The rest on arriving were landed on "Noten," now Governor's, Island, then covered by a dense forest of nut trees, so thick that the pasturage was insufficient, and two days later all the animals were transferred to Manhattan Island where they throve well. These ships also brought six more families of Walloons, and a few single people, forty-five persons in all.'

To Verhiilst succeeded, as third Director-General, Peter Minuit, of Wesel, in Westphalia, who was of French Huguenot origin. He sailed from the Texel on the ninth of January, 1626, in the ship Sea-Mew, and reached " the Mauhadoes " on the fourth of the succeeding May.

The .second and third articles of the Charter of the West India Company conferred upon it the power of appointing the Directors-General, and other officers, of all colonies it might establish. The Amsterdam Ciiamber, to which had been committed the care of New Netherland, under these powers proceeded to organize the first civil government in the new Province. The grant in the West India Company's charter is very extensive. The operative words are, " and also build any forts and fortifications there, to appoint and discharge governors, people for war, and officers of justice, and other public officers, for the preservation of the ])laces, keeping good order, police, and justice, and in like manner for the promoting of trade; and again others in their place to put, as they, from the situation of their affairs shall see fit."

By virtue of these powers, and of the vote of the Company placing New Netherland under its sole control and management, the Amsterdam Chamber of the Company appointed Peter Minuit Director- (teneral, and the following persons as his council, viz., Peter Bylvelt, Jacob Elbertsen Wissinck, Jan Jansen Brouwer, Symon Dirksen Pos and Reynert Harmensen. To these were added Isaac de Rasieres as Provincial Secretary, and Jan Lami)o as "Schout- Fiscaal," {pronounced as if spelled ^' Skowt"), who was an executive officer, combining the powers of a sheriff and an attorney-general.