THE DIRECTORS 77

England and the Netherlands, once leagued against
Catholic Spain but now parted by commercial
rivalries, found an immediate echo on the shores
oŁ the Hudson. With feverish haste the inhabit-
ants of New Amsterdam began to fortify. Across
the island at the northern limit of the town, on the
line of what is now Wall Street, they built a wall
with stout palisades backed by earthworks. They
hastily repaired the fort, organized the citizens as
far as possible to resist attack, and also strength-
ened Fort Orange. The New England Colonies
likewise began warlike preparations; but, perhaps
owing to the prudence of Stuyvesant in accepting
the Treaty of Hartford, peace between the Dutch
and English in the New World continued for the
present, though on precarious terms; and, the im-
mediate threat of danger being removed by the
treaty between England and Holland in 1654, the
New Netherlanders relaxed their vigilance and
curtailed the expense of fortifications.

Meanwhile Stuyvesant had alienated popular
sympathy and lessened united support by his
treatment of a convention of delegates from New
Amsterdam, Flushing, Breuckelen, Hempstead,
Amersfort, Middleburgh, Flatbush3 and Graves-
end who had gathered to consider the defense and