34 HISTORY OF BROOKLYN.

appointed in their verdict, the director endeavored, in various ways, to secure their unconditional consent to his plan of an aggressive war; but the Twelve Men remained unshaken in their opinion, and succeeded in averting actual hostilities until the beginning of the following year. Early in January, 1641, Kieft again convened the Twelve Men, and, finally, wrung from them a consent, “conditional, specific, and limited,” to the sending out of an expedition against the Weckquaesgeeks. But, while the representatives of the people unwillingly conceded this much to the director's wishes, they seized the opportunity to demand certain reforms in the colonial government: viz., that the council should be reorganized and its numbers increased to five; that, in order “to save the land from oppression,” four persons, elected by the commonalty, should assist at the council, two of which four should be annually elected by the people; that judicial proceedings should be held only before a full board; that the right of free trade should be granted to all colonists, on payment of the company's imposts; that the militia should be reorganized and properly equipped; and that, to prevent the currency of the colony from being exported, its nominal value should be increased. Jealous of his own rights, which he saw to be limited by these popular demands, Kieft was aware that some concessions must be made, in order to secure their acquiescence in the war which he was so anxious to commence. He, therefore, partially granted some of the least important points demanded; and, with a significant hint that he thought they had somewhat exceeded the powers for which they had been especially convened, he dissolved the Twelve Men, thanking them for their advice, and forbidding, in future, any calling of assemblies of the people, without the express order of the director. Early in March following, the expedition against the Weckquaesgeeks set forth, and though it was partially futile, it had the effect of inducing the savages to sue for a peace, which, however, proved to be but a temporary respite.

At Manhattan, which was now becoming, more than ever, a stopping-place for transient visitors from New England and Virginia, the director built, in 1642, a “fine hotel,” and also a church, both of stone; and, in consequence of the large number of Englishmen who were now flocking to New Netherland—rendering necessary