Here and there might be seen a rude wigwam perched among the cliffs
of the mountains, with its curling column of smoke mounting in the
transparent atmosphere,--but so loftily situated that the whoopings of
the savage children, gambolling on the margin of the dizzy heights,
fell almost as faintly on the ear as the notes of the lark when lost
in the azure vault of heaven. Now and then, from the beetling brown of
some precipice, the wild deer would look timidly down upon the splendid
pageant as it passed below, and then, tossing his antlers in the air,
would bound away into the thickest of the forest.
Through such scenes did the stately vessel of Peter Stuyvesant pass.
Now did they skirt the bases of the rocky heights of Jersey, which
spring up like everlasting walls, reaching from the waves unto the
heavens, and were fashioned, if tradition may be believed, in times
along past, by the mighty spirit Manetho, to protect his favorite
abodes from the unhallowed eyes of mortals. Now did they career it
gayly across the vast expanse of Tappen Bay, whose wide-extended shores
present a variety of delectable scenery,--here the bold promontory,
crowned with embowering trees, advancing into the bay,--there the long
woodland slope, sweeping up from the shore in rich luxuriance, and
terminating in the upland precipice,--while at a distance a long waving
line of rocky heights threw their gigantic shades across the water.
Now would they pass where some modest little interval, opening among
these stupendous scenes, yet retreating as it were for protection into
the embraces of the neighboring mountains, displayed a rural paradise,
fraught with sweet and pastoral beauties,--the velvet-tufted lawn, the
bushy copse, the tinkling rivulet, stealing through the fresh and vivid
verdure, on whose banks was situated some little Indian village, or,
peradventure, the rude cabin of some solitary hunter.
The different periods of the revolving day seemed each, with cunning
magic, to diffuse a different charm over the scene. Now would the
jovial sun break gloriously from the east blazing from the summits of
the hills, and sparkling the landscape with a thousand dewy gems;
while along the borders of the river were seen the heavy masses of
mist, which like midnight caitiffs disturbed at his approach, made a
sluggish retreat, rolling in sullen reluctance up the mountains. At
such times all was brightness, and life, and gayety,--the atmosphere
was of an indescribable pureness and transparency,--the birds broke
forth in wanton madrigals, and the freshening breezes wafted the vessel
merrily on her course. But when the sun set amid a flood of glory in
the west, mantling the heavens and the earth with a thousand gorgeous
dyes, then all was calm, and silent, and magnificent. The late swelling
sail hung lifelessly against the mast;--the seaman, with folded arms,
leaned against the shrouds, lost in that involuntary musing which the
sober grandeur of nature commands in the rudest of her children. The
vast bosom of the Hudson was like an unruffled mirror, reflecting the
golden hue of the heavens, excepting that now and then a bark canoe
would steal across its surface, filled with painted savages, whose gay
feathers glared brightly as perchance a lingering ray of the setting
sun gleamed upon them from the western mountains.
But when the hour of twilight spread its majestic mists around, then
did the face of nature assume a thousand fugitive charms, which to the
worthy heart that seeks enjoyment in the glorious works of its Maker
are inexpressibly captivating. The mellow, dubious light that prevailed
just served to tinge with illusive colors the softened features of the
scenery. The deceived but delighted eye sought vainly to discern in the
broad masses of shade the separating line between the land and water,
or to distinguish the fading objects that seemed sinking into chaos.
Now did the busy fancy supply the feebleness of vision, producing with
industrious craft a fairy creation of her own. Under her plastic want
the barren rocks frowned upon the watery waste in the semblance of
lofty towers and high embattled castles,--trees assumed the direful
forms of mighty giants, and the inaccessible summits of the mountains
seemed peopled with a thousand shadowy beings.
Thus happily did they pursue their course, until they entered upon
those awful defiles denominated the Highlands, where it would seem
that the gigantic Titans had erst waged their impious war with heaven,
piling up cliffs on cliffs, and hurling vast masses of rock in wild
confusion. But in sooth very different is the history of these
cloud-capt mountains. These in ancient days, before the Hudson poured
its waters from the lakes, formed one vast prison, within whose rocky
bosom the omnipotent Manetho confined the rebellious spirits who
repined at his control. Here, bound in adamantine chains, or jammed in
rifted pines, or crushed by ponderous rocks, they groaned for many an
age. At length the conquering Hudson, in its career towards the ocean,
burst open their prison-house, rolling its tide triumphantly through
the stupendous ruins.
