The Director-General and his Council were invested with all powers judicial, legislative, and executive, subject, some supposed, to appeal to Holland; but the will of the Company, expressed in their instructions, or declared in their marine or military ordinances, was to be the law of New Netherland, excepting in cases not especially provided for, when the Roman Law, the imperial statutes of Charles V., the edicts, resolutions, and customs of Patria -- Fatherland -- were to be received as the paramount rule of action.'

" The States General engaged, among other things, to secure to the Company freedom of navigation and traffic, within the prescribed limits, and to assist them with a million of guilders, equal to nearly half a million of dollars; and in case peace should be disturbed, with sixteen vessels of war and four yachts, fully armed and equipped; the i'ornier to be at least of three hundred, and the latter of eighty, tons burthen ; but these vessels were to be maintained at the expense of the Company, which was to furnish, unconditionally, sixteen ships and fourteen yachts, of like tonnage, for the defence of trade and purposes of war, which, with all merchant vessels, were to be commanded by an admiral appointed and instructed by their High Mightinesses." ^

Such were the great and extensive powers under which New York was colonized. And such was the basis of the legal system under which civil rule and civil law was first established within its borders; and under which it flourished and was governed, till the close of the Dutch dominion, a period of more than half a century.