New York and Pennsylvania were the principal centres of The Jews; their fortunes in Spain Their migration to the Netherlands Arrivals of Jews in New Netherland and Rhode Island 333, 334 Effect of the extermination of the Albigenses Defeat of Coligny's schemes for a Huguenot colony in Amer- Huguenots in New York; beginnings of New Rochelle 345, 346 Benjamin's West's picture of the Commissioners Dimensions of the Quaker exodus from England APPENDIX I. SOME LEISLER DOCUMENTS. A. Affidavits against Nicholson B. Leisler's Commission to be Captain of the Fort C. Leisler's Commission to be Commander-in-Chief D. Schuyler's Protest against Milborne E. Leisler to the Officers of Westchester The Duke's Plan, or a Map of New Amsterdam, in 1661 From a facsimile in Harvard University Library. The original manuscript is in the British Museum. A MS. facsimile, made from the original in 1858 for Dr. G. H. Moore, is now in the possession of the New York His- John Miller's Map of New York in 1695 86 From a facsimile in Harvard University Library. Part of Holme's Map of Pennsylvania, 1683. 158 From Winsor's America. The original was printed James Lyne's Map of New York in 1728 258 From an original kindly lent by General James Grant Mr. W. L. Andrews has an original without the date, THE DUTCH AND QUAKER COLO NIES IN AMERICA. CHAPTER X. THE ENGLISH AUTOCRATS. WHEN baffled Peter Stuyvesant with an aching heart turned over to Colonel Richard Nicolls the fair province of New Netherland, and the old local names - not yet old in years but destined to be forever venerable in memory-gave place to the name and titles of the new master; when the little town on the tip end of Manhattan Island became New York, and Fort Amsterdam, its quaint citadel, became Fort James, and far up in the northern wilderness Dutch Orange received Scotch baptism as Albany; the revolution was more quiet a peaceful and peaceable than almost any other that revolution. is recorded in history. Few political changes have been greater in their consequences. By transferring from Dutch into English hands the strategic centre of antagonism to New France, it brought about an approach toward unity of political development in the English colonies and made it possible for them at length to come together in a great Federal Union. Such remote results were not within the ken of James, Duke of York. VOL. II. Richard Nicolls. Thoughts of commerce rather than of empire filled his mind, and none could deny that the trade in peltries and the possession of a superb seaport were fit objects of princely care. A bigot and despot by natural temper, he had nothing to gain and everything to lose by exhibiting such qualities as Lord Proprietor of this Dutch domain. But for tact and moderation this bloodless conquest could hardly have been made; without continued moderation and tact it might prove hard to keep. Conciliation was the watchword, and no better person could have been found to carry out such a policy than Richard Nicolls, one of the most genial and attractive figures in early American history. He was honest and sensible, frank but courteous in speech, openhearted and liberal-minded, a man of refined tastes and an excellent scholar withal, fond of his Greek and Latin books, and speaking Dutch and French like a native. Wherever he went he won all hearts, and so it was in New Amsterdam. The citizens were undisturbed in person or property, and it was soon felt that their rights were better protected than ever before. The old Dutch local government of burgomasters, schepens, and schout was retained for a year, and then those officers were replaced by mayor, aldermen, and sheriff. A code of laws was promulgated, known as "The Duke's Laws," and none could complain of it as wanting in liberality. The patroons were confirmed in their estates, henceforth called manors, jury trial was introduced and the criminal code amended, and it was provided that no Christian |