" 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.

4.

The Colonhntion by the West India Company.

In the same year, 1623, the West India Company began the colonization of New Netherland, which was then erected into a Province, by the States- General and invested with the armorial bearings of a Count ;^ the shield being, argent, a pale sable charged with three crosses saltire, argent, paleways; the crest a Beaver coucliant proper.*