request was refused. Finally it was agreed to release him but to remove him from the Board of the Nine Men. Van Dincklagen alone opposed this measure and the council removed the popular jurist.[1]
Soon afterwards occurred another event that was decidedly disadvantageous to Stuyvesant. The directors of the Dutch West India Company, on the pretext that war might break out at any time with the Indians, appealed to the governor for munitions. The Director General ordered a case of arms from Holland. The munitions came in due time, “in the full light of day” at Fort Amsterdam. The people, seeing the munitions unloaded and believing that some treachery was abroad, complained that “the director was everything, and did the business of the whole country, having several shops himself; that he was a brewer, and had breweries; was a part owner of ships, and a merchant and a trader as well in lawful and contraband articles.”[2] Stuyvesant deigned not to notice these popular murmurings against his character and prerogative, believing himself secure now since Adrian Van der Donck, whom he regarded as the cause of all the unrest and iniquity of the colony, was removed from his seat of authority.
But Van der Donck, because of his activities in sponsoring measures to increase popular representation in New Netherland and on account of his education and the charm and dignity of his personality, was a popular hero of the Dutch burgers; and now since the incident of the case of firearms, whereby they thought they had certain reason to be suspicious
- ↑ When Herrman was asked what action he thought ought to be taken against Van der Donck, he gave an evasive reply much to Van der Donck’s advantage. Apparently at this time Herrman did not think his party strong enough to come to open conflict with Stuyvesant. (Documents rel. to the Col. His. of N. Y., Vol. XIV. p. 111.)
- ↑ Brodhead, Vol. I. p. 504.
