164 HISTORY OF BROOKLYN.

for his prudent precautions, and promised to abide by his orders. And, agreeably to the petition of some of the “country people,” that they might be permitted, for their better safety, to remove their families and property into the city, and that some accommodation might be apportioned to them for a season, the Hon. Cornelius Steenwyck, of the Council, CornelisVan Ruyven, and JohannesVan Brugh, Burgomaster, were appointed to look up the proper houses and accommodation, and to make the necessary provision at the ferry for the safe and speedy passage of goods, etc., over the river.

The inhabitants of Breuckelen, Boswyck, and the other Dutch towns were not slow in complying with these propositions of the Governor, and so active and general was the emigration to the city, as to threaten the total depopulation of the west end of Long Island. In this emergency, Gov. Colve, on the 26th of December, issued an order, wherein he states that he “deemed it necessary that, for the present, in each of those villages, a few males should remain, to prevent further losses, until we have received further information of the arrival or the designs of the enemy. And in order that this may be most safely effected for the public welfare and in good order, therefore the respective captains, lieutenants, and ensigns of the aforesaid villages are hereby commanded to appear with their companies, all armed, on Friday, the 29th of this month, in the forenoon, within this city of New Orange and before the fortress William Hendricks, leaving six men in each village. This being done, then immediately one-third portion of each company shall be discharged to depart to their several villages, there to remain until relieved by another corporalship, which shall be done (until further orders) every third day. Also, the officers are hereby authorized to give such orders about thrashing grain and foddering the cattle, as each one shall deem advisable within his own jurisdiction; above all, taking especial care that a vigilant watch is maintained and patrol kept up both day and night, so that they may not be surprised by the enemy or separated from us.”1

But another change in the political condition of the country was at hand, and the second epoch of Dutch power was terminated, in

1 N. Y. Col. MSS., xxiii. 185