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Westminster, treaty of

A treaty between England and Holland, concluded March 6, 1674. By this treaty, proclaimed simultaneously at London and The Hague, New Netherland was surrendered to the English. Information of this surrender was first made known to the Dutch governor, Clove, by two men from Connecticut. The inhabitants of New Orange (as New York had been renamed) were so exasperated that the bearers of the evil news were arrested and punished. They gathered in excited groups in the streets, and cursed the States-General for giving up the fairest colony belonging to the Dutch. They declared that no authority of States or Prince could compel them to yield the country to the English again; and that they would fight to defend it “so long as they could stand with one leg and fight with one hand.” They had tasted of English liberty and found it bitter; but they quietly submitted.

Harper and Brothers Publishers. . New York. 1902.

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March 6th, 1674 AD (1)
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