giving an occafional grunt, as he shovelled a mighty fpoonful of Indian pudding into his mouth-either as a fign that he relifhed the difh, or comprehended the story-he called unto him his conftable, and pulling out of his breeches pocket a huge jack-knife, dispatched it after the defendant as a fummons, accompanied by his tobacco box as a warrant.

This fummanary process was as effectual in thofe simple days, as was the seal ring of the great Haroun Alrafchid, among the true believers-the two par ties, being confronted before him, each produced a book of accounts, written in a language and character that would have puzzled any but a high Dutch commentator, or a learned decypherer of Egyptian obelisks, to understand. The fage Wouter took them one after the other, and having poised them in his hands, and attentively counted over the number of leaves, fell ftraitway into a very great doubt, and smoked for half an hour without saying a word; at length, laying his finger befide his nose, and shutting his eyes for a moment, with the air of a man who has just caught a fubtle idea by the tail, he flowly took his pipe from his mouth, puffed forth a column of tobacco smoke, and with marvellous gravity and folemnity pronounced -that having carefully counted over the leaves and weighed the books, it was found, that one was just as thick and as heavy as the other-therefore it was the final opinion of the court that the accounts were equally balanced-therefore Wandle fhould give Ba

rent a receipt, and Barent should give Wandle a receipt—and the constable should pay the costs.

This decifion being straitway made known, diffufed general joy throughout New-Amfterdam, for the people immediately perceived, that they had a very wife and equitable magistrate to rule over them. But its happiest effect was, that not another law fuit took place throughout the whole of his administration--and the office of constable fell into fuch decay, that there was not one of thofe loffel scouts known in the province for many years. I am the more particular in dwelling on this tranfaction, not only because I deem it one of the most fage and righteous judgments on record, and well worthy the attention of modern magistrates, but because it was a miraculous event in the history of the renowned Wouter-being the only time he was ever known to come to a decifion, in the whole courfe of his life.

CHAP. II.

Containing some account of the grand Council of New-Amsterdam, as also divers especial good philosophical reasons why an Alderman should be fat—with other particulars touching the state of the Province.

In treating of the early governors of the province, Imuft caution my readers against confounding them, in point of dignity and power, with those worthy gentlemen, who are whimsically denominated governers in this enlightened republic-a fet of unhappy victims of popularity, who are in fact the most dependant, hen-pecked beings in the community: doomed to bear the fecret goadings and corrections of their own party, and the fneers and revilings of the whole world befide.-Set up, like geefe at Christmas holydays, to be pelted and shot at by every whipfter and vagabond in the land. On the contrary, the Dutch governors enjoyed that uncontrolled authority vefted in all commanders of diftant colonies or territories. They were in a manner, abfolute defpots in their little domains, lording it, if fo difpofed, over both law and gospel, and accountable to none but the mother country; which it is well known is aftonishingly deaf to all complaints against its governors, provided they discharge the main duty of their station-fqueez

ing out a good revenue. This hint will be of importance, to prevent my readers from being feized with doubt and incredulity, whenever, in the course of this authentic history, they encounter the uncommon circumftance, of a governor acting with independence, and in opposition to the opinions of the multitude.

To aflift the doubtful Wouter in the arduous bufiness of legislation, a board of magistrates was appointed, which presided immediately over the police. This potent body confifted of a fchout or bailiff, with powers between those of the present mayor and fheriff -five burgermeefters, who were equivalent to aldermen, and five schepens, who officiated as fcrubs, subdevils, or bottle-holders to the burgermeefters, in the fame manner as do affiftant aldermen to their principals at the present day; it being their duty to fill the pipes of the lordly burgermeefters-huut the markets for delicacies for corporation dinners, and to discharge fuch other little offices of kindness, as were occafionally required. It was, moreover, tacitly understood, though not specifically enjoined, that they fhould confider themselves as butts for the blunt wits of the burgermeefters, and should laugh most heartily at all their jokes; but this laft was a duty as rarely called in action in those days as it is at prefent, and was fhortly remitted, in confequence of the tragical death of a fat little schepen-who actually died of fuffoca

tion in an unfuccefsful effort to force a laugh, at one of burgermeester Van Zandt's best jokes.

In return for thefe humble fervices, they were permitted to say yes and no at the council board, and to have that enviable privilege, the run of the public kitchen-being graciously permitted to eat, and drink, and smoke, at all thofe fnug junkettings and public gormandizings, for which the ancient magiftrates were equally famous with their more modern fucceffors. The poft of fchepen, therefore, like that of affistant alderman, was eagerly coveted by all your burghers of a certain defcription, who have a huge relifh for good feeding, and an humble ambition to be great men, in a small way-who thirst after a little brief authority, that shall render them the terror of the alms houfe, and the bridewell-that fhall enable them to lord it over obfequious poverty, vagrant vice, outcast prostitution, and hunger driven dishonesty-that fhall place in their hands the leffer, but galling fcourge of the law, and give to their beck a hound-like pack of catch poles and bum bailiffs-tenfold greater rogues than the culprits they hunt down!-My readers will excufe this fudden warmth, which I confefs is unbecoming of a grave hiftorian-but I have a mortal antipathy to catch poles, bum bailiffs, and little great

men.

The ancient magiftrates of this city correfponded with thofe of the prefent time no lefs in form, magnitude and intellect, than in prerogative and privi