Still, however, do many of them lurk about their old abodes; and these
it is, according to venerable legends, that cause the echoes which
resound throughout these awful solitudes,--which are nothing but their
angry clamors when any noise disturbs the profoundness of their repose.
For when the elements are agitated by tempest, when the winds are up
and the thunder rolls, then horrible is the yelling and howling of
these troubled spirits, making the mountains to rebellow with their
hideous uproar; for at such times it is said that they think the great
Manetho is returning once more to plunge them in gloomy caverns, and
renew their intolerable captivity.
But all these fair and glorious scenes were lost upon the gallant
Stuyvesant; naught occupied his mind but thoughts of iron war, and
proud anticipations of hardy deeds of arms. Neither did his honest
crew trouble their heads with any romantic speculations of the kind.
The pilot at the helm quietly smoked his pipe, thinking of nothing
either past, present or to come;--those of his comrades who were not
industriously smoking under the hatches were listening with open mouths
to Antony Van Corlear.
And now I am going to tell a fact, which I doubt much my readers will
hesitate to believe; but if they do, they are welcome not to believe a
word in this whole history, for nothing it contains is more true. It
must be known then that the nose of Antony the trumpeter was of a very
lusty size, strutting boldly from his countenance like a mountain of
Golconda; being sumptuously bedecked with rubies and other precious
stones,--the true regalia of a king of good fellows, which jolly
Bacchus grants to all who bouse it heartily at the flagon. Now, thus
it happened, that bright and early in the morning, the good Antony,
having washed his burly visage, was leaning over the quarter-railing
of the galley, contemplating it in the glassy wave below. Just at this
moment the illustrious sun, breaking in all its splendor from behind
a high bluff of the highlands, did dart one of his most potent beams
full upon the refulgent nose of the sounder of brass--the reflection of
which shot straightway down, hissing-hot, into the water, and killed a
mighty sturgeon that was sporting beside the vessel! This huge monster,
being with infinite labor hoisted on board, furnished a luxurious
repast to all the crew, being accounted of excellent flavor, excepting
about the wound, where it smacked a little of brimstone; and this, on
my veracity, was the first time that ever sturgeon was eaten in these
parts by Christian people.
When this astonishing miracle came to be make known to Peter
Stuyvesant, and that he tasted of the unknown fish, he, as may well be
supposed, marvelled exceedingly; and as a monument thereof, he gave the
name Antony’s Nose to a stout promontory in the neighborhood; and it
has continued to be called Antony’s Nose ever since that time.
The good people of New Amsterdam crowded down to the Battery,--that
blest resort, from whence so many a tender prayer has been wafted, so
many a fair hand waved, so many a tearful look been cast by lovesick
damsel, after the lessening bark, bearing her adventurous swain to
distant climes!--Here the populace watched with straining eyes the
gallant squadron, as it slowly floated down the bay, and when the
intervening land at the Narrows shut it from their sight, gradually
dispersed with silent tongues and downcast countenances.
The Journey of Van Rensellaer the Patroon from New York to Albany as
narrated by Irving
One day when Wouter Van Twiller and his counsellors were smoking and
pondering ... over the affairs of the province they were roused by
the sound of a cannon. Sallying forth they beheld a strange vessel
at anchor in the bay. After a while, a boat put off for land, and a
stranger stepped on shore,--a lofty, lordly kind of man, tall and dry,
with a meagre face, furnished with huge moustache. He was clad in
Flemish doublet and hose, and an insufferably tall hat, with a cocktail
feather. Such was the patroon Killian Van Rensellaer who had come out
from Holland to found a colony or patroonship on a great tract of
wild land, granted to him by their High Mightinesses the Lords States
General, in the upper regions of the Hudson.
And now, from time to time, floated down tidings to the Manhattoes of
the growing importance of this new colony. Every account represented
Killian Van Rensellaer as rising in importance and becoming a mighty
patroon in the land. He had received more recruits from Holland. His
patroonship of Rensellaerwick lay immediately below Fort Aurania, and
extended for several miles on each side of the Hudson, beside embracing
the mountainous region of the Helderberg. Over all this he claimed to
hold separate jurisdiction, independent of the colonial authorities of
New Amsterdam.
