CHAPTER VI.
GOVERNOR STUYVESANT.
New Netherland in 1646 .-- Early Years of Peter Stuyvesant .-- Decay of New Amsterdam .-- The Germs of a Representative Government .-- Energetic Administration .-- Death of Governor Winthrop .-- Claims for Long Island .-- Arrogance of the Governor .-- Remonstrance of the Nine Men .-- The Pastoral Office .-- Boundary lines .-- Increasing Discontent .-- Division of Parties .-- Dictatorial Measures.
It is estimated that the whole population of New Netherland, in the year 1646, amounted to about one thousand souls.

In 1643, it numbered three thousand.

Such was the ruin which the mal-administration of Kieft had brought upon the colony.

The male adult population around Amsterdam was reduced to one hundred.

At the same time the population of the flourishing New England colonies had increased to about sixty thousand.
On the 11th of May, 1647, Governor Stuyvesant arrived at Manhattan.