Amsterdam around the fort, one hundred families, so that there was appearance of producing supplies in a year for fourteen thousand souls, without straightening the country, and had there not been a want of laborers or farm servants, twice as much could be raised, considering that fifty lasts of rye and fifty lasts of peas were still remaining around the fort, after a large quantity had been burnt and destroyed by the Indians, who in a short time quickly brought this country to nought and had well nigh destroyed this bright hope, in the manner following.

The Causes and Consequence of the New Netherland War. We have already stated that the Liberty to trade with the Indians was the cause of the increase of population in N. Netherland. We shall now show that it also is the cause of Its

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182 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS,

ruin; producing two opposite effects, and that not without reason as will appear from what follows. This Liberty, then, which in every respect was most gratefully received ; which should have been used like a precious gift, was very soon perverted to a great abuse. For every one thought that now was the acceptable time to make his fortune withdrew himself from his ;

fellow, as if deeming him suspected and the enemy of his desire, sought communication with the Indians from whom it appeared his profit was to be derived, all contrary to their High Mightinesses' motto.' That created first, a division of power of dangerous consequence; then produced altogether too much familiarity with the Indians, which in a short time brought forth contempt, usually the Father of Hate. For, not satisfied with merely taking them into their houses in the customary manner, they attracted them by extraordinary attention, such as admitting them to Table, laying napkins before them, presenting Wine to them and more of that kind of thing, which they did not receive like Esop's man, but as their due and desert, insomuch that they were not content, but began to hate, when such civilities were not shown them.