Page:American Historical Review vol. 6.djvu/727

Transition from Dntch to English Rule 717 generation the English struggled for their " birth-right privi- leges." Although the military authority of the Duke was soon displaced by the civil organization in New York City and on Long Island, such was not the case in the outlying settlements on the Hudson and Delaware Rivers. Over ten years passed before a permanent civil government was established at those places. After the sur- render of New Amsterdam to Nicholls, the latter sent his repre- sentative to receive the submission of the several settlements along the Hudson River. No resistance was met with, and the Dutch were promised their civil privileges and the confirmation of their magis- trates. At Rensselaerswyck the patroon was granted all the privi- leges which he had enjoyed under the Dutch.' But in spite of promises, the real authority among the up-river settlements came from the military commanders. The local magistrates, indeed, were still retained under the old Dutch name of " commissaries ;" ^ and the old system of double nominations by the court was con- tinued.^ But the military authorities came into conflict with the Dutch citizens, and special commissioners with large powers were sent up the river to investigate the causes of the trouble,* and in 1669 regulated the affairs of the settlements on the Esopus.'^ These commissioners appointed the local officers, and took steps for the introduction of the Duke's Laws into these settlements. By degrees the authority was taken from special commissioners and military commanders, and a government established after the form of the Laws, therefore it was " desird a Copy of the Lawes maybe sent them."" In April, 1670, the military provisions of the Laws were enforced, the inhabitants were drilled according to the requirements of the Laws, and " all the Lawes relateing to Mili- itary Affaires were read to them." Over a year passed before any further features of the Laws were adopted. In October, 1671, the governor ordered that the towns on the Esopus should follow, in the administration, the rules of the Laws ; that a court of sessions should sit semi-annually on the Esopus, and that appeals might be had from it to the court of assizes at New York.'* Many English settlers were now entering the Esopus region, and their presence ' Munsell, Annals of Albany, VII. 97. 2 Munsell, Historical Collections of Albany, IV. 390-509 /aji/w. 3 Munsell, Annals of Albany, VI. 20 ; N. Y. Col. Doc, XIII. 439. ^N. Y. Col. Doc.,Xll. 406-415. 5 Ibid., 428-431. ^N. Y. Col. Doc, XIII. 438. ' Ibid., 449. ^ Ibid., 459-460.