HISTORY OF BROOKLYN. 33

The prosperity of New Netherland was greatly quickened by this charter. New colonies were successfully founded on the North River, in the Valley of the Hackensack and on Staten Island; the municipal affairs of New Amsterdam were better regulated, and the currency of the province was reformed. This consisted, at the time, almost exclusively of sewan or wampum, of which that manufactured on Long Island and at Manhattan was esteemed the most valuable. Of this “good, splendid” variety, four beads were deemed equivalent to one stiver; but, by degrees, a large quantity of inferior wampum, loose and unstrung, had got into circulation, which had so far depreciated in the market, as to call for legislative interference. The council, therefore, ordered that thenceforth the loose kind should pass at the rate of six for a stiver; and the only reason that it was not wholly prohibited, was “because there was no other coin in circulation, and the laborers, boors, and other common people having no other money, would be great losers.” Two annual fairs, one for cattle and another for swine, were also established at Manhattan, in September, 1641.

At this juncture, a sudden attack made by the Raritans upon the settlement at Staten Island, together with certain hostile demonstrations on the part of the Weckquaesgeeks, gave indication that the smouldering fires of savage resentment were about to burst forth in flames of war and destruction. The director, appalled at the imminence of the danger, was yet unwilling to take the responsibility of the initiative step of retaliation, from fear of the people, who already reproached him with folly in provoking the war, as well as with personal cowardice. He, therefore, convened all the masters and heads of families at Manhattan, on the 23d of August, and submitted to them the question of declaring war against the savages. The assembly promptly chose “Twelve Select Men,” all Hollanders, to consider upon his propositions.1 Their counsel was for preserving peace with the Indians as long as possible; or, at least, until the Dutch settlements throughout the country should be more numerous and better able to maintain and defend themselves. Dis-

1. Among these “Twelve Men” were Jacques Bentym, the Gowanus settler; Frederick Lubbertsen, a large landholder though not a resident, in the same vicinity; and George Rapalie, of the Wallabout.