swedes - the vicine 'Europeans - the Indians ; of which the following is a compendious view. 1st. To promote, by the most zealous endeavours, a sincere piety towards almighty God, in all respects. To maintain the public worship according to the doctrines and rites of the national Church. To support a proper Ecclesiastical Discipline. To urge instruction and virtuous education of youth and children. To administer justice according to Swedish Laws in decision of controversies, and penalties on offenders; even capital, on atrocious malefaclors ; but not without a scrupulous examination, and the approbation of his counsellors, whom he was to choose amongst the wisest and best men in the colony. To preserve, so far as practicable, the manners and customs of Sweden, accommodating them, in some cases, to existing circumstances. To promote diligently all profitable branches of industry ; immediate culture of grain and other vegetables; afterwards procuring good race of cattle, sheep, and other animals, in addition to those sentfrom Sweden ; raising large quantities of tobacco, by appointing many labourers, and skilful managers, for exports to Sweden ; forming ample tiaflic for peltry with the Indians by agents under his inspection, in the name and on behalf of the Company; gradual increase of sheep for a surplus of wool to the mother country ; search for metals and minerals in different parts ; exploring valuable kinds of wood for sending such home in ballast; trials of mulberry (roes for breeding silk worms ; of the native grape for wine, and of the walnuts for oil; 'attempt of making salt on the sea-shore ; enquiring about fisheries of whales and other kinds, where and how they may be pursued with advantage. These matters were thus particularly ordered ; and a general direction is given to promote the welfare of the colony, as a wise, active, and faithful governor.

"2d. Relating to the Dutch and English. With the first mentioned he was to cultivate a friendly intercourse, but positively to deny their ptetended right to any part of the land on the west side of the river, purchased by the Swedes from the Indians, and to prohibit Swedish vessels passing their fort Nassau; and he was authorized if all friendly negotiation proved fruitless to repel force by force. Those Dutch families which had settled on the west side under allegiance to the crown of Sweden, were to retain the granted privileges, but to remove farther down from the vicinity of Christina Fort, by mild persuasion, but not by compulsion, if willing to remain. The governor was to continue the friendly commercial dealing with the English in Virginia already begun, by their supplying the colony with grain, cattle, and other useful articles. Some English families, about sixty persons, having settled in the preceding year (1641) on Ferken's creek, (now Salem,) and the agents of the company having, as her majesty's subjects, but [bought] from the Indian owners the whole district from Cape May to Raccoon Creek, with a view to unite these English with the Swedes, the governor was faithfully to perform that contract, and as the English expect soon by further arrivals to make a number of several hundred, seeming also willing, as a free people, to be subjects of a government that can protect them, he may receive them under allegiance to the Swedish crown, but rather by gentle means endeavour to effect their departure, as more expedient for the interest of her majesty, and of the company.

" 3dly. Respecting the Indians. The governor was directed to confirm, directly after his arrival, the Treaty with the Indians, by which they had stipulated the western shore of Delaware from Cape Henlopcn to the falls of Sanhickans, and so much inland as gradually should be wanted ; also to ratify the bargain for land on the east side above mentioned, and in these and future purchases to regard them as rightful owners of the country. He was to treat these and all the vicine tribes in the most equitable and humane manner, so that no injury by violence or otherwise, should be done to them by any of his people. He should impress on their minds the belief that he had come, not to cause any harm, but to bring all kinds of necessary and useful things, and to receive in return the products of their country. He had also in charge to promote on all opportunities their adoption of Christianity, and the manners of civil society."

In these instructions to Printz, we discover the policy at that time adopted by the Swedish Government, for the preservation, extension, and regulation of her American colonies, and we think we also discover in them the causes of that jarring and contention, which soon afterwards grew up in the settlements on the Delaware, and which in the short space of twelve years destroyed forever the Swedish authority in America. There is in this document such a manifest determination wholly to disregard those laws which time and experience seem to have established for the government of nations ; such a violation of respect for acknowledged rights, that nothing, on the part of the Dutch, but a spirit of entire submission, or total inability to support their just claims, could have induced them to acquiesce in such unreasonable assumptions. It is, therefore, not surprising that, in a very short time after Printz came into the administration of government, the parties became involved in angry altercation.

It has been laid down as law, for the government of nations, by the highest judicial authorities, - 1st. That discovery of uninhabited countries gives title to the government, by whose subjects, or under whose authority, the discovery is made. If the country be inhabited by -uncivilized nations, discovery gives a pre-emption rigid. But to give validity to claims by discovery, there must be a possession or partial occupation of the territory. 2d. It G* results from these principles, that the discoverer, if in reasonable time he should avail himself of his power, has the sole right, either by purchase or conquest, to establish settlements in the newly discovered country. And 3dly. That the natives are to be recognized as the rightful owners of the soil, but not as having the power to sell it to whom they please, because of the original fundamental principle, that discovery gives to the discoverer an exclusive title to buy of the natives*

In applying these principles to the case before us, there is no difficulty in determining where lay the rightful claim to the land on the Delaware. The Dutch were unquestionably the discoverers of the country. If, on this point, there ever was a ground of controversy, it was between them and the English : between them and the Swedes there certainly never was any. The Dutch had the title by discovery, and had consummated that title by actual possession. In the language of their governor to Minuit, " the whole South River of the New Netherlands, both the upper and the lower, had been their property for many years, occupied by forts and sealed by their blood." Nor was that all, they had, at least in two instances, bought of the Indians large tracts of land, lying on both sides of the rivcr;t long before the Swedes came to America ; thus also extinguishing the Indian title ! One of these tracts, near Cape Ilenlopen, thirty miles long and two miles wide, had been actually settled by De Vries in 1631; as before related, the other on Cape May, eighteen English miles in length along the bay, and the same distance inland, was purchased for Godyn, Bloemart, and Company, in 1030.J

In accordance with the law of nations, as before stated, the Dutch had the sole right to acquire the soil of the natives ; and the Indians might not dispose of it to the Swedes. The Swedish authorities were probably aware of these truths. There is in the instructions an evident anxiety to get up and support the doctrine that an Indian grant not only gave a good title, but actually exiinguislied all other claims. Printz was expressly ordered in all future purchases of land, to regard the Indians as the rightful owners of the country, positively to deny to the Dutch a right to any part of the land on the west side of the river, and also any right to prohibit Swedish vessels from passing Fort Nassau, which lay at least thirty miles above the only Swedish settlement then on the Delaware, and he was authorized, if the Dutch would not submit, " to repel force by force." It is therefore not marvellous that the attempt to enforce such principles, should involve them in disputes, which at length terminated in open war. Had the Swedes at this time, adopted a more temperate, just and conciliating policy, it is very probable the event might have been different.

