s
from fort Amsterdam. No one dared to move a foot to fetch a
stick of firewood without a strong escort."

Kieft, in his overwhelming embarrassments, had found it necessary to
convene eight select men to advise him and to aid in supporting his
authority. These select men decided to demand of the home government
the recall of Kieft, whose incapacity had thus plunged the
once-flourishing colony into utter ruin. They also urged the
introduction into New Netherland of the municipal system of the
fatherland.

In their brief but touching memorial they write,

"Our fields lie fallow and waste. Our dwellings are burned.
Not a handful can be sown this autumn on the deserted
places. The crops, which God permitted to come forth during
the summer, remain rotting in the fields. We have no means
to provide necessaries for wives or children. We sit here
amidst thousands of savages from whom we can find neither
peace nor mercy.

"There are those among us who, by the sweat and labor of
their hands, through many long years and at great expense,
have endeavored to improve their land. Others have come with
ships freighted with a large quantity of cattle. They have
cleared away the forest, enclosed their plantations, and
brought them under the plough, so as to be an ornament to
the country and a profit to the proprietors after their long
and laborious toil. The whole of these now lie in ashes
through a foolish hankering after war.

"All right-thinking men here know that these Indians have
lived as lambs among us until a few years ago, injuring no
man, offering every assistance to our nation, and when no
supplies were sent for several months, furnishing provisions
to the Company's servants until they received supplies.
These hath the Director, by several uncalled-for proceedings
from time to time, so estranged from us, and so embittered
against the Netherlands nation, that we do not believe that
anything will bring them and peace back, unless the Lord,
who bends all hearts to his will, propitiate their people.

"Little or nothing of any account has been done here for the
country. Every place is going to ruin. Neither counsel nor
advice is taken."

After giving an account of the origin and progress of the war, they
warn the home government against relying upon the statements whic