A

HISTORY OF NEW YORK

FROM THE

BEGINNING OF THE WORLD TO THE END OF THE DUTCH DYNASTY

CONTAINING, AMONG MANY SURPRISING AND CURIOUS MATTERS, THE UN-
UTTERABLE PONDERINGS OF WALTER THE DOUBTER, THE DISASTROUS
PROJECTS OF WILLIAM THE TESTY, AND THE CHIVALRIC ACHIEVE-
MENTS OF PETER THE HEADSTRONG-THE THREE DUTCH GOVER-
NORS OF NEW AMSTERDAM; BEING THE ONLY AUTHENTIC
HISTORY OF THE TIMES THAT EVER HATH BEEN

OR EVER WILL BE PUBLISHED

BY

DIEDRICH KNICKERBOCKER

De waarheid die in duister lag,

De komt mit klaarheid aan den dag

AUTHOR'S REVISED EDITION

Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1848, by

ASHINGTON IRVING,

in the Clerke mee of the District Court for the Southern District of

New York

CONTAINING DIVERS INGENIOUS THEORIES AND PHILOSOPHIC SPECULATIONS,

CONCERNING THE CREATION AND POPULATION OF THE WORLD, AS CON-

NECTED WITH THE HISTORY OF NEW YORK.

CHAP. I.-Description of the World

CHAP. II.-Cosmogony, or Creation of the World; with a multitude of

excellent theories, by which the creation of a world is shown to be

no such difficult matter as common folk would imagine

CHAP. IIL-How that famous navigator, Noah, was shamefully nick-

named; and how he committed an unpardonable oversight in not

having four sons. With the great trouble of philosophers caused

thereby, and the discovery of America

CHAP. IV. Showing the great difficulty Philosophers have had in peo-

pling America-and how the Aborigines came to be begotten by ac-

cident to the great relief and satisfaction of the Author :

CHAP. V.-In which the Author puts a mighty question to the rout, by

the assistance of the Man in the Moon-which not only delivers thou-

sands of people from great embarrassment, but likewise concludes

this introductory book

BOOK II.

66

TREATING OF THE FIRST SETTLEMENT OF THE PROVINCE OF NIEUW-NEDERLANDTS.

CHAP. I.-In which are contained divers reasons why a man should not
write in a hurry-Also of Master Hendrick Hudson, his discovery of
a strange country-and how he was magnificently rewarded by the
munificence of their High Mightinesses

83

CHAP. II.—Containing an account of a mighty Ark which floated, under

the protection of St. Nicholas, from Holland to Gibbet Island-the

descent of the strange Animals therefrom-a great victory, and a

description of the ancient village of Communipaw

CHAP. III.-In which is set forth the true art of making a bargain-to-

gether with the miraculous escape of a great Metropolis in a fog-

and the biography of certain heroes of Communipaw

CHAP. IV. How the heroes of Communipaw voyaged to Hell-gate, and

how they were received there

CHAP. V.-HOW the heroes of Communipaw returned somewhat wiser

than they went and how the sage Oloffe dreamed a dream-and the

dream that he dreamed

PAGE

CHAP. VI.-Containing an attempt at etymology-and of the founding of

the great city of New Amsterdam

CHAP. VII.-How the people of Pavonia migrated from Communipaw to

the island of Manna-hata—and how Oloffe the Dreamer proved him-

self a great land speculator

CHAP. VIII. Of the founding and naming of the new city-of the City

Arms; and of the direful feud between Ten Breeches and Tough

Breeches

CHAP. IX.-How the city of New Amsterdam waxed great under the

protection of St. Nicholas and the absence of laws and statutes-how

Oloffe the Dreamer begun to dream of an extension of Empire, and

of the effect of his dreams

BOOK III.

IN WHICH IS RECORDED THE GOLDEN REIGN OF WOUTER VAN TWILLER.

CHAP. I. Of the renowned Wouter Van Twiller, his unparalleled virtues

-as likewise his unutterable wisdom in the law case of Wandle

Schoonhoven and Barent Bleecker-and the great admiration of the

public thereat

94

101

109

121

126

129

132

138

. . 145

CHAP. II.-Containing some account of the grand council of New Am-
sterdam, as also divers especial good philosophical reasons why an
Alderman should be fat-with other particulars touching the state
of the province

CHAP. III.-How the town of New Amsterdam arose out of mud, and
came to be marvellously polished and polite--together with a picture
of the manners of our great-great-grandfathers
CHAP. IV.-Containing farther particulars of the Golden Age, and what
constituted a fine Lady and Gentleman in the days of Walter the
Doubter

CHAP. V. Of the founding of Fort Aurania-Of the mysteries of the

Hudson Of the arrival of the Patroon Killian Van Rensellaer; his

lordly descent upon the earth, and his introduction of club law

PAGE

CHAP. VI.-In which the reader is beguiled into a delectable walk,

which ends very differently from what it commenced

CHAP. VII.-Faithfully describing the ingenious people of Connecticut

and thereabouts-showing, moreover, the true meaning of liberty of

conscience, and a curious device among these sturdy barbarians, to

keep up a harmony of intercourse, and promote population

CHAP. VIII.-How these singular barbarians turned out to be notorious

squatters. How they built air castles, and attempted to initiate the

Nederlanders in the mystery of bundling.

CHAP. IX.-How the Fort Goed Hoop was fearfully beleaguered-how

the renowned Wouter fell into a profound doubt, and how he finally

evaporated .

182

188

194

200

BOOK IV.

CONTAINING THE CHRONICLES OF THE REIGN OF WILLIAM THE TESTY.

CHAP. I.-Showing the nature of history in general; containing further-

more the universal acquirements of William the Testy, and how a

man may learn so much as to render himself good for nothing 207

CHAP. II.-HOW William the Testy undertook to conquer by proclamation

-how he was a great man abroad, but a little man in his own house, 213

CHAP. III.-In which are recorded the sage projects of a ruler of univer-

sal genius-The art of fighting by proclamation—and how that the

valiant Jacobus Van Curlet came to be foully dishonored at Fort

Goed Hoop.

CHAP. IV.-Containing the fearful wrath of William the Testy, and the

alarm of New Amsterdam-how the Governor did strongly fortify

the City-Of Antony the Trumpeter, and the windy addition to the

armorial bearings of New Amsterdamı

CHAP. V. Of the jurisprudence of William the Testy, and his admirable

expedients for the suppression of poverty.

CHAP. VI.-Projects of William the Testy for increasing the curre

he is outwitted by the Yankees-The great Oyster War

CHAP. VII.-Growing discontents of New Amsterdam under the gov-.

ernment of William the Testy

CHAP. VIII. The edict of William the Testy against Tobacco-Of the

Pipe Plot, and the rise of Feuds and Parties

217

222

227

232

237

240

CHAP. IX. Of the folly of being happy in the time of prosperity-Of
troubles to the South brought on by annexation-Of the secret expe-
dition of Jansen Alpendam, and his magnificent reward

CHAP. X.-Troublous times on the Hudson--How Killian Van Rensellaer

erected a feudal castle, and how he introduced club law into the

province

245

250