CONTEMPORARY LITERATURE OF THE LAST History of the State HISTORY. We are happy to open our literary record of the past quarter with the announcement of such a thorough, well-digested, and scholarlike work as Brodhead's "History of New York." The Empire State has waited long for the worthy recital of her progress, from the humble Dutch colony, 1615, to her present conspicuous position. Abundant in materials of authentic character, rich in incident and romantic adventure, and closely connected with the development of American society, the history of New York has been more indebted to the imaginative genius of one of her favorite sons, than to the faithful labors of the veracious chronicler. In fact, Mr. Brodhead may almost be said to have entered upon a virgin theme. Certainly he is the first who has attempted to reduce the unshapen mass of events in our early annals to classic symmetry. Conscious of the rare felicities of his position, he has engaged in his congenial task, not only with sympathy, but with enthusiasm. His love of the subject gives a perpetual vitality to his pages. Nor is his judgment blinded by an excess of zeal. Throughout the volume, we find the marks of profound research, lively vigilance, and acute reflection. It is also pervaded by a certain air of quietness and self-possession which serve to strengthen our confidence in the conclusions of the author. Mr. Brodhead writes in a style which, in its Doric plainness and vigor, shows the finish of the artist. He rarely indulges in any ambitious flights. Aiming at transparent lucidity, as the indispensable condition of historical composition, he does not attempt to excite admiration by rhetorical splendor. The infrequent embellishments with which he adorns his narrative are appropriate and graceful. The history of New York commences with its discovery by the Dutch navigators, in 1609, and is divided by the author into four leading epochs: the first, closing with its seizure by the English in 1664-the second, with the cession of Canada to England in 1763—the third, with the inauguration of Washington in 1789-and the fourth embraces the annals of the State from the organization of the Federal government to the present time. The volume now issued embraces the first period from 1609 to 1664, and is presented to the public "in partial execution of a purpose contemplated for many years." In the construction of his narrative, Mr. Brodhead has hit the happy medium beween a parsimonious brevity of detail, and an extravagant copiousness of description. The succession of events is presented in due order and proportion. He has succeeded admirably in preserving the true perspective of their relations with contemporaneous history. His canvas is crowded, but so justly arranged, as to prevent confusion. Among other features of prominent interest which it presents, are the religion, customs, and jurisprudence of the Fatherland -the establishment of its system of townships and municipal governments-the intermingling of various creeds and theories -the growth of commerce-the origin of the feudal relation of patroons and tenants-the dealings with the aboriginal red men-and the progress of foreign encroachment, ending in the supremacy of foreign power. The gradual increase of what is now the City of New York forms one of the most curious topics of the volume, as will be seen from the slight sketch into which we here condense the full information which Mr. Brodhead has gathered in his researches. The "Island of the Manhattans," which was discovered by Hudson in 1609, on his first voyage to the river which bears his name, was so called after the tribe of savages by whom it was then occupied. Within a few years, other ships were sent from Amsterdam to the island, whose commercial position soon pointed it out as the most suitable place whence the furs collected in the interior could be shipped to Holland. It was, at this time, in a state of uncultivated nature. A wild and luxuriant herbage covered its surface, but no cattle browsed in its fertile valleys, and the native deer had been almost exterminated by the Indians. Goats and rabbits were sent out by the Dutch merchants, to supply the want of domestic animals; but they were poisoned by the wild verdure, to which they were unaccustomed. The first cabins were erected on the island in the winter of 1613. It was not until 1626 that the title to Manhattan was confirmed by purchase of the aborigiThis took place under the administration of Peter Minuit, the first Director of the Province of New Netherland. The entire island, containing about 22,000 acres of land, was nes. ceded by the native proprietors to the Dutch West India Company, for an amount equivalent to about twenty-four dollars of our present currency. No time was now lost in providing for its permanent security. A large fort was commenced on the southern point of the island, now the Battery. The countinghouse of the Company was kept in a stone building, thatched with reeds. About thirty other houses, constructed chiefly of the bark of trees, were clustered along the east side of the river, from north to south. Each colonist had his own house. The principal officers of the colony lived together. Upon the completion of the fort, it was intended that all the settlers should betake themselves within its walls, for safety from any sudden attack of the savages. This post received the name of Fort Amsterdam. The first inhabitants brought with them the characteristics of their Fatherland. They were as busy and industrous as in Holland. One traded with the natives; another built houses; a third cultivated the land. Each farmer had his homestead upon the company's land. He was also furnished with cows, whose milk was his own profit. The colony steadily increased in prosperity. In 1628, it numbered two hundred and seventy souls. Fearless of the Indians, with whom they were at peace, the families continued to reside outside the walls of Fort Amsterdam, which was now completed with four bastions, and a facing of stone. The colonists