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the objective-point of the proposed expedition seemed to have been undetermined, the coast of Guinea and that of Brazil being under consideration, while the eastern coast of North America apparently offered no attractions whatever. In the summer of 1635, Peter Minuit, who had some knowledge of the territory on the Delaware, entered into correspondence with the Swedish authorities, and early in 1637 he went to Sweden, where, after many difficulties, on Aug. 9, 1637, the Admiralty issued a passport for the ships "Kalmar Nyckel" and "Gripen," the former a man-of-war, and the latter a sloop, or tender, which vessels comprised Minuit's fleet, the first Swedish expedition. It is stated in a Dutch state paper that Minuit's colonists were "Swedes, the most of whom were banditti."1 Unforeseen delays followed, until the winter was near at hand before the expedition finally made sail for the New World, after having put into the Dutch harbor of Medemblik for repairs. It is stated by Professor Odhner,2 of Sweden, that documentary evidence seems to establish the fact that the fleet arrived in the Delaware in March or early in April, 1638. Minuit about that time, it is known, purchased from the Indians a tract of land several day's journey in extent, located on the west bank of the river, whereon he set up the arms of Sweden, and with a salvo of artillery christened the fort he began building, near the present site of Wilmington, the "Kristina," in honor of the youthful queen whose flag he was the first to unfold on the American continent. The river Christiana retains the name thus bestowed on the fort - for Minuit called that stream the Elbe - to this day. Within the palisade were built two log houses, for the accommodation of the soldiers and for the storage of provisions. After the little settlement had been provided with all the necessities to sustaain life, and for barter with the Indians, Lieut. Maus Kling was placed in command of the garrison and Minuit, in July, 1638, sailed for Sweden, touching in his homeward voyage at the West Indies, where the sloop "Gripen" had preceded him. At St. Christopher he sold all the merchandise on the "Kalmer Nyckel," and in place of the cargo he had taken to the island loaded the vessel with tobacco. When ready to sail Minuit and the captain of his vessel were invited to visit a Dutch ship, "The Flying Deer," and while on board of the latter a furious hurricane arose, compelling all the vessels in the roadstead to go to sea. Several of the ships were dismasted, while others were lost, among the latter "The Flying Deer." She was never afterwards heard from. The "Kalmar Nyckel" made search for the missing Swedish officers, but, learning no tidings of them, after several days sailed for Europe. The sloop "Gripen" subsequently returned from the West Indies to the Delaware, where she was loaded with furs, and sailed for Sweden, reaching there in the latter part of May, 1639, having made the passage in five weeks. |
1 Penna. Archives, 2d series, vol. v. p. 236.
2 "The Founding of New Sweden" (Penn. Mag. of History, vol. iii. p. 279) is a mine of interesting information on the early settlements of the Delaware River. | ||
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The same year Cornelius Van Vliet, a Dutch captain, was ordered to proceed in the "Kalmar Nyckel" to New Sweden, learn the condition of the colony, and make report of the country, no report having been made by Minuit, as it was the purpose of Queen Christina to people the land with Swedes. To the latter end an effort was made to obtain willing emigrants, but failing in that, the government ordered the Governors of Elfsborg and Varmland "to lay hands on such marriaged soldiers as had either evaded service or committed some other offence, and transport them, with their wives and children, to New Sweden, with the promise to bring them back, if required, within two years; to do this, however, 'justly and discreetly,' that no riot might ensue."3
| 3 "The Founding of New Sweden," by Professor C. T. Odhner. Translated by Professor G. B. Keen, Penn. Mag. of History, vol iii., p. 396. | |||
| The "Kalmar Nyckel" on her second voyage to the colony sailed for Gottenburg, where she arrived in June, 1639. There she was detained more than three months, occasioned by the difficulty of procuring emigrants, cattle, horses, swine, implements for husbandry, and partly because of the negligence of the new commander of the second expedition. Rev. Reorus Torkillus, the first Swedish clergyman in New Sweden, is believed to have been one of the passengers on the vessel, which left Gottenburg in the early autumn of 1639. The ship was obliged to stop at Medemblik to be overhauled, she having sprung a leak, and, afterward, when having put to sea, she was twice compelled to return for repairs, until the crew stated they were not willing to sail in such a vessel and under such a captain. Van Vliet was thereupon discharged, a new crew procured, and Capt. Pouwel Jansen, a Dutchman, given charge of the ship. The "Kalmar Nyckel," after encountering a remarkable storm, that intercepted all navigation in the Zuider-Zee, finally, on Feb. 7, 1640, sailed from the Texel for New Sweden. Lieut. Peter Hollandare, who had been appointed Governor of the province, accompanied the expedition, which, after a voyage of over two months, landed at Christiana on the 17th of April of the same year, where they found the colony planted by Minuit in good condition.4 The emigrants who accompanied the second expedition were of the most unpromising character, since Peter Hollandare records that "no more stupid, indifferent people are to be found in all of Sweden than those who are now here," and the domestic animals transported in the ship were few and of poor quality. On Nov. 2, 1640, | 4 This statement, which appears from Swedish documents, is in marked contrast to the assertion of Director Kieft, whose letter, dated in the latter part of May, 1640 ("New York Colonial Documents," vol. 1. p. 593), states, "The Swedes in the South River were resolved to move off and to come here" (New York). "A day before their departure a ship arrived with a reinforcement." | |||