Knickerbocker's New York

ENTERED, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1848, by

WASHINGTON IRVING,

in the Clerk's Office of the District Court for the Southern District of

New-York.

LEAVITT, TROW & Co.,
Printers and Stereotypers,
49 Ann-street, N. Y.

CONTAINING DIVERS INGENIOUS THEORIES AND PHILOSOPHIC SPECULATIONS,

CONCERNING THE CREATION AND POPULATION OF THE WORLD, AS CON-

NECTED WITH THE HISTORY OF NEW-YORK.

CHAP. I.-Description of the World

CHAP. II.-Cosmogony, or Creation of the World; with a multitude of excel-

lent theories, by which the creation of a world is shown to be no such

difficult matter as common folk would imagine

CHAP. III.-How that famous navigator, Noah, was shamefully nicknamed;

and how he committed an unpardonable oversight in not having four sons.

With the great trouble of philosophers caused thereby, and the discovery of

America

CHAP. IV. Showing the great difficulty Philosophers have had in peopling

America-and how the Aborigines came to be begotten by accident-to the

great relief and satisfaction of the Author

CHAP. V.—In which the Author puts a mighty question to the rout, by the

assistance of the Man in the Moon-which not only delivers thousands of

people from great embarrassment, but likewise concludes this introductory

book..

BOOK II.

TREATING OF THE FIRST SETTLEMENT OF THE PROVINCE OF NIEUW-

NEDERLANDTS.

CHAP. I.-In which are contained divers reasons why a man should not write

in a hurry--Also of Master Hendrick Hudson, his discovery of a strange

country—and how he was magnificently rewarded by the munificence of

their High Mightinesses

CHAP. II. Containing an account of a mighty Ark which floated, under the

protection of St. Nicholas, from Holland to Gibbet Island-the descent of

the strange Animals therefrom-a great victory, and a description of the

ancient village of Communipaw

CHAP. III.-In which is set forth the true art of making a bargain-together

with the miraculous escape of a great Metropolis in a fog-and the biogra-

phy of certain heroes of Communipaw

CHAP. IV. How the heroes of Communipaw voyaged to Hell-gate, and how

they were received there

101

CHAP. V.-How the heroes of Communipaw returned somewhat wiser than

they went and how the sage Oloffe dreamed a dream-and the dream

that he dreamed

112

CHAP. VI.-Containing an attempt at etymology—and of the founding of the

great city of New-Amsterdam

117

CHAP. VII.-How the people of Pavonia migrated from Communipaw to the

Island of Manna-hata-and how Oloffe the Dreamer proved himself a great

land speculator.

120

CHAP. VIII. Of the founding and naming of the new City-of the City Arms;

and of the direful feud between Ten Breeches and Tough Breeches . 123

CHAP. IX.-How the city of New-Amsterdam waxed great under the protec-

tion of St. Nicholas and the absence of laws and statutes-How Oloffe the

Dreamer begun to dream of an extension of Empire, and of the effect of

his dreams

BOOK II.

129

IN WHICH IS RECORDED THE GOLDEN REIGN OF WOUTER VAN TWILLER.

CHAP. I. Of the renowned Wouter Van Twiller, his unparalleled virtues-as

likewise his unutterable wisdom in the law case of Wandle Schoonhoven

and Barent Bleecker-and the great admiration of the public thereat 137

CHAP. II --Containing some account of the grand council of New-Amster-

dam, as also divers especial good philosophical reasons why an Alderman

should be fat-with other particulars touching the state of the province 146

CHAP. III.-How the town of New-Amsterdam arose out of mud, and came

to be marvelously polished and polite-together with a picture of the man-

ners of our great-great-grandfathers

156

CHAP. IV.-Containing farther particulars of the Golden Age, and what con-

stituted a fine Lady and Gentleman in the days of Walter the Doubter 164

CHAP. V. Of the founding of Fort Aurania-Of the mysteries of the Hudson

—Of the arrival of the Patroon Killian Van Rensellaer; his lordly descent

upon the earth, and his introduction of club law.

170

CHAP. VI,-In which the reader is beguiled into a delectable walk, which ends

very differently from what it commenced

174

CHAP. VII.-Faithfully describing the ingenious people of Connecticut and

thereabouts-showing, moreover, the true meaning of liberty of conscience,

and a curious device among these sturdy barbarians, to keep up a harmony

of intercourse, and promote population

180

CHAP. VIII.-How these singular barbarians turned out to be notorious squat-
ters. How they built air castles, and attempted to initiate the Neder-
landers in the mystery of bundling
185

CHAP. IX.-How the Fort Goed Hoop was fearfully beleaguered--how the

renowned Wouter fell into a profound doubt, and how he finally evapo-

rated

191

BOOK IV.

CONTAINING THE CHRONICLES OF THE REIGN OF WILLIAM THE TESTY.

199

CHAP. I.--Showing the nature of history in general; containing furthermore

the universal acquirements of William the Testy, and how a man may learn

so much as to render himself good for nothing

CHAP. II.-HOW William the Testy undertook to conquer by proclamation—

how he was a great man abroad, but a little man in his own house . 205

CHAP. III.-In which are recorded the sage projects of a ruler of universal

genius The art of fighting by proclamation-and how that the valiant

Jacobus Van Curlet came to be foully dishonored at Fort Goed Hoop. 209

CHAP. IV.-Containing the fearful wrath of William the Testy, and the alarm

of New-Amsterdam-how the Governor did strongly fortify the City-Of

Antony the Trumpeter, and the windy addition to the armorial bearings of

New-Amsterdam

214

CHAP. V. Of the jurisprudence of William the Testy, and his admirable expe-

dients for the suppression of Poverty

219

CHAP. VI.-Projects of William the Testy for increasing the currency-he is

outwitted by the Yankees-The great Oyster War

224

CHAP. VII.-Growing discontents of New-Amsterdam under the government

of William the Testy

229

CHAP. VIII. The edict of William the Testy against Tobacco-Of the Pipe

Plot, and the rise of Feuds and Parties

232

CHAP. IX. Of the folly of being happy in the time of prosperity-Of troubles
to the South brought on by annexation-Of the secret expedition of
Jansen Alpendam, and his magnificent reward
237

CHAP. X.-Troublous times on the Hudson-How Killian Van Rensellaer

erected a feudal castle, and how he introduced club law into the

province

242

CHAP. XI.—Of the diplomatic mission of Antony the Trumpeter to the For-

tress of Rensellaerstein-and how he was puzzled by a cabalistic reply 246

CHAP. XII.-Containing the rise of the great Amphictyonic Council of the

Pilgrims, with the decline and final extinction of William the Testy . 250

BOOK V.

CONTAINING THE FIRST PART OF THE REIGN OF PETER STUYVESANT,

AND HIS TROUBLES WITH THE AMPHICTYONIC COUNCIL.

CHAP. I.-In which the death of a great man is shown to be no very inconso-
lable matter of sorrow--and how Peter Stuyvesant acquired a great name
from the uncommon strength of his head