"A China guilte cabonett upon a frame, £1 1os.; a large square China worke table and frame of black vernishe and gold, £6; one faire crimson velvet chaire richlie imbosted with copper and spread eagles and blewe and white flowers China worke, the frame painted with gold and my Lord's crest upon the same; one small table of China worke in golde and colours with flies and wormes upon a pillar suitable, £1; a little gilded couch carved and cutt, 15s.; an ebony cabinett inlaid with mother-of-pearle, 13s.; a very large bedstead with wreathed pillars ballastars for head, side and feete, all coloured blacke and gold, £7; a foldinge Indian screne, £3 45."

The bonds between England and Holland were very close in Puritan days, and the household belongings of the two countries, both in hall and cottage, were practically identical. In Holland, the Puritans found a refuge and congenial surroundings before sailing for the New World. The homes of the prosperous burghers of New Amsterdam, now New York, faithfully mirrored the comfort and taste of those of Amsterdam and The Hague; and here we may pause a moment to examine a couple of inventories of early dwellers in what is still the most important city in the Western Hemisphere.

Mrs. Margarita van Varick died in 1696, and her bequests to her children are eloquent testimony of the estimation in which she held her various household gods. In her will she leaves: "In a great chest bound up in a napkin for Johanna van Varick, a silver spice-box, a silver egg-dish, a silver thimble, a silver wrought East India box, 18 pieces of silver children's toys, II pieces Arabian and Christian silver money, one gold ring with seven diamonds, two gold drops for the ear, one gold Arabian ducat, one Dutch Testament with gold clasps, one gold chain with a locket with seven diamonds, one pearl necklace, one small silver knife and fork, one small bundle beaten leaf gold, two gold pins headed with pearls, one gold bodkin, and one looking-glass with gilt frame.

"In another napkin for Marinus van Varick, three silver wrought East India cups, one ditto dish, three pieces of silver money, one medal, 20 pieces of silver children's toys, one silver knife, one gold ring with a table diamond, two gold rings, one gold ducat, one gold medal, and one small gold box as big as a pea.

"In another napkin for Rudolphus van Varick, three silver wrought East India boxes, one small ditto dish, one silver tumbler marked R. V., 17 pieces silver playthings or toys, 8 pieces of silver money, one silver knife, one fork silver studded handle, one gold ring with three small diamonds, one gold ring, one ducat, two gold buttons, one gilded medal, and a gold piece the shape of a diamond.

"In another napkin for Cornelia van Varick, a silver wrought East India trunk, a ditto box, a saltcellar, 28 silver playthings or toys, 20 silver pieces of money, a small mother-of-pearl box, a gold comb, a Bible with gold clasps, a small bundle of leaf gold, a pair of diamond pendants, two gold chains, two gold rings with a diamond in each, two small gold rings, one pair crystal pendants edged with gold, one Arabian ducat, and two gold pins.

"Also for Johanna, the biggest and finest Turkey-work carpet, a set of white flowered muslin curtains, a chintz flowered carpet, an East India cabinet with ebony foot wrought, the picture of Mrs. van Varick, the picture of Johanna, three china pots, one feather bed, one bolster, two cushions, one quilt, one white calico blanket.

"Also for Marinus, a Turkey-work carpet, a gold bell and chain, a blue satin flowered carpet, a calico ditto, a silver-headed cane, a Moorish tobacco-pipe, a calico nightgown, a hair brush, a red box, two East India cabinets with brass handles, a feather bed, bolster, quilt, two cushions and green blanket, a picture of J. Abramson, and a ' large picture of images, sheep and ships that hung above the chimney.'

"Also for Rudolphus, a small ebony trunk with silver handles, a picture with a gilt frame, a cane with a silver head, a flowered carpet stitched with gold, a calico carpet, and a large picture of himself.

"Also for Cornelia, the second finest Turkey-work carpet, two pictures with glasses before them, a calico nightgown, a hair brush, a chintz flowered carpet, a small black cabinet with silver hinges, the picture of Cornelia Hester deceased, the picture of a flower pot, a china cup bound with silver, a large looking-glass with ebony frame, two white china cups with covers, a feather bed covered with checkered linen, a bolster, three wadding cushions, two feather ditto, one quilt and a homespun blanket.

"Also for Johanna and Cornelia, two glaasen cases with 39 pieces of small china-ware, II Indian babyes, and 6 small and 6 larger china dishes.

"Also for Marinus and Rudolphus,23 pieces of china-ware.

"Also to be divided equally among them, 37 Dutch books 40; and 46 ditto 8™; and 4 ditto folio; a chest with children's babyes playthings and toys; and 13 ebony chairs."

Mrs. van Varick's home in New Amsterdam did not suffer in comparison with the rich Dutch houses in Holland. Her clothes, jewels and bequests to her children prove that her life was one of ease, luxury and fashion. Her house was not only furnished with every comfort known to the period, but was filled with curios, treasures from the Far East, rich furniture, and a fine collection of china and paintings. Her furniture included fine and richly upholstered bedsteads, tables, chairs, cabinets, glass cupboards for china, great Kasten, a handsome "painted wooden rack to set china-ware in," six looking-glasses, and ten Indian looking-glasses, "two East India cane baskets with covers, one fine East India dressing-basket, one round ditto, two wooden gilt East India trays, lackered, and one round thing ditto." Five brass hanging candlesticks and handle candlesticks, a double brass ditto, snuffers and extinguisher, a pair of brass standing candlesticks, and a standing candlestick with two brass candlesticks to it, prove that the house did not suffer for want of illumination. It was also bright with rich curtains and cushions.