Thus  the  once  great  empire  of  Virginia  was  falling  a
prey  to  these  strangers  ;  dissent  on  one  hand  and  papacy
on  the  other,  were  attacking  the  Church;  and  none
could  tell  how  this  unhappy  state  of  affairs  would  end.
As  late  as  the  spring  of  1060,  Virginia  makes  her  pro-
test against  this  disintegration.  Governor  Stuyvcsant,
of  '*  Knickerbocker  "  fame,  writes  from  Fort  Amster-
dam, to  the  Governor  of  Virginia,  proposing  a  friendly
leamie,  and  the  acknowledgement  of  the  Dutch  title
by  Berkeley.  But  that  gentleman  rej)lies,  in  guarded
phrase,  with  his  most  charming  courtesy,  that  he  shall


190      VIRGINIA:  A  HISTORY  OF  TEE  PEOPLE.
bo  "over  rendy  to  comply  with  Grovernor  Sttiyvesant  in
all  nets  of  ueiglihorly  frienilship ;  but  truly,  Sir,  you
desire  me  to  do  tliat,  concerning  your  letter,  and  claims
to  land,  iu  the  norlhfrn  part  of  America,  which  I  am  in-
capable  to  do."  He  ia  "  the  servant  of  the  Assembly,"
he  says :  when  God  shuU  be  pleased  in  his  mercy  to
dissiiiato  the  uiuiaturul  troubles  in  Kughmil,  his  Majesty
will  utt^ud  (o  matters,  and  decide  to  whom  Manhattan
belongs.