Printz was an energetic officer; bold, arbitrary and persevering.* He was accustomed to command and impatient of controul. In less than eight months after his arrival he had built two forts; one at Tinicum, which he named New Gottenburg; and one at the Varckenkill, afterwards called by the English Salem creek. It was erected on the south side of the creek at its junction with the Delaware. This fort was called Elfsborg, by the Swedes - subsequently known by the names of Elsingborg and Elsingborough. So prompt was Printz in carrying out the designs of his superiors, that before the end of 1643 both these forts were built, armed, and garrisoned. When De Vries sailed up the Delaware, in the month called October, of the last mentioned year, his boat was fired at from this fort, and he was ordered to strike his Hag. It was mounted at that time by eight twelve pound cannon. f Two years afterwards, Andreas Hudde, the Dutch Commander at Fort Nassau, in his report of the proceedings of Printz on the Delaware, tells us, that at the entrance of the river, taken from its mouth three [Dutch] miles

* Rudman says, "he had become unpopular by the exercise of a loo rigid authority.'' See Clay's Annals oi'the Swedes, p. 25. f De Vries; p. 273.

and upwards, on the east shore, is a fort named Elsenburgh, usually garrisoned by twelve men commanded by a lieutenant, having four guns iron and [four] brass, of twelve pounds, and one pots-hoof I ; which fort was not constructed [long] before, but built by the aforesaid John Print/, a short while after he arrived on the afore said river. By means of this fort the aforesaid Printz closed Ihe entrance of the river, so that all vessels, cither those arrived from hence [New Amsterdam] or other places, are compelled to cast their anchor, not excepting those of the noble Company, as is evident from several yachts coming from the Manhattans, which, wishing to pursue their voyage towards the place of their destination, without stopping often, were injured by cannon balls, and were in imminent danger of losing some of their crew; so that they must proceed with small craft, upwards of six miles, towards the aforesaid Printz, to obtain his consent, that they may sail higher up the river, no matter whether they are Englishmen or Netherlander^, without paying any regard to their commissions."*

With respect to the period of the erection of this fort, Campaniles, the Swedish historian, agrees with both the Dutch Chroniclers, before recited. He tells us that " this fort," which he calls Elfsborg, "is situated at the distance of four leagues south of Fort Christina, and nearer to Cape llenlopen. It was erected by Governor John Printz, when he first came into ihe country. It was mounted with cannon, and when the Swedes came in from Sweden, with their ships, those guns were fired to welcome them."t Rudman, as translated by Collin, says " John Printz came as Governor of JVew Sweden, in 1642, with two ships of war, called Svan and Charitas." - " The Dutch began to impede the trade of the Swedes with the Indians;;;: Printz there-

Jit was on the Schuylkill the only collisions between the Dutch ami rhe Swedes occurred, in relation to the trade with the Indians, and therefore this circumstance could not have been the real motive for building a tort at the mouth of Salem Creek.

Oricinal Settlements On The Delaware. Go

fore ordered the building of a fort at E2sinborough, and obliged all their vessels to pay toll there. They [the Dutch] then left Fort Nassau, and moved to Sandhuken on the west side and erected there Fort Cassimir. lie protested against it, as encroaching on Swedish ground, but had not sufficient power to control them.*

These facts clearly prove that Fort Elsingburg was erected by Prints in the early part of his administration. Several historians have fallen into error on this subject, probably from relying on the authority of Acrelius, who erroneously refers its erection to a period subsequent to the building of Fort Cassimer at Sandhuken, the present site of New Castle. t There is ample evidence to show that Fort Cassimer was not erected till the year 1631, eight years after the building of Fort Elsingburg.

By the energy and industry of Printz the Swedes had now three forts on the Delaware, all below the Dutch Fort Nassau; to wit, one at Tinicum, one at Christina, and one at Elsingburg, the mouth of Salem creek. The Swedish force on the Delaware was greatly superior to that of the Dutch, and Printz by his movements soon let them know that he. intended to exclude them from all trade on the west side of the river, and from any occupancy of the soil. In the prosecution of these measures he was instructed by his commission, if necessary, " to repel force by force." In all his actions we perceive a disposition and dc- tAcrelius says: "As Governor Printz had precluded the free access to Fort Nassau by the fort on Tinicum below it, the Dutch endeavoured to repair this misfortune in the following manner: they bought from the Indians all the land between Manigvas or Mingvas Creek, avid Bomties orBambo-IIoock (Canarosse) and got a deed for it 19th July,. 1651. Immediately afterwards they erected Fort Cassimer on Sand-hoock. Governor Printz made positive remonstrances- against it, but in vain. To prevent the bad effects of it, said governor erected anotheT fort, which he named Elfeborg, on the place called by die Indians Woolsessung. one Swedish mile below Sand-hoock, and two below Christina, on the west side. Here the Swedish salute was tired on the arrival of Swedish vessels, but the main intent was to visit the Dutch vessels which passed and oblige them to lower their colours, which greatly affronted them.*' - Acrel. 410.

termination effectually to cany out the views of his government. He fortified both shores of the river, and when De Yries was fired at, in the autumn of 1643, from Fori Elfsborg, as is before mentioned, Printz commanded in person. At this very early period he had blockaded the entrance to the river, so that no . Dutch ship could pass without striking her colours, coming to an anchor, and paying a toll. Tims were the Dutch forced to pay for the privilege of visiting their own establishments, settled and fortified fifteen years before the first Swedish colony came to America. Their flag was dishonoured, their vessels assaulted, and their trade impeded. It is no cause of wonder that such hostile proceedings " greatly affronted them/5* and finally involved the Swedes in more serious troubles.

To secure the trade with the Indians on the Schuylkill, Printz built a fort on an island in that river, within gunshot of its mouth. t At that time all the great meadows extending from the high point of land at Bartram's Botanic Garden, in a southerly course to the Delaware, were under water. When the tide was at its highest point, vessels drawing four or five feet water, could sail from Fort Gottenburg on Tinicum Island, across those meadows to the mouth of Schuylkill, which at that period opened just below the said garden, the south point of which was one o'l its capes. + Just above the elevated land, on which stands Bartram's old mansion house, and through which by a deep cut, walled on both sides, the Philadelphia, Wilmington and Baltimore Rail Road passes, there is, on the present margin of the Schuylkill, a cluster of rocks, considerably elevated above the water, and partly covered with earth and forest trees. Pmtwcen these rocks and what was once the shore, close by the rail-road, there is a piece of meadow land more than two hundred yards wide, which in Governor Print's time, was under water, and

}:See Lindstrom's Map, 1654, 1655. Schuylkill is a Dutch name, and means hidden-creek, or Sculk-cicek, from the retired and bidden situation of its mouth.

