ng the Trojan horse within our
walls." After much anxious deliberation, it was decided to enlist a
force of seventy men, "silently and without beat of drum," and to lay
in supplies to stand a siege.

The danger roused the spirit of patriotism. The Dutch rallied with
great unanimity and, spade in hand, worked heartily on the
fortifications. They were all conscious, however, that treason lurked
within their walls.

Several of the New England colonies responded quite eagerly to the
appeal of Cromwell. New Haven pledged herself to the most zealous
efforts Connecticut promised two hundred men, and even five hundred
rather than that the enterprise should fail. Plymouth ordered fifty
men into the service, entrusting the command to Captain Miles Standish
and Captain Thomas Willett. It is worthy of notice that the Plymouth
people made an apology for this action, saying: "We concur in hostile
measures against our ancient Dutch neighbors only in reference unto
the national quarrel."

Massachusetts gave a reluctant consent that five hundred volunteers
against the Dutch should be raised within their jurisdiction.

Just as the fleet was about to sail from Boston, on this expedition,
the result of which could not be doubtful, a ship entered the port
with the announcement that peace had been concluded between England
Holland. This of course put a stop to any farther hostile action. The
welcome news was soon conveyed to Governor Stuyvesant. He was quite
overjoyed in its reception. The glad tidings were published from the
City Hall, with ringing of bell and all other public demonstrations of
satisfaction.

The 12th of August was appointed as a day of general thanksgiving to
God for his great goodness. In his proclamation, the Governor devoutly
exclaimed:

"Praise the Lord, O England's Jerusalem and Netherland's
zion, praise ye the Lord! He hath secured your gates and
blessed your possessions with peace, even here where the
threatened torch of war was lighted, where the waves reached
our lips and subsided only through the power of the
Almighty."

From this moral conflict, which came so near being a physical one,
Stuyvesant emerged very victorious. The Company had ever been disposed
to sympathize with him in his measures. The delegate Le Bleuw, who had
carried charges against him to Holland, was almost rudely repulsed,
and was forbidden to return to New Netherland. The Directors of the
Company wrote