40 HISTORY OF BROOKLYN.

over the land,” the Eight Men were again convoked, but the director adopted only one of their sensible suggestions: viz., that armed assistance should be sought from their English neighbors. The New Haven Colony, however, to whom application was made, declined, alleging among other reasons that they were not satisfied “that the Dutch war with the Indians was just;” but they offered supplies of provisions to the harassed New Netherlanders. Again, October 24th, the Eight Men met, and, for the first time, resolved to speak directly to their superiors in Holland. They sent a letter to the College of Nineteen, which, in simple and pathetic yet manly words, rehearsed the terrible situation of the province. In addition to this, on the 3d of November they addressed a remonstrance to the States-General, begging for immediate assistance, provisions, etc. While awaiting an answer from the Fatherland, the winter of 1643-44 was improved in disciplining the numbers congregated at Manhattan, and in various foraging and military expeditions against the Indians on Staten Island, and at Stamford and Westchester. Early in 1644, trouble arose between the settlers of Heemstede, a recent English colony in the present Queens County, on Long Island, and the Canarsee tribe in that neighborhood, whose chief, the one-eyed Penhawitz, was suspected of treachery. Expeditions dispatched from Fort Amsterdam against the Canarsees and against the Indians near Maspeth, both resulted in the complete discomfiture of the savages, with but slight loss to the whites. This was followed, February, 1644, by another attack upon the Connecticut Indians near Greenwich, in which the Dutch were again completely victorious. Planting season being again at hand, some of the hostile tribes began to sue for peace, which was concluded with the Long Island Indians, who had been pretty thoroughly intimidated by the affairs at Heemstede and Maspeth. The River tribes, however, remained implacable, and the settlers were kept in a constant state of alarm and incertitude, which totally prevented the progress of the settlements. Again, on the 18th of June, 1644, the director felt obliged to convene the Eight Men, whose advice he sought concerning the imposition of a tax upon wines, beer, brandy, and beaver-skin. To their better judgment, this measure seemed to be, in the impoverished state of the province, unwise, oppressive,