NEW YORK.                                217
 

CHAPTER VL
 

In which the troubles of JVew-Amsterdam ap¬
pear to thicken—Shewing the bravery, in time
of peril, of a people who defend themselves by
resolutions.

Like as an assemblage of politic cats, en¬
gaged in clamorous gibberings, and catterwaul-
ings, eyeing one another with hideous grimaces,
spitting in each other's faces, and on the point
of breaking forth into a general clapper-clawing,
are suddenly put to scampering rout and confu¬
sion by the startling appearance of a house-dog
—So was the no less vociferous council of N ew-
Amsterdam, amazed, astounded, and totally dis¬
persed, by the sudden arrival of the enemy.
Every member made the best of his way uome,
waddling along as fast as his short legs could
fag under their heavy burthen, and wheezing as
he went with corpulency and terror. When he
arrived at his castle, he barricadoed the street
door, and buried himself in the cider cellar,
without daring to peep out, lest he should have
his head carried otf by a cannon bail.

The sovereign people all crowded into  the

Vol. IL                      T