Original Settlements On The Delaware. 7 1

constituted part of the river Schuylkill. That cluster of rocks and the earth then connected with them, formed the island on which Printz built the fort as aforesaid.

This fort gave to the Swedes the command of the only practicable avenue of trade with the Minquas of Kingsessing, Blockley, and the adjacent country on the Schuylkill, then thickly inhabited by the natives. It enabled them to block up that river so that no vessel could pass beyond it. Lower down on the main land, probably near the farm late of Samuel Gibson, Printz built a "stronghouse" to secure more effectually the trade below. This spot had long been used as a place of traffic with the Indians, and to which they were accustomed to resort for the exchange of their furs and peltry. By these means the Swedes had so completely monopolized the business on the Schuylkill, and the adjacent country on the westerly side of the Delaware, that the commander at Fort Nassau complained of them, ashaving usurped "the command over the whole creek," - which, said he, is Ct the only remaining avenue for trade with the Minquas, without which trade the river [Delaware] is of little value."*

It appears that Commissary lludde, as agent of the West India Company, and the guardian of its interests on the Delaware, had been directed to watch the motions of Printz, and, as much as possible, to protect their rights. In pursuance of his commission, as appears by his report to the authorities at Manhattan, he made a thorough investigation into the state of the Swedish affairs, at their different posts, on both sides of the river. A fragment of that report has been preserved among the colonial records at Albany, and furnishes some, particulars relating to this early period of our history, which are extremely interesting. After mentioning the " strong house" which had been erected by Printz, in a " place named Kinsessing by the savages," and which must have been a little to the south-west of Bar-

* Hudde's Report, p. 429. " Remaining avenue." Before this lime the Swedes had secured the trade with the Indians from Christina to Chester on tin: western shore;. They also had the command of Darby train's Garden, lie says, "about half a mile further in the woods Governor Printz constructed a mill on a kill, which runs into the sea, [river] riot far to the south of Matinnekonk," and on this kill [he erected] a strong buildings just by, in the path which leads to the Minquas ; and this place is called by the savages Kakarikonk. So that no access to the Minquas is left open, and he too controls nearly all the trade of the savages on the river [Schuylkill,] as the greatest part of them go a hunting in thaineighborhood, which they are not able to do without passing by his residence.'"!

Of the aforesaid mill, the first ever erected in Pennsylvania, Campanius says : " It was a fine mill which ground both fine and coarse flour, and was going early and late, and was the first that was seen in that country. There was no fort near it, only a strong dwelling house, built of hickory, and inhabited by freemen." The creek on which the mill was built, he tells us, was the " Karakung, otherwise called the Water-mill stream," - " a fine stream, very convenient for water mills. The governor caused one to be erected there." %

It would be highly gratifying to know precisely the spot where water-power was first used in this section of our country; where the first mill stood ; and where the cheerful clatter of its machinery first broke the deep silence of a Pennsylvania forest '- Happily, in this case, our means of information, if they do not point with absolute certainty to that spot, direct us infallibly to its very near vicinity. There is but one stream in Kingsessing which answers to the description given of the " Karakung" of Campanius, and " Kakarikonk" of Iludde ; that stream is now

*The Dutch writers often call the place now named Tinicum, " Matinekonk." Il is so called in Hudde's Report, pp. 429, 439. and on Van der Donk's Map of the New Netherlands, 165G. The Swedcscalled it Tenackong or Tenakong. It is supposed to be the Indian word for island, because it was applied by them to several islands on the Delaware and other rivers.

now known as Darby Creek, and pours its waters into the river " not far to the south of Matinnekonk," or Tinicum. That this creek is Governor Printz's " water-mill stream" there can be no doubt. Hudde says the mill stood " about half a mile Further in the woods." Haifa Dutch mile is two miles and one-fifth of amile English ; which is about the distance from Printz's " stronghouse," to the place where the Philadelphia road crosses Cobb's Creek at the Blue Bell tavern : and here we may safely conclude, once stood Governor Printz's mill " which ground fine and coarse (lour, and was going early and late." This conclusion is much strengthened by a tradition, still prevalent in that neighbourhood, that on the rocks in the creek, just above the bridge near that tavern, once stood the first mill built in Pennsylvania; and it was common, fifty years ago, to direct the attention of travellers crossing the bridge, to the holes in the rock, which are yet to be seen, in which the timbers of the old mill were inserted.*

In the early part of the summer of 1646, a Dutch vessel with a valuable cargo, from New Amsterdam, was consigned to Commissary Iludde, then commanding at Fort Nassau. He ordered it into the Schuylkill to wait for the Minquas, the object being to open a trade with them. On the arrival of the sloop at the old trading place of the Dutch, the captain was commanded, in the name of Printz, to leave the place immediately ; under the assumption that it belonged to the crown of Sweden. Iludde promptly repaired to the station, taking with him four men to inquire into the cause of such hostile proceedings. When he

* This mill probably stood for many years afterwards, the only mill in Pennsylvania. It must have been in operation until alter the territory was assigned to \\ in. Pennl There is an account preserved by some of the families descended horn Isaac Marriott, of Bristol, Pennsylvania, that when Friends' yearly meeting was held at Burlington, N. J., about the year 1684, the family wanting some line flour, Isaac Marriott took wheat on horse-back to be ground at this mill, which was 26 miles from his residence.

that this place had always been a trading station, and it was hoped he would act with discretion, and avoid giving cause of offence to the Dutch authorities. On the following day Print/, sent a clergyman, probably Campanius,* with directions that if the sloop was yet in the Schuylkill, he should compel it to leave the place. Hudde wishing for positive evidence that such directions were official, demanded to see the order, under the hand and seal of the governor, by which he presumed to forbid the West India Campany " to trade with their goods in any part of the river." He warned Printz to act with caution in this business, and protested against any losses and delays which might result from his acts. Print/ immediately despatched his commissary, Henry Huygen, with two of his officers, to the scene of strife, when a long and tedious controversy ensued, which involved both parties in angry contention, and finally ended in violence.

grantee went with him, and assisted in planting a pole, within the limits of the ceded terri'ory ; upon which was affixed the arms and insignia of the company. Shortly after thus taking possession, a number of Hollanders made preparations to build upon and occupy their newly acquired lands. But on the Sth of October, Commissary Huygen, under the authority of Governor Printz, appeared on the ground, and taking down the arms, carried them away.

The Dutch commissary was greatly moved at this outrage. A correspondence between him and Printz followed, in which they criminated each other as usurpers and aggressors ; the former threatening his adversary with the displeasure of their " High Mightinesses the States General, and that of his Highness the Prince of Orange, and also of the noble Director ;" the latter holding up, in terforem, a conflict with "her Royal Majesty of Sweden, his most gracious Queen."

