CHAPTER VI.

We have now arrived at a period of our history when the Swedish colony began to excite more interest both in Europe and America. On the return of Hollendare, if not before, JOHN PRINTZ, a native of Sweden, and lieutenant-colonel in the service of the queen, was appointed to govern and direct the colony. The authorities at Stockholm had determined to enlarge the sphere of their operations, and they sent out Printz in the capacity of a colonist, as well as of a governor. He came with a squadron of two ships of war, the Svan and Charitas, and an armed transport called the Fame, having on board arms, ammunition, troops, and a large number of emigrants. John Campanius, a distinguished clergyman, and grandfather of the historian, came out at this time as a missionary. They left Stockholm on the 16th of August, 1642, and passing by the West India Islands, arrived in our bay, and anchored off the Hoorn-kill, on the 3d of January, 1643. Here they encountered a tremendous storm, accompanied with snow. The Fame lost three large anchors, her mainmast, and some of her sails, but after running aground and incurring great danger of a total loss, she was got off, and they all finally arrived in safety at Christina on the 15th of Feb., 1643.*

Printz, in search of a location for his colony, found at a short distance above the spot where Chester now stands, a beautiful piece of land, with a high bold shore, lying between the Delaware and a navigable creek, running up into the Indian country, and opening a fine avenue for trade with the natives. The place was called by the Indians Tenacong, since modified into TINICUM. This name it now bears, and is the beautiful site of the Pennsyl

*Campanius, p. 71.

vania Lazaretto, where vessels bound to Philadelphia, and subject to quarantine, pass the time of their probation.

This land was at that time surrounded by water, having the Delaware on the east, Tenacong's Kilen, now Darby creek, on the south and west, and on the north a sound or branch, passing across a morass, and connecting Darby creek with the Delaware. near Fort Mifflin. The greater part of the land within these limits and to the westward, was high or fast land; extremely rich and fertile, and well supplied with wood and timber. Here the governor built for himself a "very handsome" and commodious dwelling, which he called Printz-Hall. Here also he built "a pleasure house," planted orchards, laid out gardens, and otherwise beautified and improved the place, intending it as the seat of government, and great emporium of commerce in New Sweden. "On this island," says Campanius, speaking of the colonists under Printz, "the principal inhabitants had their dwellings and plantations." Here he built a fort and named it "New Gottenburg;" and here was erected a church, which, in 1646, was consecrated by Campanius, the grandfather of the historian; and a grave yard laid out, in which we are informed the first corpse was interred on the 28th of September in that year. It was the body of Catharine, the daughter of Andrew Hanson.

It is evident from various circumstances, connected with this second attempt of the Swedes, to plant a colony on our shores that the authorities of Sweden, had now determined to use effectual means to secure a permanent establishment in America; and to maintain by force of arms, a claim to the whole western shore of the Delaware. No armament had ever entered the Delaware that could compare with the one under the command of Printz, either for its numbers or its military strength. His instructions were intended to give vigour to his government, and the warlike force under his command, gave him power fully to carry them

out.

* This hall stood more than 160 years, and was at last burnt down by accident, since the commencement of the present century.

inter

From "Rudman's Memoirs" we have obtained a very esting account of the duties devolved on Printz, by the Swedish Government. As it throws some light on an interesting period of our colonial history, and is a very rare document, we believe it will not be deemed a trespass on his patience to give it to the reader in extenso. It is in the hand writing of the venerable Nicholas Collin.

