The Peddler Spy

This Beadle and Adams dime novel, published in 1806, presents The Peddler Spy by W. J. Hamilton, subtitled "Dutchmen and Yankees: A Tale of the Capture of Good Hope." The narrative centers on early colonial tensions between Dutch settlers at Fort Good Hope (on the Connecticut River) and encroaching English colonists from Hartford and Boston. The opening chapters establish the conflict through the character of Boston Bainbridge, a sharp Yankee peddler who trades in small wares and horses. The story portrays Dutch commandant Van Curter and his garrison defending their settlement against Puritan expansion, while Boston exemplifies Yankee commercial cunning—repeatedly outwitting Dutch customers through verbal manipulation and dubious deals. A dispute over a defective knife initiates the narrative, with Boston skillfully shifting blame to a Dutch customer named Hans while selling him a replacement at inflated prices. The tale promises action centered on colonial rivalry and commercial deception.