And when any thing was said to the Director on these and similar subjects, more than pleased him, a great deal of ill and spiteful Stuyvesant berates language was received ; even those who were officially brought to speak, with Ihe principal mcu among the people him of such things, if he were not in good humor, were berated as rascals, bear skinners, &c. The Fort under which people ^ ^ will take shelter, and from which, it seems, all The iike a mole heap, and ' ' fort is all

authority proceeds, lies like a mole-hill or a ruin. It does not contain a single order!"""'" "'" "'

gun-carriage, and there is not a piece of cannon on a suitable frame, or on a sound platform. It was proclaimed, at first, that it should be repaired, constructed with five bastions, and be made a first class fort. The Select men were also asked for money for the purpose but they excused themselves on the ;

plea that the people were very poor. Every one was also greatly dissatisfied, and feared that the Director would be more harsh and severe, could he once rely on his fort. It remains sticking between these. He will, doubtless, contrive by various circumstances to throw the blame on the Commonalty, who are innocent, although the Director desired to have the money from them, and pretended to have an order to that effect from their High Mightinesses; for had he applied to that object one-fourth of the money which was collected in his time from the The monej coiiec- Commonalty, it would, certainly, not have fallen short, as the wine excise was3t expOTTed •' •' on the foru was imposed expressly for that purpose. But so it was a thousand ways ;