Α

HISTORY OF NEW-YORK,

FROM THE

BEGINNING OF THE WORLD TO THE END OF THE DUTCH DYNASTY;

CONTAINING, AMONG MANY SURPRISING AND CURIOUS MATTERS, THE UNUTTERABLE PONDERINGS OF WALTER THE DOUBTER, THE DISASTROUS PROJECTS OF WILLIAM THE TESTY, AND THE CHIVALRIC ACHIEVEMENTS OF PETER THE HEADSTRONG -THE THREE DUTCH GOVERNORS OF NEW AMSTERDAM: BEING THE ONLY AUTHENTIC HISTORY OF THE TIMES THAT EVER HATH BEEN OR EVER WILL

G. P. PUTNAM, 115 NASSAU STREET.
1859.

KE 41991

Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1849, by
WASHINGTON IRVING

in the Clerk's Office of the District Court for the Southern District of

New York.

CONTAINING DIVERS INGENIOUS THEORIES AND PHILOSOPHIC SPECULATIONS,

CONCERNING THE CREATION AND POPULATION OF THE WORLD, AS CON-

NECTED WITH THE HISTORY OF NEW-YORK.

CHAP. I.-Description of the World .

29

CHAP. II.-Cosmogony, or Creation of the World; with a multitude of excel-

lent theories, by which the creation of a world is shown to be no such

difficult matter as common folk would imagine

36

CHAP. III.-How that famous navigator, Noah, was shamefully nicknamed;

and how he committed an unpardonable oversight in not having four sons.

With the great trouble of philosophers caused thereby, and the discovery of

America

45

CHAP. IV. Showing the great difficulty Philosophers have had in peopling

America-and how the Aborigines came to be begotten by accident-to the

great relief and satisfaction of the Author.

CBAP. V. In which the Author puts a mighty question to the rout, by the

assistance of the Man in the Moon- which not only delivers thousands of

people from great embarrassment, but likewise concludes this introductory

book..

52

59

BOOK II.

TREATING OF THE FIRST SETTLEMENT OF THE PROVINCE OF NIEUW

NEDERLANDTS.

CHAP. I.-In which are contained divers reasons why a man should not write

in a hurry-Also of Master Hendrick Hudson, his discovery of a strange

country and how he was magnificently rewarded by the munificence of

their High Mightinesses

. 75

CHAP. II. Containing an account of a mighty Ark whien floated, under the

protection of St. Nicholas, from Holland to Gibbet Island-the descent of

the strange Animals therefrom-a great victory, and a description of the

ancient village of Communipaw

86

CHAP. III.-In which is set forth the true art of making a bargain-together

with the miraculous escape of a great Metropolis in a fog-and the biogra-

phy of certain heroes of Communipaw

93

CHAP. IV. How the heroes of Communipaw voyaged to Hell-gate, and how

they were received there

101

CHAP. V.-How the heroes of Communipaw returned somewhat wiser than

they went and how the sage Oloffe dreamed a dream-and the dream

that he dreamed

112

CHAP. VI. Containing an attempt at etymology-and of the founding of the

great city of New-Amsterdam

117

CHAP. VII.—How the people of Pavonia migrated from Communipaw to the

Island of Manna-hata-and how Oloffe the Dreamer proved himself a great

land speculator .

120

CHAP. VIII. Of the founding and naming of the new City-of the City Arms;

and of the direful feud between Ten Breeches and Tough Breeches. 123

CHAP. IX.-How the city of New-Amsterdam waxed great under the protec-

tion of St. Nicholas and the absence of laws and statutes-How Oloffe the

Dreamer begun to dream of an extension of Empire, and of the effect of

his dreams

129

BOOK III.

IN WHICH IS RECORDED THE GOLDEN REIGN OF WOUTER VAN TWILLER.

CHAP. I. Of the renowned Wouter Van Twiller, his unparalleled virtues-as

likewise his unutterable wisdom in the law case of Wandle Schoonhoven

and Barent Bleecker-and the great admiration of the public thereat 137

CHAP. II--Containing some account of the grand council of New-Amster-

dam, as also divers especial good philosophical reasons why an Alderman

should be fat-with other particulars touching the state of the province 146

CHAP. III.-How the town of New-Amsterdam arose out of mud, and came

to be marvelously polished and polite-together with a picture of the man

ners of our great-great-grandfathers

156

CHAP. IV. Containing farther particulars of the Golden Age, and what con-

stituted a fine Lady and Gentleman in the days of Walter the Doubter 164

CHAP. V. Of the founding of Fort Aurania-Of the mysteries of the Hudson

-Of the arrival of the Patroon Killian Van Rensellaer; his lordly descent

upon the earth, and his introduction of club law.

170

CHAP. VI. In which the reader is beguiled into a delectable walk, which ends

very differently from what it commenced

174

CHAP. VII.-Faithfully describing the ingenious people of Connecticut and

thereabouts-showing, moreover, the true meaning of liberty of conscience,

and a curious device among these sturdy barbarians, to keep up a harmony

of intercourse, and promote population

180

CHAP. VIII-How these singular barbarians turned out to be notorious squat-
ters. How they built air castles, and attempted to initiate the Neder-
landers in the mystery of bundling
185

CHAP. IX.-How the Fort Goed Hoop was fearfully beleaguered--how the

renowned Wouter fell into a profound doubt, and how he finally evapo-

rated

191

BOOK IV.

CONTAINING THE CHRONICLES OF THE REIGN OF WILLIAM THE TESTY.

199

CHAP. I.-Showing the nature of history in general; containing furthermore

the universal acquirements of William the Testy, and how a man may learn

so much as to render himself good for nothing

CHAP. II.--HOW William the Testy undertook to conquer by proclamation-

how he was a great man abroad, but a little man in his own house . 205

CHAP. III-In which are recorded the sage projects of a ruler of universal

genius-The art of fighting by proclamation-and how that the valiant

Jacobus Van Curlet came to be foully dishonored at Fort Goed Hoop. 209

CHAP. IV.-Containing the fearful wrath of William the Testy, and the alarm

of New-Amsterdam-how the Governor did strongly fortify the City-Of

Antony the Trumpeter, and the windy addition to the armorial bearings of

New-Amsterdam

214