NEW YORK.
 

CHAPTER II.
 

In which are recorded the sage projects of a ruler
of universal genius. The art of fighting by
proclamation,—-and how that the valiant Jaco¬
bus Van Curlet came to be foully dishonoured at
fort Goed Hoop.

Never was a more comprehensive, a more ex¬
peditious, or, what is still better, a more economi¬
cal measure devised, than this of defeating the
Yankees by proclamation-^an expedient, like¬
wise, so humane, so gentle and pacific, there were
ten chances to one in favour of its succeeding,—
but then there was one chance to ten that it would
not succeed—as the ill-natured fates would have
it, that single chance carried the day! The pro¬
clamation was perfect in all its parts, well con¬
structed, well written, well sealed, and well pub¬
lished—all that was wanting to insure its effect,
was that the Yankees should stand in awe of it;
but, provoking to relate, they treated it with the
most absolute contempt, applied it to an unseem¬
ly purpose, and thus did the first warlike procla¬
mation come to a shameful end—a fate which I
am credibly informed, lias befallen but too many
of its successors.