CHAPTER V.

THE  ORGANIZATION  OP  MUNICIPAL  INSTITUTIONS,  AND THE EVENTS  OF  THB
YEARS  1653, 1654 AND 1655.

As time passed on, the citizens, whose homes had become
settled in New Amsterdam; whose families were growing up,
and many of whose relatives had found their last resting-
place within its limits, began to feel an interest in the well-be¬
ing of the place, and a desire for its advancement, as respects
appearance and general comfort. These sentiments, how¬
ever, could not be satisfactorily manifested, unless the
people themselves were the ministers of their own bounty,
for which reason it was desirable that the town should be
incorporated, and its interests subjected to the management
of its own inhabitants. Some effort toward-this object
had been made as early as the year 1642, by an application
to the authorities in Holland for the establishment of mu¬
nicipal institutions in this town, similar to those of the
father-land. No definite action, however, followed the
urgent request of the inhabitants until the year 1652,
when a separate magistracy was allowed to the city, and
the town received a quasi incorporation, under the govern¬
ment of a schout, two burgomasters and five schepens.
This organization, though not sufficiently independent of
the general administration to satisfy the desires of the