At length tidings came that the patroon of Rensellaerwick had extended
his usurpations along the river, beyond the limits granted him by
their High Mightinesses; and that he had even seized upon a rocky
island in the Hudson, commonly known by the name of Bearn Island,
where he was erecting a fortress to be called by the lordly name of
“Rensellaerstein.”
Wouter Van Twiller was roused by this intelligence. After consulting
with his burgomasters, he dispatched a letter to the patroon of
Rensellaerwick, demanding by what right he had seized upon this island,
which lay beyond the bounds of his patroonship. The answer of Killian
Van Rensellaer was in his own lordly style, “By wapen recht!”--that is
to say, by the right of arms, or, in common parlance, by club-law.
This answer plunged the worthy Wouter in one of the deepest doubts he
had in the whole course of his administration; in the meantime, while
Wouter doubted, the lordly Killian went on to finish his fortress of
Rensellaerstein, about which I foresee I shall have something to record
in a future chapter of this most eventful history.
In the fulness of time the yacht arrived before Bearn Island, and
Antony the Trumpeter, mounting the poop, sounded a parley to the
fortress. In a little while the steeple crowned hat of Nicholas Koorn,
the wacht-meester, rose above the battlements, followed by his iron
visage, and ultimately his whole person, armed, as before to the very
teeth; while one by one, a whole row of Helderbergers reared their
round burly heads above the wall, and beside each pumpkin-head peered
the end of a rusty musket. Nothing daunted by this formidable array
Antony Van Corlear drew forth and read his missive from William the
Testy ordering the garrison to quit the premises bag and baggage on
pain of vengeance of the potentate of the Manhattoes. In reply the
wacht-meester applied the thumb of his right hand to the end of his
nose and the thumb of his left hand to the little finger of his right,
and spreading each hand like a fan, made an aerial flourish with his
fingers. Anthony Van Corlear was sorely perplexed to understand this
sign which seemed to him something mysterious and masonic. Not liking
to betray his ignorance he again read with a loud voice the missive
of William the Testy, and again Nicholas Koorn applied the thumb of
his right hand to the end of his nose, and repeated this kind of nasal
weathercock. Anthony Van Corlear now persuaded himself that this was
some shorthand sign or symbol, current in diplomacy, which, though
unintelligible to a new diplomat, like himself, would spell volumes to
the experienced intellect of William the Testy; considering his embassy
therefore at an end he sounded his trumpet with great complacency, and
set sail on his return down the river, every now and then practicing
the mysterious sign of the wacht-meester to keep it accurately in mind.
Arrived at New Amsterdam he made a faithful report of his embassy to
the Governor, accompanied by a manual exhibition of the response of
Nicholas Koorn. The Governor was equally perplexed with his embassy.
He was deeply versed in the mysteries of Free Masonry, but they
threw no light on the matter. He knew every variety of windmill and
weathercock but was not a whit the wiser as to the aerial sign in
question. He called a meeting of his Council. Antony Van Corlear stood
forth in the midst and putting the thumb of his right hand to his nose
and the thumb of his left hand to the finger of the right, he gave a
faithful facsimile of the portentous sign. Having a nose of unusual
dimensions, it was as if the reply was placed in capitals, but all in
vain, the worthy burgomasters were equally perplexed with the Governor.
Each one put his thumb to the end of his nose, spread his fingers
like a fan, imitated the motion of Antony Van Corlear and smoked in
dubious silence. Several times was Antony obliged to stand forth like
a fugleman, and repeat the sign, and each time a circle of nasal
weathercocks might be seen in the Council Chamber.
The Council broke up in sore perplexity. The matter got abroad and
Antony Van Corlear was stopped at every corner to repeat the signal to
a knot of anxious newsmongers, each of whom departed with his thumb to
his nose and his fingers in the air, to carry the story home to his
family.
And it is still said that to the present day the thumb to the nose and
the fingers in the air is apt to be the reply of the Helderbergers
whenever called upon for any long arrears of rent.