Domine Megapolensis, who had been pastor of the church at Rensselaerswyck, having obtained letters of dismission from his church, was also about to sail to the fatherland.  The colonists, generally religiously disposed, were greatly troubled, being threatened with a total loss of the gospel ministry.  By the earnest solicitation of Stuyvesant, he consented to remain at Manhattan, where he was formally installed as pastor of the church, upon a salary of twelve hundred guilders, which was about four hundred dollars.  At the same time the energetic governor manifested his interest in education by writing earnestly to Amsterdam, urging that a pious, well-qualified and diligent schoolmaster might be sent out.  “Nothing,” he added, “is of greater importance than the right, early instruction of youth.”

The governor was sorely annoyed by the action of the States-General, reversing his sentence against Melyn and Kuyter.  He wrote that he should obey their decision, but that he would rather never have received their commission as governor, than to have had his authority lowered in the eyes of his neighbors and friends.

The three commissioners, bearing the memorial of the Nine Men, reached Holland in safety.  The States-General received their memorial, and also listened to the reply of the agent, whom Stuyvesant had sent out to plead his cause.  The decision of the States was virtually a rebuke of the dictatorial government of Stuyvesant, and several very important reforms were ordered.  This decision displeased the West India Company.  Those men deemed their rights infringed upon by this action of the States-General.  They were therefore led to espouse the cause of the governor.  Thus strengthened, Stuyvesant ventured to disregard the authority of the States-General.

The Dutch at Manhattan began to be clamorous for more of popular freedom.  Stuyvesant, hoping to enlist the sympathies of the governors of the English colonies in his behalf, made vigorous arrangements for the long projected meeting with the Commissioners of the United Colonies.

On the 17th of September, 1650, Governor Stuyvesant embarked at Manhattan, with his secretary, George Baxter, and quite an imposing suite.  Touching at several places along the sound, he arrived at Hartford in four days.  After much discussion it was agreed to refer all differences, of the points in controversy, to four delegates, two to be chosen from each side.  It is worthy of special remark that Stuyvesant’s secretary was an Englishman, and he chose two Englishmen for his delegates.

In the award delivered by the arbitrators, it was decided that upon Long Island a line running from the westernmost part of Oyster Bay, in a straight direction to the sea, should be the bound between the English and the Dutch territory; the easterly part to belong to the English, the westernmost part to the Dutch.  Upon the mainland, the boundary line was to commence on the west side of Greenwich bay,