him for a moment from head to foot, with a countenance that
would have appalled any thing else than a sounder of brass --
"Prythee, who and what art thou?" said he. -- "Sire," replied
the other, in no wise dismayed, -- "for my name, it is Antony
Van Corlear -- for my parentage, I am the son of my mother --
for my profession, I am champion and garrison of this great
city of New-Amsterdam." -- "I doubt me much," said Peter
Stuyvesant, "that thou art some scurvy costardmonger knave
-- how didst thou acquire this paramount honour and dignity?"
-- "Marry, sir," replied the other, "like many a great man
before me, simply by sounding my own trumpet." -- "Ay, is it
so?" quoth the governor, "why, then, let us have a relish of
thy art." Whereupon he put his instrument to his lips, and
sounded a charge with such a tremendous outset, such a de-
lectable quaver, and such a triumphant cadence, that it was
enough to make your heart leap out of your mouth only to be
within a mile of it. Like as a war-worn charger, while sport-
ing in peaceful plains, if by chance he hear the strains of mar-
tial music, pricks up his ears, and snorts and paws and kindles
at the noise, so did the heroic soul of the mighty Peter joy to
hear the clangour of the trumpet; for of him might truly be
said what was recorded of the renowned St. George of England,
"there was nothing in all the world that more rejoiced his
heart, than to hear the pleasant sound of war, and see the sol-
diers brandish forth their steeled weapons." Casting his eyes
more kindly, therefore, upon the sturdy Van Corlear, and find-
ing him to be a jolly, fat little man, shrewd in his discourse,
yet of great discretion and immeasurable wind, he straightway
conceived a vast kindness for him, and discharging him from
the troublesome duty of garrisoning, defending, and alarming
the city, ever after retained him about his person, as his chief
favourite, confidential envoy, and trusty 'squire. Instead of
disturbing the city with disastrous notes, he was instructed to
play so as to delight the governor while at his repasts, as did
the minstrels of yore in the days of glorious chivalry -- and on
all public occasions to rejoice the ears of the people with war-
like melody -- thereby keeping alive a noble and martial spirit.

Many other alterations and reformations, both for the better
and for the worse, did the governor make, of which my time
will not serve me to record the particulars; suffice it to say,
he soon contrived to make the province feel that he was its
master, and treated the sovereign people with such tyrannical
rigour, that they were all fain to hold their tongues, stay at

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