This summons was accompanied by a proclamation declaring that all who would submit to his majesty’s government should be protected “in his majesty’s laws and justice,” and peaceably enjoy their property.  Stuyvesant immediately called together the council and the burgomasters, but would not allow the terms offered by Nicolls to be communicated to the people, lest they might insist on capitulating.  In a short time several of the burghers and city officers assembled at the Stadt-Huys.  It was determined to prevent the enemy from surprizing the town; but, as opinion was generally against protracted resistance, a copy of the English communication was asked from the director.  On the following Monday the burgomasters explained to a meeting of the citizens the terms offered by Nicolls.  But this would not suffice; a copy of the paper itself must be exhibited.  Stuyvesant then went in person to the meeting.  “Such a course,” said he, “would be disapproved of in the Fatherland—­it would discourage the people.”  All his efforts, however, were in vain; and the director, protesting that he should not be held answerable for the “calamitous consequences,” was obliged to yield to the popular will.

Nicolls now addrest a letter to Winthrop, who with other commissioners from New England had joined the squadron, authorizing him to assure Stuyvesant that, if Manhattan should be delivered up to the King, “any people from the Netherlands may freely come and plant there or thereabouts; and such vessels of their own country may freely come thither, and any of them may as freely return home in vessels of their own country.”  Visiting the city under a flag of truce Winthrop delivered this to Stuyvesant outside the fort and urged him to surrender.  The director declined; and, returning to the fort, he opened Nicolls’ letter before the council and the burgomasters, who desired that it should be communicated, as “all which regarded the public welfare ought to be made public.”  Against this Stuyvesant earnestly remonstrated, and, finding that the burgomasters continued firm, in a fit of passion he “tore the letter in pieces.”  The citizens suddenly ceasing their work at the palisades, hurried to the Stadt-Huys, and sent three of their number to the fort to demand the letter.

In vain the director hastened to pacify the burghers and urge them to go on with the fortifications.  “Complaints and curses” were uttered on all sides against the company’s misgovernment; resistance was declared to be idle; “The letter! the letter!” was the general cry.  To avoid a mutiny Stuyvesant yielded, and a copy, made out from the collected fragments, was handed to the burgomasters.  In answer, however, to Nicolls’ summons he submitted a long justification of the Dutch title; yet while protesting against any breach of the peace between the King and the States-General, “for the hinderance and prevention of all differences and the spilling of innocent blood, not only in these parts, but also in Europe,” he offered to treat.  “Long Island is gone and lost;” the capital “can not hold out long,” was the last dispatch to the “Lord Majors” of New Netherlands, which its director sent off that night “in silence through hell Gate.”