Illustrations
Reading edition
PAGE
WILLIAM THE TESTY Frontispiece
SUNNYSIDE 1
THE AUTHOR 9
“AND THAT A GREAT DRAGON OCCASIONALLY SWALLOWS UP THE MOON” 37
PROFESSOR VON PODDINGCOFT 43
THE GREAT EGG OF NIGHT 51
THE GOOD DAME OF NARBONNE IN FRANCE 53
“MOUNT ASTRIDE OF HIS TAIL, AND AWAY HE GALLOPS IN TRIUMPH” 57
FOHI THE HISTORIAN 63
HANS DE LAET 67
“SAVAGES TO EXTERMINATE” 70
THE PEOPLE OF NORTH AMERICA ACCORDING TO PETRI 77
“AS WHITE BEARS CRUISE ABOUT THE NORTHERN OCEANS” 81
“IT IS VAIN TO OFFER THEM MONEY; THEY SAY THEY ARE NOT HUNGRY” 89
“THEY INTRODUCED AMONG THEM RUM, GIN, AND BRANDY” 95
xiiTHE SPANISH HAD THE RIGHT BY GUN-POWDER 99
THE HEADLESS MEN OF THE MOON VISIT US 101
“WHO RIDETH ON THE GREAT BEAR AND USETH THE SUN AS A LOOKING-GLASS” 105
MY GREAT-GRANDFATHER TAKES A BIRD’S-EYE VIEW FROM THE TOP OF A WIND-MILL 115
HENDRICK HUDSON 119
“EVERY MAN WAS ALLOWED TO SLEEP AT HIS POST UNLESS THE WIND BLEW” 123
“A RED MAN CROWNED WITH FEATHERS ISSUED FROM ONE OF THE GLENS” 127
“THEY ONE AND ALL TOOK TO THEIR HEELS, AND SCAMPERED OVER THE BERGEN HILLS” 135
THE BROAD-MOUTHED LAUGHTER OF THE DUTCH NEGROES 139
“MADE THEM DRUNK WITH TRUE HOLLANDS” 143
THE OFFICIAL WEIGHT 145
OLOFFE VAN KORTLANDT 147
TOUGH BREECHES 153
“THEY BADE FAREWELL TO THE GAZING THRONG UPON THE BEACH” 159
“A SHOAL OF JOLLY PORPOISES CAME ROLLING AND TUMBLING BY” 161
“AND TURNING AWAY HIS HEAD, FIRED IT MOST INTREPIDLY IN THE FACE OF THE BLESSED SUN” 163
“ALONG THOSE SHORES” 169
xiii“AND ANON THEY SEEMED SINKING INTO YAWNING GULFS” 171
THE DEVIL SITTING ASTRIDE OF THE HOG’S BACK AND PLAYING ON A FIDDLE 173
TEN BROECK DRYING HIS BREECHES 179
“IN DIM OBSCURITY HE SAW SHADOWED OUT PALACES AND DOMES AND LOFTY SPIRES” 181
MASTER JUET 187
MYNHEER TEN BROECK AS A LAND SURVEYOR 191
THE ARGUMENT 199
THE SECRETARY 201
ST. NICHOLAS 207
COOLING THE ARDOR OF THE ENEMY 209
HANS REINER OOTHOUT 213
“SET LIGHT-MINDED HEARERS IN A ROAR” 223
WOUTER VAN TWILLER 225
THE JUDGMENT OF WOUTER VAN TWILLER 229
THE FIVE BURGERMEESTERS 235
WELL-FED AND ROBUSTIOUS BURGHER 237
“HERE WOULD HE SMOKE HIS PIPE OF A SULTRY AFTERNOON” 243
“THE GOOD ST. NICHOLAS” 245
A COUNTRY MANSION 253
“SOME OLD CRONE OF A NEGRO” 255
“TOOK LEAVE OF THEM WITH A HEARTY SMACK AT THE DOOR” 259
“A VOLUMINOUS DAMSEL, ARRAYED IN A DOZEN OF PETTICOATS” 265
xivTHE YOUNG GALLANT 269
KILLIAN VAN RENSELLAER 273
THE BATTERY 279
“SCAMPERING FROM THE STORM” 283
THE YANKEE’S SATURDAY’S DINNER OF DUMB-FISH 289
TARRED AND FEATHERED 293
“THE HORRIBLE MELODIES OF SOME AMATEUR, WHO CHOOSES TO SERENADE THE MOON” 301
“BRISK, LIKELY, PLEASANT-TONGUED VARLETS” 303
JACOBUS VAN CURLET 307
THE PROTEST OF JACOBUS VAN CURLET 311
“HE PROCEEDED ON A LONG SWING-TROT THROUGH THE MUDDY LANES” 313
THE POET AND HISTORIAN 319
WILLIAM THE TESTY 323
THE GREAT SEAL OF THE PROVINCE 329
KIDNAPPING HOGS 333
“THE WHOLE GARRISON OF FORT GOED HOOP STRAGGLING INTO TOWN ALL TATTERED AND WAYWORN” 339
ANTHONY THE TRUMPETER 347
WILLIAM THE TESTY’S CURE FOR VAGRANCY 355
STOFFEL BRINKERHOFF 363
xvNotices
