3 104. The Dutch Republic,' lately freed from Spain, was during the seventeenth century the foremost maritime nation on the globe. Its trading stations were scattered along the islands and coasts of Asia, and its ships penetrated the remotest seas. In A. D. 1609, the Dutch East India Company' commissioned Henry Hudson, an English captain, to seek for it a nearer passage to Asia than was yet known. Having visited many points on the American coast between Penobscot and Chesapeake bays, Hudson entered what is now the harbor of New York, and found himself at the mouth of a great river flowing between wooded heights to the sea. This he ascended beyond Albany, hoping to find an entrance to the Pacific Ocean. U.S. H.-5. (65) 105. Five years later Adrian Block built on Manhattan Island a small ship called the Unrest, with which he cruised through Long Island Sound, discovered the Housatonic and Connecticut rivers, gave his name to the island which guards the eastern entrance of the Sound, and followed the coast as far as Nahant. By reason of all these discoveries, the land between Delaware Bay and Cape Cod was called New Netherlands, while the noble river which Hudson explored has ever since borne his name. A. D. 1613. 106. A little trading-post, called New Amsterdam, was soon established on Manhattan, where now stands the greatest city of the western continent. Another arose, in 1614, upon the present site of Albany, and thither came Mohawks and other Indians to exchange the skins of otter, beaver, and mink for knives, beads, lookingglasses, and, later, the coveted fire-arms. In 1621 a Dutch West India Company was formed, and emigration to New Netherlands was encouraged for purposes of trade. 4 107. Like their mother country, the Dutch settlements in America were thrown freely open to persons of all nations and religions; and before long, eighteen languages were spoken in New Amsterdam. The Company especially desired to secure "farmers and laborers, foreigners and exiles, men inured to toil and penury." A free passage from Europe was granted to skilled mechanics. Large tracts of land with many privileges were offered to rich men who would bring out whole colonies at their own expense. Such persons were called patroons, and in time some of them had thousands of tenants on their estates. 108. Forts and trading-houses were erected on the Delaware and Connecticut rivers, where Camden and Hartford now stand. But the English refused to recognize any Dutch title in America; though some civilities were exchanged between the rulers of Plymouth A. D. 1627. |