Borrowing four vessels of the English navy, of which he was Lord High Admiral, the Duke of York sent an expedition under the command of Colonel Richard Nicolls, with Sir Robert Carr, George Cartwright and Samuel Mavericke as co-commissioners with Matliias Nicolls, subsequently Secretary for New York, and a few other English officers, in command of .about -150 men, to visit the Plantations in New England, and to " reduce " the Dutch Province of New Netherland " to an entire obedience to our government" as their instructions from the King expressed it.' These instructions, and the special communications from Charles 2d to Massachusetts and Connecticut in relation to the commission and its powers were dated the 23d of April, 1664, as well as his "Private Instructions" which were only to be considered by the commissioners between

themselves.' The Royal Commission to Nicolls and the others, was dated two days later, on the 25th of April, 1664. The latter, strange to say, docs not mention, or eveu refer to. New Netherland.* Why this remarkable omission was made is not now known, but such is the fact. On the second of April, 1664, three weeks previously, the Duke of York had given Colonel Richard Nicolls a commission from himself as his Deputy Governor. This document after reciting the King's Patent to himself, and a brief description of the boundaries therein set forth, continues: -- "'And whereas I have conceived a good opinion of the integrity, prudence, ability, and fitness of Richard Nicolls, Esquire, to be employed as my Deputy there, I have thought fit to constitute and appoint, and I do hereby constitute and appoint him the said Richard Nicolls, Esquire, to be my Deputy Governor within the lands. Islands, and places aforesaid, To perform and execute all and every the powers which are by the said Letters Patent granted unto me to be executed by my Deputy Agent or Assign.