That the land on which the Dutch Commissary erected the arms of the company is the same on which the city of Philadelphia now stands, cannot admit of a doubt.* Fort Nassau stood on an elevated bank, about an English mile below Gloucester Point, in a south-easterly direction. Due north of this fort, and on the west shore of the Delaware, distant one Dutch mile, equal to four and a quarter English miles, lies the city of Philadelphia. The course and distance of the place as laid down by Iludde, are remarkably correct. Its description agrees precisely with the actual location of the city, and it agrees with no other place.

Huygen, in tearing down the company's arms, where they had been erected on the beautiful shore between YVicaco and Coaquannock, had used both violence and ill language, that greatly wounded the feelings of Commissary Iludde, and which

* Acrelius calls the spot where the Dutch standard had been raised by Iludde, Santiukan; and his translator supposed it was near Trenton. Whether Acrelius or Collin was mistaken, is immaterial. It could not have been Trenton, because the place was but one Dutch mile above Fort Nassau, Trenton is six Dutch miles above it. Tt could not have been Trenton, because it was north of the fort, Trenton is more east than north of it.

the Dutch highly resented, ns being particularly contemptuous to their High Mightinesses the States General, and to the noble director at Manhattan. In a letter he wrote to Printz, dated October 22d, 1646, he says: "Your commissary came down on the Sdi instant, and took down the arms which I had hung up on the purchased lands, tearing them down in an insolent and hostile manner, with these threatening words, that, ' although it had been the colours of the Prince of Orange, that were hoisted (here, he would have thrown them under his feet,' - besides many bloody menaces, which have been reported to me from time to time, and which can have no other tendency than to cause great. calamines," - "so that 1 am unwillingly compelled to send your honour this answer, by which I am bound to protest before God, and the whole world, and I do hereby protest, that I am innocent of all the disasters, difficulties, and losses, consequent on these proceedings, or originating from them."

The next day, Oet. 23d, Hudde- sent sergeant Boyer and two soldiers down the river to Fort Gottenburg, with the aforesaid letter addressed to Printz. The sergeant delivered his message in the most polite and courteous manner, wishing the governor a good morning, and offering him a friendly greeting from Commissary Hudde. Printz took the letter from Boyer, and threw it towards one of his attendants, then standing near him, bidding him to take care of it. Without giving the sergeant any satisfaction, the governor turned his back upon him, and went away. Boyer waited some time for an answer, but becoming uneasy with his detention, asked to see Printz, which so exasperated him that he ordered him out of doors, and took up a gun, as the sergeant supposed, to shoot him, but was prevented by his leaving the room.

From this time the parties became more deeply involved in angry contention. The Dutch made sundry attempts to settle trading houses, on the shores of the Delaware and Schuylkill ; which the Swedes as often destroyed. Until the close ofPrintz's administration in 1652, the prospect continued to grow darker and darker. Crimination- and re-crimination became more ire- quent and acrimonious: - a prolonged altercation finally wore out all kindly feeling between them, and gradually prepared them for the "ultima ratio regwm," an appeal to arms.

In the spring of the following year the West India Company displaced Governor Kieft, whose administration was, on the whole, a disastrous one to the settlement ; marked by dissention, cruelty, and bloodshed.* He was succeeded by Peter Stuyvesant, a much more respectable and effective officer, a man of learning and an experienced soldier. lie arrived at New Amsterdam .May 27th, 1647.

The Swedes having, as we have seen, blockaded the Delaware by their forts at Tinicum and Elsinburgh, and subjected the Dutch to the payment of tribute, under the most humiliating circumstances, and having taken possession of the whole western shore of the Delaware, the authorities at New Amsterdam plainly saw, that without some remedy, their trade and territories on the borders of that river, must soon become utterly worthless. Stuyvesant was not disposed quietly to submit to this condition of things. On the 19th of July, 1G51, he purchased of the Indians, in the name of the States General and West India Company, all the land lying between the Minquas Creek (Christina) and Bompties or Bambo Huckt. Within these limits, about four English miles below the Christina, was a beautiful promontory or point of fast land, extending out into the Delaware and commanding extensive views of the river both above and below. This point, on which the town of New Castle now stands, was then known by the name of Sandhuken. The Dutch selected this spot for the scite of a fort, which they named Fort Cassimir. The erection of this fort gave great uneasiness to Governor Prinlz, who plain-

*Kicft, who had wantonly and in cold blood butchered nearly one hundred Indians at Pavonia, was not permitted to die a. natural death ; he left this country for the Netherlands in 1G17 in a ship called the Princess which was lost at sea, and all on board perished. Van der Donck. p. 162.

ly perceived he had now to deal with a character very unlike the Ex-Governor Kicft. Print/ protested against this proceeding of the Dutch, as an encroachment on their lands, which, as he alleged, the Swedes had previously bought of the Indians. Stuyvesant was not to he diverted from his course by claims which he deemed wholly frivolous, nor by protests as weak as they were arrogant. Disregarding die murmurs of the Swedish commander he quietly proceeded to finish, arm, and garrison

During several years after the arrival of Print/, the Swedish forces on the Delaware had greatly exceeded those of the Dutch. In this time there had been at least three arrivals, besides the armed squadron that had brought over Print/ and his Colonists. First, the " Black Cat" with ammunitions of war and goods for trade ; secondly, the " Swan" with emigrants; ami thirdly, the "Key" and "Lamb," with reinforcements and military stores.* Print/ had availed himself of this superiority to threaten, and as is evident from the records of this period, to overawe the Dutch. The official correspondence between the Swedish officers and the agents of the West India Company, from the date of Print/*s arrival up to the accession of Stuyvesant, evidently show on the part of the former the arrogance of power, and on that of the latter the submissiveness of weakness. The Dutch seeing and daily feeling the consequences of this state of things, and having determined° not to abandon their trade on the Delaware, had been for some time gradually augmenting their forces there; and the time had now arrived, when Print/ found they were not to be intimidated, by the overbearing authority of a people, whom they considered as interlopers, and intruders.

This state of things was extremely irksome to the Swedish Governor. The blockade of the Delaware could no longer be enforced, nor the Dutch be obliged to strike their flag in sign of submission as they passed a Swedish fortification. Fort Cassimir had put it into their power to enforce against him the " lex tdionis" a law that had already rendered the fort at Elsinburgh a useless incumbrance. From this lime it was abandoned, and went to ruin, under die ridiculous allegation, that it had become untenable, on account of the mosquitoes, and that they therefore gave it the name of Myggenborg or Mosquito fort.

