CHAPTER II.
In which are recorded the sage projects of a ruler
of universal genius. The art of fighting by proclamation—and
how that the valiant Jacobus
Van Curlet came to be foolly dishonoured at
Fort Goed Hoop.
Never was a more comprehensive, a
more expeditious, or, what is still better,
a more economical measure devised, than
this of defeating the Yankees by proclamation—an
expedient, likewise, so humane,
so gentle and pacific, there were
ten chances to one in favour of its succeeding;—but
then there was one chance
to ten that it would not succeed:—as the
ill-natured Fates would have it, that
single chance carried the day! The proclamation
was perfect in all its parts,
well constructed, well written, well sealed,
and well published—all that was wanting
to insure its effect was that the Yankees
should stand in awe of it; but, provoking
to relate, they treated it with the
most absolute contempt, applied it to an
unseemly purpose, and thus did the first
warlike proclamation come to a shameful
end—a fate which I am credibly informed
has befallen but too many of its
successors.
