THE DIRECTORS 73

that they clearly define the boundaries of New
Netherland. The first of these requests, owing to
the deeply intrenched interest of the West India
Company, could not be granted, the last still less.
But the States-General urged that municipal
rights should be given to New Amsterdam, and in
165£ the Company yielded. The charter limited
the number of schepens or aldermen to five and the
number of burgomasters to two, and also ordained
that they as well as the schout should be elected by
the citizens; but Stuyvesant ignored this provision
and proceeded to appoint men of his own choosing.
The Stone Tavern built by Kieft at the head of
Coenties Slip was set apart as a Stadt-Huys, or City
Hall, and here Stuyvesant's appointees, supposed
to represent the popular will, held their meetings.
It was something that they did hold meetings and
nominally at least in the interest of the people.
Another concession followed. In 1658 Stuyvesant
yielded so far to the principles of popular govern-
ment as to concede to the schepens and burgo-
masters of New Amsterdam the right to nominate
double the number of candidates for office, from
whom the Director was to make a choice.

In 1655, during the absence of Stuyvesant on
the South River, the Indians around Manhattan