CHAPTER I.
How Peter Stuyvesant relieved the sovereign people
from the burthen of taking care of the nation
—with sundry particulars of his conduct in time
of peace.
The history of the reign of Peter
Stuyvesant furnishes a melancholy picture
of the cares and vexations inseparable
from government; and may serve as
a solemn warning to all who are ambitious
of attaining the seat of power.
Though crowned with victory, enriched
by conquest, and returning in triumph to
his metropolis, his exultation was chocked
by beholding the sad abuses that had
taken place during the short interval of
his absence.
The populace, unfortunately for their
own comfort, had taken a deep draught
of the intoxicating cup of power during
the reign of William the Testy; and
though upon the accession of Peter Stuyvesant,
they felt, with a certain instinctive
perception, which mobs as well as
cattle possess, that the reins of government
had passed into stronger hands;
yet could they not help fretting, and
chafing, and champing upon the bit, in
restive silence.
It seems, by some strange and inscrutab
