1 6 A. E. Mc Kinky tion to the English towns.' But there must have been other rea- sons as well. Stuj-vesant's own words criticizing popular govern- ment have already been given ; and we must also remember that the English were beginning to demand a total separation from the Dutch, and a combination with the English of Connecticut and New Haven. We have thus far traced the features of local government in the two classes of towns under the Dutch government, but in closing, mention must be made of the local government of New Amsterdam itself. From the first settlement of Manhattan Island down to the year 1649 the records show no demand upon the part of the inhab- itants of New Amsterdam for local governmental powers distinct from those of the Company's officials. In 1649 the representative body of the Nine Men sent a letter to the States General depicting the " very poor and most low condition " of the province, and ask- ing for a redress of their grievances. Among the reforms which they thought would encourage population and promote prosperity was the establishment of a " suitable municipal government." ^ A commission of three men was appointed to take this petition and a lengthy remonstrance against the government of Kieft and Stuy- vesant to Holland.^ After an elaborate investigation by the States General, a committee of that body reported a " Provisional Order respecting the Government, Preservation and Peopling of New Netherland." * Among the reforms there proposed, we find the first mention of municipal government for New Amsterdam : " XVII. And within the city of New Amsterdam shall be erected a Burgher Government, consisting of a Sheriff, two Burgomasters, and 5 Sche- pens." This report was not adopted, but the fear of its passage forced the West India Company to make concessions to the inhabi- tants of New Amsterdam, and on April 4, 1652, Stuyvesant was directed to " erect there a Court of Justice formed, as much as pos- sible, after the custom of this city" [Amsterdam]. The court was to have the officers named in the former provisional order, who were to be chosen from the " honest and respectable " persons of the settlement, the Directors expressing the hope that some of such persons could be found among the burghers.^ Ten months passed after the dating of this instruction to Stuy- vesant before the latter inaugurated the new city government. ' In one of his letters, Stuyvesant says : " It ought to be remembered that the Eng- hshmen . . . enjoy more privileges than the Exemptions of New Netherland grant to any Hollander." N. Y. Col. J)oc., XIV. 233. ^N. Y. Col. Doc, I. 260. sBrodhead, I. 506-507. •^Doc. Hist. ofN. K, I. 598; N. Y. Col. Doc, I. 387-391. ^Doc Hist. ofN. K, I. 599-600.