WHICH APPEARED IN THE NEWSPAPERS PREVIOUS TO THE PUBLICATION OF THIS WORK.
From the Evening Post of October 26, 1809.
DISTRESSING.
Left his lodgings, some time since, and has not since been heard of, a small elderly gentleman, dressed in an old black coat and cocked hat, by the name of Knickerbocker. As there are some reasons for believing he is not entirely in his right mind, and as great anxiety is entertained about him, any information concerning him left either at the Columbian Hotel, Mulberry Street, or at the office of this paper, will be thankfully received.
P. S.—Printers of newspapers would be aiding the cause of humanity in giving an insertion to the above.
From the same, November 6, 1809.
To the Editor of the Evening Post:
Sir,—Having read in your paper of the 26th October last, a paragraph respecting an old gentleman by xvithe name of Knickerbocker, who was missing from his lodgings; if it would be any relief to his friends, or furnish them with any clue to discover where he is, you may inform them that a person answering the description given, was seen by the passengers of the Albany stage, early in the morning, about four or five weeks since, resting himself by the side of the road, a little above King’s Bridge. He had in his hand a small bundle, tied in a red bandana handkerchief; he appeared to be travelling northward, and was very much fatigued and exhausted.
A TRAVELLER.
From the same, November 16, 1809.
To the Editor of the Evening Post:
Sir,—You have been good enough to publish in your paper a paragraph about Mr. Diedrich Knickerbocker, who was missing so strangely some time since. Nothing satisfactory has been heard of the old gentleman since; but a very curious kind of a written book has been found in his room, in his own handwriting. Now I wish you to notice him, if he is still alive, that if he does not return and pay off his bill for boarding and lodging, I shall have to dispose of his book to satisfy me for the same.
I am, sir, your humble servant,
SETH HANDASIDE,
Landlord of the Independent Columbian Hotel,
Mulberry Street.
xviiFrom the same, November 28, 1809.
LITERARY NOTICE.
Inskeep & Bradford have in press, and will shortly publish,
A HISTORY OF NEW YORK,
In two volumes, duodecimo. Price Three Dollars.
Containing an account of its discovery and settlement, with its internal policies, manners, customs, wars, &c., &c., under the Dutch government, furnishing many curious and interesting particulars never before published, and which are gathered from various manuscript and other authenticated sources, the whole being interspersed with philosophical speculations and moral precepts.
This work was found in the chamber of Mr. Diedrich Knickerbocker, the old gentleman whose sudden and mysterious disappearance has been noticed. It is published in order to discharge certain debts he has left behind.
From the American Citizen, December 6, 1809.
Is this day published
By Inskeep & Bradford, No. 128 Broadway,
A HISTORY OF NEW YORK,
&c., &c.
(Containing same as above.)
1
SUNNYSIDE.
A HISTORY OF NEW YORK