Printz, under the pressure of these adverse circumstances, immediately despatched some confidential agents to Sweden, to apprize the Government there of his embarrassed and perilous condition ; and earnestly to solicit a speedy reinforcement. But he did not wait for a return of the messengers, or the arrival of additional forces. Within a year he abandoned the Colony, and returned to Sweden, leaving his son-in-law, John Pappegoia to

Rudman says, that becoming " weary of delay, and apprehensive of danger from the near vicinity of the Dutch, Fort Cassimir being only five miles from Fort Christina, he went back to Sweden."* It is not, however, probable that his return was solely because he was "weary of delay," for he left this country before reinforcements could have arrived, under the most favorable circumstances, and prompt attention of the Government. t The same writer informs us, that "he had become unpopular by a too rigid authority." He was conscious that he did not stand well with the colonists, and was therefore the more willing to leave them. He probably felt the unpleasant effects of his own " rigid authority," and foresaw the more disastrous consequences

* With military men, an apprehension of danger would hardly be deemed a legitimate reason for abandoning- his post. He must have had a better excuse for his desertion of the colony at a period when all the wisdom and energy of a discreet commander were so necessary to its protection and defence.

tClay says, p. 25, Printz left the colony in 1652. This was two years before the arrival of Rising, who did not come over, according to Acreliua until 1G5-1 ; it is move probable that Printz left here at a later period. There are some discrepancies in the chronology of the early writers which cannot easily be reconciled.

of the policy he had adopted towards his long forbearing neighhours: perhaps he saw the storm-cloud already in the horizon, which, when it should hurst, would sweep the Swedish authority from the shores of the Delaware.

Chapter Vii

Before Printz arrived in Sweden the Government there had equipped and despatched for the Delaware, a " man of war called the Eagle." In this ship came Johan Claudii Rising, in the capacity of a Commissary and counsellor to the Governor, with Peter Lindstrom, military engineer, and surveyor general ; and a number of military officers, and other forces.* This armament was evidently intended for warlike operations. Its object, as appears from its subsequent action, was to restore the Swedish supremacy on the Delaware. On its arrival in the bay, the ship was prepared for action, and rounding to, opposite Fort Cassimir, gave, as Acrelius informs us, "two salutes, and demanded the surrender of the fort, as erected on Swedish ground." As the commandant delayed to answer, longer than was deemed necessary, Rising landed thirty soldiers with a viewto storm the fortification!". This movement being wholly unexpected, and the garrison probably unprepared for effective defence, they surrendered without a struggle, upon favourable terms. Every one in the fort was permitted to carry away the property in his possession, whether it belonged to individuals, or to the W est India Company. An inventory of all the public property was taken, and the people in the vicinity were permitted to remove, or, if willing to take an oath of allegiance to the crown of Sweden, 10 remain, and be protected under the Swedish government. The fort having been captured on the day called Trinity

Mtudman says Rising took the fort " by storm.''1 Proud says it was taken " by stratagem." Neither give any authority lor their statements. The probability is that the attack being wholly unexpected, the garrison was unprepared for an assault, or for a diet.

This is the first warlike movement that occurred on the Delaware, between the rival claimants of the territory. It had evidently been determined on by the authorities in Sweden. It was the act of a military commander, with military forces under him, just arrived from the seat of government; and was undoubtedly directed in the belief that the armament under Rising, when added to the forces already in the Colonies, would be entirely sufficient to subjugate or expel the Dutch.

The Swedes having thus appealed to the sword for the advancement of their colonial interests, the Dutch, under Stuyvesant soon took up the gauntlet. But the seat of their colonial power being at New Amsterdam, it required considerable time to prepare for effectual retaliation, which their governor had now determined to make. In the meantime, that the Swedes might be lulled into a state of self-security, and the more easily fall into the snare he was about to spread for them, he conducted his operations so quietly, as to leave Rising under the impression that nothing hostile was in contemplation by the Dutch authorities.*

Rising, pleased with his easy conquest, and intent to secure and extend the Swedish authority on the Delaware, set his Engineer Lindstrom to work at Fort Cassimir. He rebuilt it on a plan of his own, and made it a more formidable place of annoy-

* Campan ius pays that the differences between Rising and Stuyvesant, in the year 1654, appeared to have been amicably settled. Camp. p. S-J. Clay in his annals remarks, that "there seems to have been a want of good faith, or at the least the practice of some deception on the part of the Dutch. This ' amicable settlement'* seems to have been only a cloak to preparations for more effectual hostility."

We suppose Companrus spoke only of appearances, and did not mean to say, that any actual arrangement had been made between the parlies. Of any such arrangement we have never seen the least evidence. There does not appear, in Stuyvesant's conduct, on this occasion, any thing inconsistent with the character of an honorable man - measuring his lienor by the usual military standard.

ance and defence than before its capture. In the mean time another ship, called the " Golden Shark," loaded with merchandize, and having on board re-inforccments for the colonies on the Delaware, had been despatched from Sweden. By some unaccountable mistake, or some accident not stated by their annalists, this valuable ship got into the Raritan instead of the Delaware, and was captured by the Dutch. Captain Daswick, the commander, was made prisoner, with all the crew, and the ship with her valuable cargo detained as a prize by Stuyvcsant, regardless of the captain's remonstrances.* This was the "first fruits" of Rising's aggression, which afterwards yielded so large a crop. With this exception, there was no hostile act on the part of the. Dutch for almost a year after the capture of Tort Cassimir. The military preparations at New Amsterdam, were carried on with so much secrecy, as to excite no suspicion of their real object.

Soon after the arrival of Commissary Rising, Pappegoia, the Vice-Governor, returned to Sweden, and Rising assumed the supreme authority, taking the title of Director General over New Sweden. One of his first public acts as Governor was to hold a treaty of friendship with the Indians. He called a council at Printz-hall, on Tinicum, at which ten Sachems or Kings attended, representing differing tribes or clans in the vicinity. A distinguished Chief called Naaman was the principal speaker on that occasion. This council was held, as Campanius informs us, for the purpose of renewing " the ancient league and friendship" which subsisted between them and the Swedes, who had purchased of them the lands then in the tenure of the emigrants. The Indians, though it had been only sixteen years since the arrival of the Europeans, had found the proximity of the white race destructive to their people. They complained that "the Swedes had brought much evil upon them, for many of them had died since their coming into the coun(rv."t At a council held among themselves in 10-15, they had debated the which he liberally distributed among them. The Indians afterwards held a conference among themselves, the result of which was a determination to maintain friendly relations with the Governor and his people. After this conference the Indians returned, and Naaman made a speech to them, in which, pointing to the presents, he exclaimed " Look and see what presents they have brought to us, for which they desire our friendship." Mutual promises of kindness and fidelity were afterwards exchanged, and great guns fired to the vast delight of the Indians, who understood the roar of the cannon as a loud proclamation of the treaty. The object of this council was to obtain a ratification of the former sales of land, and the extension of the Swedish settlements, at Passyunk, near Philadelphia.