"John Printz, Lieutenant Colonel in the army, was, in his commission, styled GOVERNOR OF NEW SWEDEN. His Instructions dated Stockholm, 1642, 15th of August, contain twentyeight Articles, which in a judicious manner detail all the objects of his Official charge. They are reducible under three heads, respecting the Swedes-the vicine Europeans—the Indians; of which the following is a compendious view. 1st. To promote, by the most zealous endeavours, a sincere piety towards almighty God, in all respects. To maintain the public worship according to the doctrines and rites of the national Church. To support a proper Ecclesiastical Discipline. To urge instruction and virtuous education of youth and children. To administer justice according to Swedish Laws in decision of controversies, and penalties on offenders; even capital, on atrocious malefactors; but not without a scrupulous examination, and the approbation of his counsellors, whom he was to choose amongst the wisest and best men in the colony. To preserve, so far as practicable, the manners and customs of Sweden, accommodating them, in some cases, to existing circumstances. To promote diligently all profitable branches of industry; immediate culture of grain and other vegetables; afterwards procuring good race of cattle, sheep, and other animals, in addition to those sent from Sweden; raising large quantities of tobacco, by appointing many labourers, and skilful managers, for exports to Sweden; forming ample traffic for peltry with the Indians by agents under his inspection, in the name and on behalf of the Company; gradual increase of sheep for a surplus of wool to the mother country; search for metals and minerals in different parts; exploring valuable kinds of wood for sending such home in ballast; trials of

mulberry trees for breeding silk worms; of the native grape for wine, and of the walnuts for oil; attempt of making salt on the sea-shore; enquiring about fisheries of whales and other kinds, where and how they may be pursued with advantage. These matters were thus particularly ordered; and a general direction is given to promote the welfare of the colony, as a wise, active, and faithful governor.

"2d. Relating to the Dutch and English. With the first mentioned he was to cultivate a friendly intercourse, but positively to deny their pretended right to any part of the land on the west side of the river, purchased by the Swedes from the Indians, and to prohibit Swedish vessels passing their fort Nassau; and he was authorized if all friendly negociation proved fruitless to repel force by force. Those Dutch families which had settled on the west side under allegiance to the crown of Sweden, were to retain the granted privileges, but to remove farther down from the vicinity of Christina Fort, by mild persuasion, but not by compulsion, if willing to remain. The governor was to continue the friendly commercial dealing with the English in Virginia already begun, by their supplying the colony with grain, cattle, and other useful articles. Some English families, about sixty persons, having settled in the preceding year (1641) on Ferken's creek, (now Salem,) and the agents of the company having, as her majesty's subjects, but [bought] from the Indian owners the whole district from Cape May to Raccoon Creek, with a view to unite these English with the Swedes, the governor was faithfully to perform that contract, and as the English expect soon by further arrivals to make a number of several hundred, seeming also willing, as a free people, to be subjects of a government that can protect them, he may receive them under allegiance to the Swedish crown, but rather by gentle means endeavour to effect their departure, as more expedient for the interest of her majesty, and of the company.

"3dly. Respecting the Indians. The governor was directed to confirm, directly after his arrival, the Treaty with the Indians, by which they had stipulated the western shore of Delaware

from Cape Henlopen to the falls of Sanhickans, and so much inland as gradually should be wanted; also to ratify the bargain for land on the east side above mentioned, and in these and future purchases to regard them as rightful owners of the country. He was to treat these and all the vicine tribes in the most equitable and humane manner, so that no injury by violence or otherwise, should be done to them by any of his people. He should impress on their minds the belief that he had come, not to cause any harm, but to bring all kinds of necessary and useful things, and to receive in return the products of their country. He had also in charge to promote on all opportunities their adoption of Christianity, and the manners of civil society."

In these instructions to Printz, we discover the policy at that time adopted by the Swedish Government, for the preservation, extension, and regulation of her American colonies, and we think we also discover in them the causes of that jarring and conten tion, which soon afterwards grew up in the settlements on the Delaware, and which in the short space of twelve years destroyed forever the Swedish authority in America. There is in this document such a manifest determination wholly to disregard those laws which time and experience seem to have established for the government of nations; such a violation of respect for acknowledged rights, that nothing, on the part of the Dutch, but a spirit of entire submission, or total inability to support their just claims, could have induced them to acquiesce in such unreasonable assumptions. It is, therefore, not surprising that, in a very short time after Printz came into the administration of government, the parties became involved in angry altercation.

It has been laid down as law, for the government of nations, by the highest judicial authorities,-1st. That discovery of uninhabited countries gives title to the government, by whose subjects, or under whose authority, the discovery is made. If the country be inhabited by uncivilized nations, discovery gives a pre-emption right. But to give validity to claims by discovery, there must be a possession or partial occupation of the territory. 2d. It