subsisted chiefly by farming, the deficiency in their crops being made up by supplies from the West India Company. Their summer grain had suffered from the excessive heats; but of winter corn there was good store: while the cattle which had been sent from Holland, three years before, had thriven and multiplied. Everything wore the air of progress and improvement. The commercial importance of Manhattan was soon felt. In 1629 and 1630 the imports from Amsterdam amounted to 113,000 guilders, while the exports from the island exceeded 130,000 guilders. Even at that early day its ships began to excite the envy of England. In 1631 the New Netherland, a ship of between six and eight hundred tons burden, was built at Manhattan and dispatched to Holland. This ship was not only the largest that had ever been built in America, but was probably one of the greatest merchant vessels at that time in the world. Under the administration of the renowned Wouter Van Twiller, in 1633, the domestic concerns of Manhattan received a great share of his attention. Fort Amsterdam, which had become dilapidated, was repaired. A guard-house and a barrack, for the newly-arrived soldiers, were constructed within the ramparts. Three expensive wind-mills were also erected. Several brick and frame houses were built for the director and his officers, and on the company's farm, north of the fort, a dwelling-house, brewery, boat-house, and barn. Other smaller houses were built for the corporal, the smith, the cooper, and the midwife; and the goats, which Van Twiller had received as a present from Virginia, were accommodated with an appropriate stable. A plain wooden building, like a barn, was set apart for a church, in place of the loft in which the people had worshipped since 1626. Near this primeval sanctuary, which stood in what is now Broad street, between Pearl and Bridge streets, a dwelling-house and stable were erected for the use of the "Domine"—a title given in Holland to clergymen and head-masters of Latin schools, which crossed the Atlantic with the first minister Bogardus, and which is still retained among the descendants of the Dutch colonists. In 1652, the population of Manhattan, which had now grown into a small village, amounted to seven or eight hundred souls. Thus far, its municipal affairs had been administered by the Director and Council of the province. The time had now come for the inhabitants to be invested with civic powers. A municipal government was formed on the model of that of Amsterdam, though with less extensive popular franchises than were enjoyed by the parent city. The government was installed in due form, February 6, 1653, and the island of Manhattan became the city of New Amsterdam. In a little over ten years, the population had increased to fifteen hundred. But trouble was now at hand. English jealousy had grown with the increasing commerce of Holland, and was now directed towards her American province. It was soon decided to rob her of the colony. A royal patent was made to the Duke of York, granting the whole of New Netherland, with a large adjacent territory. An expedition was fitted out to carry the project into effect. On arriving before Fort Amsterdam, the fleet came to anchor; the Commander summoned the colony to surrender; and after a fruitless protest on the part of Peter Stuyvesant, the Dutch Director, articles of capitulation were signed, and on the 8th of September, 1664, the English flag was hoisted on Fort Amsterdam. In compliment to the Duke of York, the name of the city was changed from New Amsterdam to New York. The leader of the expedition, Necally, was proclaimed Deputy Governor by the Burgomaster. "To his European eye," says Mr. Brodhead, "the Dutch metropolis, with its earthen fort, inclosing a wind-mill and high flag-staff, a prison and a governor's house, and a double-roofed church, above which loomed a square tower, its gallows and whipping-post at the river's side, and its rows of houses which hugged the citadel, presented a mean appearance. Yet, before long, he described it to the Duke of York, as the best of all his Majesty's towns in America,' and assured his Royal Highness that with proper management, within five years the staple of America will be drawn hither, of which the brethren of Boston are very sensible."" We shall eagerly look for Mr. Brodhead's continuation of this masterly work, which forms a genuine addition to the classical school of American history, and places its author on the memorable roll that contains the names of Bancroft, Irving, and Prescott. White, Red, Black. Sketches of American Society in the FRANCIS and THERESA PULSZKY. 2 vols. Redfield. United States. By the TRAVELS. company Under a fanciful title, the agreeable volumes of these intelligent and observing travellers present a series of lively descriptions, acute comments, and grave discussions, showing the salient features of domestic and social life in the United States, as they appeared in the extended journeyings which of Kossuth made an almost perpetual holiday. The work is evidently the production of two different pens—a fact made known by the striking contrasts in the contents, without the information on the titlepage; Mr. Pulszky contributing a variety of political and historical disquisition, which, we must own, is of a somewhat heavy character, though it may be read to advantage by those who wish to obtain a clear comprehension of American institutions; while Mrs. Pulszky deals in more graceful and airy themes, touching lightly on the surface of society, freely indulging in gossip about families and personages of note, and often hitting off a scene or an adventure with a brilliant piquancy of description. This union of talent and taste in the composition of the work gives it an eminently readable character. Good Mr. Pulszky is happily relieved, when on the very verge of intolerable tediousness, by the sprightly effusions of the lady; and her gay, genial, and truly feminine revelations are heightened in effect by the rather sombre background of the perspective. |