It is much to be regretted that so few of our rivers or smaller streams in the state of Delaware retain their Indian names; as the time is not very distant when these will be almost the only memorials of this interesting people. One stream, however, which discharges its waters into the Delaware, about two miles below Marcus Hook, is destined to perpetuate the name of Naaman, the distinguished old Sachem and chief orator at the great council on Tinicura. On the bank of that water he probably resided, and there wielded the mild sceptre of his chieftainship. The stream is well known by the name of "Naaman's Creek," and is so styled on our maps, and among the records of the county of New Castle.

The autumn and winter of 1654 passed away peaceably; the spring of 1G55 arrived, and all was calm : but it was a portentous stillness, the prelude to a dreadful storm! Stuyvcsant had determined effectually to prevent all future collision with the Swedes, by a complete subversion of^ their authority on the Delaware. This was rendered necessary by the policy of Sweden, as illustrated by the official instructions of her government and by the conduct of her deputies. There was left to the Dutch no hope of maintaining amicable relations with the

Original Settlements Of The Delaware

Swedes, without an abandonment of all their territory on the west side of the river. No alternative was left them but to expel or be expelled. Stuyvesant, who wanted neither intelligence nordecision of character, perceived the dilemma, and determined on his course. He had matured his plans, and was busily occupied in preparing for their execution.

The position of Sweden, atthis juncture, was favourable to the designs of Stuyvesant. Her military glory, gained under the administration of Gustavus, had grown dim under the conduct of his successor. Oxenstiern, who, by his counsels and his influence, had elevated and supported the character of his country, was recently dead ; and the kingdom, under the government of a vacillating and capricious princess, was weakened by dissensions, and had ceased to command respect.

At length, about the middle of August, with a squadron of seven armed ships and transports, containing between six and seven hundred men, Stuyvesant set sail from New Amsterdam, bound for the Delaware. Some time before the arrival of the fleet, the Indians, more watchful, or having more means of intelligence than the Swedes, had learned or suspected the designs of the Dutch, and had warned Rising of the danger ; whereupon he caused Fort Trinity to be reinforced with men and supplied with ammunition. By written orders, directed to the commander, Swen Schute, he enjoined him to defend the fort, in case of an attack ; but that, as the squadron should approach it, he should, if possible, send an officer on board, to demand the nature of their visit, and to warn them by no means to pass the fort upon pain of being fired upon. He directed him, that in case the Dutch should come as friends, and were disposed to make an amicable adjustment of their respective claims to the territory in dispute, and of its boundaries, to compliment them with a Swedish national salute, and assure them that the Swedes were disposed to cultivate and maintain with the Dutch a firm friendship.

Here the ships must have been distinctly seen from Fort Cassimir. Whether Commander Schute sent an officer to inquire into the nature of their visit, or whether he had less doubt on that point than Governor Rising, and thought it unnecessary, we are not informed. Fort Elsingburg had been dismantled and abandoned by the Swedes, two or three years before Ibis period, and now presented no object of hostility, but Stuyvesant finding some persons in or near the fort, made them prisoners. The next day they sailed up to Fort Trinity, and meeting with no opposition, landed at the point, a short distance above the fort, and began to throw up a breastwork. Here the two commanders had a parley, and Schute probably knowing his inability to maintain the post against such a powerful armament, agreed to a capitulation. Upon which he went on board one of the ships of the squadron, where the parties signed the following Articles, to wit :

1st. The commandant shall have permission by the first opportunity to send home the cannon belonging to the crown of Sweden, being in all nine.

2d. He shall march out with twelve men in perfect accoutrements, as his lifeguard, with the colours of the crown. But the other soldiers shall only have their side arms.

4th. The commandant and officers shall retain their private property, and either remove it immediately, or leave it for another opportunity.

5th. The fort shall be surrendered with all the cannon, ammunition, materials, and other property belonging to the honourable West India Company.

*There is a discrepancy in the dates between the Swedish and Dutch writers. According to the Swedish account by Rising, Fort Cassimir surrendered on the 31st August, 1(355, which mode of dating is followed in this account.

!Of the conduct" of the Commandant Schute on this occasion, Rising grcviously complained ; and Campanius has declared him a traitor. The governor blames him for suffering the Dutch ships to pass the fort without remonstrance, or firing a gun ; whereby they gained the command of the fort, and of the whole river above it ; and by which also they were enabled to cut off the communication between Fort Cassimir and Fort Christina, by posting troops between them, as high as Christina Creek. He censures him for surrendering the fort to Stuyvesant by a dishonourable capitulation, in which he forgot to stipulate for a place to which he and his people might remove with their effects, and also for subscribing the articles of capitulation, not in the fort, or on some neutral ground, but on board a Dutch ship. Without passing any judgment on the validity of these censures, it may be remarked, that the force brought against Schute was so overwhelming as to leave little rational ground to believe that resistance could have been availing ; and under such circumstances, Schute may be worthy of the character of a discreet man at least, who preferred losing the fort, to the loss of both the fort and his men.

Fort Cassimir had so suddenly and so quietly fallen into the hands of the Dutch, that Rising was not apprised of the fact, until the following day. Early on the morning of the 1st of September, supposing that Schute was yet maintaining his post, Rising sent him nine or ten of his best men to strengthen his garrison. This detachment crossed the Christina at a point just above the fort, and within musket shot of it, at a place now known as the Old Ferry, without knowing that the enemy was posted on the opposite side. No sooner had they landed, and attained the rising ground, than they were attacked by an armed band of fifty or sixty persons, and summoned to surrender. A skirmish ensued, but the Swedes were all overpowered, except two men, who ran back to the boat and escaped without injury, although repeatedly fired upon by the enemy. The Swedes discharged from the fort a cannon at the Dutch, who immediately retreated to the woods, and by way of retaliation, treated their prisoners with great severity.

The factor Elswyck, was now sent with a flag to Stuyvesant at Fort Cassimir, to demand an explanation of his conduct, and to dissuade him from further hostilities. Rising feigned to be surprised at the conduct of the Dutch governor, and pretended he could not be persuaded that he seriously intended to disturb the Swedes in the lawful dominions of his royal majesty.* Stuyvesant, whose discernment easily penetrated through this disguise of his adversary, treated the message with contempt, and threatened to detain Elswyck as a spy. He, however, permitted him to return, after letting him know that he acknowledged no right of the Swedes to any part of the country.

When Rising was informed of the true state of affairs, and found that Stuyvesant was not to be so easily misled, he directed his whole attention and employed all his forces to fortify his position and prepare his fort for a siege. For this purpose he collected all the men he could muster, and laboured hard, night and day, in filling gabionst and strengthening the ramparts.

On the following day, September 2d, the Dutch troops showed themselves in considerable numbers on the opposite bank of the Christina, near the spot where the Old Ferry-house now stands ; but attempted no hostile operations that day.

On the morning of the 3d, they took possession of a Swedish shallop which had been drawn up on the beach, and hoisted the States flag on the top-mast. They appeared to be fortifying a neighbouring house, on the south side of the Christina. Rising seeing their operations, sent over Lieutenant Swen Hook, with a drummer, to demand the cause why they posted themselves there ; and whether he should hold them as enemies or friends. When Hook had nearly crossed the creek, he asked the persons on land whether he might freely come ashore, and after discharging his commission as freely return ; and being answered in the affirmative, they proceeded towards the landing place. As the drummer could not conveniently row a boat and beat a drum at the same time, the latter ceremony was omitted', which the lieutenant supposed excusable, as he already had their parol for a safe return. They accordingly went ashore, and an officer conducted them to a house at some distance where the Dutch had taken a position.

The Dutch having already both verbally, and by their actions, very distinctly informed the Swedes of their object and intentions, did not choose to believe that Rising was sincere in sending, at this period, to inquire whether they were enemies or friends I They therefore sent Lieutenant Hook down to Fort Cassimir, where Stuyvesant confined him in the ship's hold, as a spy. The drummer was kept a prisoner by the Dutch officers at Christina; and thus, says Governor Rising, " they treated our messengers contrary to the laws and customs of civilized nations."

By the 4th of the month, the Dutch had planted gabions about the house on the south side of the creek, and under cover of this temporary defence, they threw up entrenchments and fortified the battery.

Rising still flattered himself that Stuyvesant intended to go no further than to recover from the Swedes their Fort Cassimir, and to fortify the territory below the Christina, which the company had bought of the Indians, extending from the southern shore of the creek down to Bambo Hook. Seeming to forget his own unprovoked hostility, only one year before, in the capture of Fort Cassimir, he says they could not believe that the Dutch would, in contempt of the public peace, and without any known cause, commence hostilities against the Swedes, until they had set up some claim, or published some protest against them. Thus bitterly complaining of the same conduct which himself had been guilty of, under very aggravated circumstances, not long before.

On the 5th of the month they sent the transport ships up the Brandy wine, and landed their troops on a point of land called Trcdie-hook, [third point or promontory,] being an elevated piece of fast land, on the north side of the creek, below Vandever's brick house, adjoining lands of Edward T. Bellach. There 8* they landed the main body of their army, and inarching up the point a short distance, turned to the left, and crossed the low valley, which lies between it and Vandever's orchard. This low valley was at that time wholly overflowed at ilood tide, so that the main body of Vandever's place was then surrounded by water, and known by the name of " Timber Island." The army having now got possession of this island passed over to the west side of it, and threw up a battery, on which they planted four cannon, all pointing toward Fort Christina, and within effective distance from it. Leaving there a sufficient garrison, (he body of the army marched up the creek and crossed the " great falls," meaning the Brandy wine. Then returning they cast up two other batteries, one on the bank lying between the present old church yard and the ferry house, on the north side of Christeen, mounted with three cannon, and one within the present grave yard near the south wall, also mounted with three cannon. At a later period they planted another battery- with five cannon, on the high land behind the fort, near the place where the Philadelphia, Wilmington and Baltimore Rail Road passes through the most elevated ground east of the church.

Fort Christina was now invested by batteries on every side, except toward the south-cast, in which direction there was nothing but a low morass, which at high tide lay four or five feet under water. Through this low morass, the channels of the Christeen and Brandywine then pursued a serpentine course in different directions, but at length were united into one stream, about half a mile south-east of Fort Christina. That the investment might be complete, the Dutch now brought their armed ships, and anchored them in the mouth of the Brandywine.

At this period of the siege, it appears from Rising's official report, that he was still in doubt whether Stuyvesant really intended to attack him or not, - so hard is it to believe an unpleasant truth. " We continued," says he, " to prepare ourselves to make the best defence which our strength would allow, if we should be attacked ; for we were not yet satisfied what the Dutch intended." But Stuyvesant, as if to remove all his doubts on this point, sent him a letter by an Indian, in which he very distinctly informed him that the Dutch claimed the whole country, and peremptorily required him, and all his countrymen, at their peril, either to leave it, or to remain under the protection and government of the Dutch. Rising returned an answer in writing by the same Indian, informing SUiyvcsant that he "would reply to his extraordinary demand by special messengers."

In the morning, just before this correspondence commenced, the. parties had been making some demonstrations of war, rather, it would seem, to show their power to do mischief, than to injure each other. Rising, with a view, as he alleges, to scale his guns, had fired a couple, of cannon. The Dutch on Timber Island immediately returned the salutation, by discharging a number of balls directly over the fort, and afterwards firing several volleys from the batteries on the west side of the Christeen, to announce their preparation for action in that quarter also.

The Swedes now began to despair of saving themselves by force of arms, and on the morning of the 6th, Rising called a council of war, to consider what course to pursue if the Dutch should attempt to take their fort by storm or battery. The council after due deliberation determined in no case to commence or provoke hostilities, on account of their weakness and want of supplies ; that they should wait until fired upon or assaulted, and then defend themselves as long as they could, making the most effectual resistance in their power, and leaving their injuries to be redressed by the government of Sweden.

When this conclusion became known, Stuyvesant ordered renewed preparations for an attack. The cattle, goats, swine, and poultry, belonging to the Swedes were killed, their houses outside of the fort broken open, and the little town of Christinaham destroyed.* They now hoisted flags on all their batteries and on a Swedish ship they had captured, and which was then lying in the Brandy wine. "All which hostile acts, injuries, and insults," says Rising, " we were, to our great mortification, com- pelled to witness and suffer, being unable to resist them, by reason of our want of men and of powder, whereof our supplies scarcely sufficed for a single round for our guns."

Although governor Rising had now lost all confidence in his military force, he still had some faith in his diplomatic powers ! " Notwithstanding all this," he says, " we still trusted that they would at length be pursuaded to hear reason, and accordingly on the 7th we sent messengers down to Stuyvesant, at Fort Casmir, with a written communication, by which we sought to dissuade him from further hostilities, protesting against his invasion and disturbance of our proper territory, without cause assigned, or declaration denying, as far as they could, our right of possession on the river.'-' Rising urged also the consequences of his hostility on the relations of their respective sovereigns ; the jealousies and ill feeling ii would produce, tending to involve in difficulty more extensive interests. And finally he required him to cease hostilities and retire with his forces from Christina ; letting him know that the Swedes were determined to defend their rights to the utmost of their power, and that he must answer for all consequences. His persuasions and threats, however, fell equally dead on the dull ear of Stuyvesant, who was in no wise inclined to relinquish his prey now completely in his power.

To Rising's message, Stuyvesant on the 9th returned a written answer, in which he coolly but firmly denied that the Swedes had any rights at all on the Delaware, and asserted the absolute title of the Dutch to the whole country. The Swedish possession, he treated as a base usurpation ; and gave Rising distinctly to understand, that, having got him under his control, he meant effectually to crush him.

Rising was now reduced to the most pitiable condition. One year before he stood before the colonists the exulting representative of his country's power ; now none so poor as to envy his greatness. The lamp of hope was nearly extinct - its low, glimmering light scarcely served to cheer him on to any further action. His enemies day and night continued to carry on the sie^e. With a force of only thirty men he could make no sortie, to prevent them from gaining positions completely to command the fort. Already there was not a spot on the ramparts where a man could stand in security. Thus passed the painful 10th and 11th over the head of Governor Rising; his country's all in America at stake, and ready to depart for ever.

On the 12th, Stuyvesant, who up to this time had remained at Fort Cassirair, joined the besieging army, and summoned the garrison to surrender on pain of giving no quarter. In this distress, Rising tells us, his provisions began to fail, some of his men had deserted, some were sick, some nearly worn out, and to fill up the measure of his misery, some were beginning to be mutinous. Under these circumstances, it was determined that he and the factor Elswyck should go out on the morrow, and hold with Stuyvesant a parley. Accordingly on the 13th, Governor Stuyvesant and Nicatius de Sylle, on the part of the Dutch ; and Governor Rising and the Factor Elswyck, on the part of the Swedes, held a conference on the ground between the fort and the most advanced work of the besieging forces. The place of their meeting was a beautiful elevated spot lying behind the fort, and now occupied by Churchman's stone quarry ; a place so conspicuous, that, if the parties to this memorable conference could have been heard as distinctly as they might have been seen, every soldier in the fort, and in all the surrounding batteries, might have participated in their deliberations.

At this interview, Rising solemnly protested against the hostile proceedings of Stuyvesant, replied verbally to his last letter, and, by the best arguments he could advance, vindicated the Swedish title to their possessions on the Delaware. " But," says Rising, " all this produced no impression upon them, they maintained their first ground, and insisted on the surrender of Fort Christina and the whole river." After declaring that he would defend the fort to the last extremity, and, in the event of his capture, would appeal to the government of Sweden lor redress of wrongs, he returned with Elswyck to the fort, and exhorted his men to a " manly defense."

the maintenance of the Swedish authority in America. It was witnessed by his victorious adversary with indifference, perhaps with feelings still more humiliating. In the whole course of these transactions, though we have only the Swedish account of them, Stuyvesant commands our respect, by 'his moderation and forbearance, as well as by his firmness. Though he never abates his dignity, he never loses his patience, nor treats his adversary with disrespect. He steadily pursues his object without ever exulting over a fallen foe, or using an unkind expression to wound his feelings.

As soon as Rising's ultimatum was announced, the Dutch brought their guns in all the batteries to bear upon the fort, and on the 14th, by a messenger with a drummer, Stuyvesant summoned Rising to surrender within twenty-four hours, or suffer the consequences of a capture by force of arms. Whereupon a council of the whole garrison was called, and it was unanimously concluded, that as neither the fort, nor the garrison, was in a situation to stand an assault, as they had neither powder nor other munitions of war, and were without hope of relief, the fort should be surrendered upon the best terms that could be obtained.

Accordingly on the morning of the 15th, Rising announced to Stuyvesant, his determination to capitulate, and afterwards, on the same day, surrendered Fort Christina to the Dutch, under the following articles.* pany, found in the fort, shall appertain to them, and be under the disposition of Governor Rising, to remove the same directly, or leave it to the care of Governor Stuyvesant, to be delivered on demand.

2. The governor, with all his officers, military and civil, and soldiers, shall march out of the fort with all their arms, military music, colours, and other military honours. They shall first be conducted to the island Tinneconk, and lodged in the fort there, until Governor Stuyvesant departs, and then they shall he carried to Sandy Huck [this is the same as Sandy Hook,] and there kept in safe custody at least fourteen days. The Governor and Factor Elswyck shall he allowed four or five servants in the mean time.

3. All writings, letters, instructions, and documents, belonging to the Swedish Crown, the company, and individuals, found in the fort, shall remain in the hands of the governor, to be taken away at pleasure without being examined.

4. None, of the officers, soldiers, attendants, belonging to the Crown, or the company, nor any individuals shall be retained against their will, but may all, if they please, depart with the Governor.

6. If any persons, though willing to depart, are not able to go with the governor, they shall be allowed one year and six weeks to dispose of their lands and moveables, except they in that time choose allegiance to the Dutch government.

7. If any of the Swedes or Finns are unwilling to depart, the Governor Rising may use means of persuasion, and if persuaded, they shall not be forcibly detained. Those who remain shall have liberty to adhere to the Augsburgian Confession, and to retain a teacher for their instruction.

8. Governor Rising, the Factor Elswyck, with others, officers, soldiers, and individuals, who wish to depart, shall, by the Governor Stuyvesant, be provided with a good ship, which shall take them in at the Sandy Huck, and bring them to Texel, and from thence immediately in a coaster, galliott, or other proper vessel to Gotheborg* without freight, on condition that such vessel shall not be detained ; for which Governor Rising shall be responsible.

9. In case Governor Rising, Factor Elswyck, or any other officer belonging to the crown or the company, lias contracted any debt on account of the crown on company, they shall not be detained within the jurisdiction of the Governor General.

10. Governor Rising has perfect liberty to inform himself about the conduct of the commandant Swen Schute, with that of the officers and men in surrendering Fort Cassimir.

Done and signed the --55- September, 1655, on the parade between Fort Christina and the camp of the Governor General. Peter Stuyvesant. Johan Rising, Director

Secret Article. - It is further agreed that the captain who is to conduct Governor Rising and. Factor Elswyck, shall be expressly ordered to put them ashore in England or France, and that the Governor General shall lend to Director General Rising, in money or bills of exchange, a sum of three hundred pounds Flemish, which he promises to pay to said Governor General or his order in Amsterdam, in six months after the receipt. In the mean time he leaves as equivalent, the goods of the crown and of the company. Of this we make two obligations.

On receiving the money, Rising was obliged to consent that the goods pawned should be sold if not redeemed in six months. Both parties retained what they got. Rising kept the money, and Stuyvesant had to take the goods.

After all the foregoing arrangements were settled, Fort Christina was surrendered to the Dutch, who thereupon issued a proclamation, by which all the Swedes who desired to remain in the country were called upon to come forward and take the oath of allegiance, and all those who intended to remove were directed to leave it, with privilege to sell or carry away their properly. The form of the oath was as follows :