there of sufficient ability and the necessary qualification, (who before being admitted to practice there, must report to you or as the case may be to us) to act and plead against the said van der Donck. You will do in this matter, what you shall consider to be the best for the country and its inhabitants.

Concerning the second point we have resolved to refer the said van der Donck to you, that you may let him have such documents and papers, as may be thought of service to him in completing his history; but as this is a difficult matter and requires consideration, we wish to recommend to you, to be herein so cautious that the Companys own weapons may not be used against us and we be drawn into new troubles and quarrels.

For the sake of greater security and for your guidance we have resolved to notify you again herewith, that the pay of the soldiers, sent over now in this ship as well as last year for our service, shall not begin before their arrival there; therefore a soldiers accounts must not begin before that day and the first entries to his debit must be, besides the two months pay received here in advance, for the arms given him fl 13. 18 st. and for the strawbed and sea-chest together fl 2.15. The account of the men, who take or have taken with them their wives and children, must likewise be charged for the board and fare of the latter, which the Company pays for these women and children sailing in private vessels or else they must provide for it in some other way.

Above all care must be taken, that in the accounts and books of monthly wages proper entries are made of the debts contracted here by the soldiers and others before their departure (which the enclosed list shows in detail) as in their liquidation we pay here every year to the creditors the pay for two months, which is also paid every year to the wives, left behind here by men entering our service. Therefore, when you discharge them you must at the final settlement and payment retain at least as many times a two months pay besides the two months wages received here, the arms, bed cte as they have been years in the service of the Company; nor must you omit to send us yearly a correct statement of those, whom you may discharge from time to time, as we have already told you, that the Company may not suffer loss.

We have further to say in connection with the foregoing, that the books of monthly wages cause us here a great deal of trouble and examinations, because many items in several accounts are cancelled and credited, which refer to the journals, while we have received neither these nor the ledgers: we are therefore unable to see clearly and distinctly, whether these credited items have their proper counter entry, unless the books of wages are examined from beginning to end, item for item, to discover whether the charge has been made. You will therefore take care and give order, that henceforth the books, accounts and vouchers are sent to us in due time, that the Company may be protected against loss and the people concerned not detained.

From complaints addressed to us we have learned that of the merchandise taken over by one Cornelis Pyl lately in the ship "Iloff van Cleeff" tive pieces of kersey have been confiscated by the Fiscal there, because it was not entered in our invoice: as however this omission was caused by a clerical error, which the documents entrusted to our skipper Cornelis Conraetsen now coming over will prove to you, we have deemed it advisable to notify you thereof, that the aforesaid five pieces of kersey may be returned to the said skipper or his attorney and further complaints avoided.

We have already stated that the ship" Hof van Cleeff" had safely arrived from Curaçao at Rochelle, but now we learn to our sorrow, that on her way to this place she has been taken by the English close by here, so that we are deprived and robbed of the profits, which we might have made on her return cargo; it would have been of considerable assistance, as her cargo of salt

would have sold well, for the price of salt is very high now and it was coming to a good market.

LETTER FROM THE DIRECTORS TO STUYVESANT: THE RELATIONS WITH THE NEW ENGLAND PEOPLE.

1653 18th of Aug.

Honorable, Worshipful, Pious, Dear and Faithful.

Sieur Allard Anthony appeared here to-day commissioned and sent by you in the ship "Elbingh" which arrived with several other ships from divers quarters in the Sound. We received from him your letter and accompanying papers, dated the 5th of June of the present year from which among others we learn to our regret of the danger apparently threatening our province there from the English neighbors on frivolous and treacherous pretext, used by them to cover their intentions. As our ship "Coninck Salomon," by which we have given you detailed advices, is now ready at the Texel to go to sea at a moment's notice and we have therefore no time to say much more on this subject, which we would like to see dispatched by the said ship; we shall only say in answer to your last received letter, that you may rest assured, we shall endeavor and solicit especially the Lords Mayors and Rulers of this city, submitting all pertinent arguments, to assist and supply the places of so much importance to us with the things most urgently needed there. We trust, that in the meantime after having been duly warned now you will be very cautious and on your guard and that you have put everything in good shape and state of defense so that if that nation has any hostile intentions upon our possessions and makes any attempt upon them, (for which we must not give them any pretext) you may be able to resist them. We expect it however the less, although very much inflated with pride just now, because they must have learned of the losses sustained by the English here in the last terrible seafight with our fleet, in which they lost about 20 of their strongest and best ships, so that at last they were compelled to fly. It was a great victory for our country, which would have been celebrated with the greatest rejoicings, if the life of our valiant Admiral Tromp, of laudable memory, might have been spared. May the good God awaken another like him and protect this country and our territory there against further evil.

Herewith etc etc.

Amsterdam,

this 18th of August, 1653.

To the Director and Council in New Netherland.

The Directors of the W. I. Company
Dept. of Amsterdam.

DAVID VAN BAERLE.
ABR. WELMERDORP.

Letters from Italy report, our Consul at Alleppo had written, that our people in the East Indies had taken two English ships on their way home, valued at about twenty tons of gold.

No. 25.

RESOLUTION OF THE WEST INDIA COMPANY TO ENCOURAGE PRIVATEERING.

Monday, the 15th of September 1653.

Extract from the Register of Resolutions adopted by the Committee of the Directors of the West India Company representing the Assembly of the XIX at the Hague.

The Committee appointed to consider the ninth section of the Description concerning the privateering or sailing with letters of marque have made their report on this matter, which says, that the rules adopted for this business in 1646 should remain in force, but in order to animate and encourage everybody at this time to equip a ship or ships for the spoliation of the Portuguese, consent might be given, that, besides the reduction of the duties granted in 1652, provisionally and until further orders the following alterations be made.

1.

All captured goods may be secured and stored in a neutral warehouse, of which the government and the interested parties or their agent shall each have a key.

2.

After sentence has been pronounced by the court in Brasil, the goods shall be sold in like manner as now by agents of the said government, provided, that some one of the interested parties or their agent may be present

3.

The moneys for the captured prizes shall be received as usual and pursuant to old customs, provided that the interested parties or their agent shall be satisfied promptly and their share paid to them, shortly after the receipt of the said moneys.

4.

All captured goods, which the purchasers shall wish to send elsewhere, may be shipped in such vessels as the interested parties deem advisable, but only to the fatherland and not elsewhere, unless the government in Brasil upon occasion gives other directions.

5.

Only the negroes captured in prizes coming from the sea may be sent with the knowledge of the government in Brasil to such places, as the purchasers choose.

6.

The duties now received by the Company for all prize goods captured and specified in the aforesaid rules (negroes included) shall be reduced to 10 p. cent. and nothing more, the export upon order remaining as before.

A vote having been taken, it was unanimously resolved to adopt these articles and allow every one to act according to these rules and the gentlemen of the Committee received the thanks for their exertions.

LETTER FROM THE DIRECTORS TO STUYVESANT: NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE BURGOMASTERS FOR AID. November 4th 1653.

Honorable, Worshipful, Pious, Dear and Faithful.

Although this ship the "Vaerwel" takes the course to New Netherland by way of Brasil and Curaçao and therefore most likely will arrive late, we have neither been able not willing to omit informing you of what has occurred here since our last letters of the 24th of July, copy of which we shall send by the first and better opportunity, and of the 18th of August sent by the "Gelderse Blom" and our ship "Coninck Salomon; " especially regarding our request for assistance required for those places. We will also reply, as far as shall be considered necessary at present, to your last two letters of the 7th of January 1653 and 5th of June following.

First concerning the request for aid and the reason, why as yet we can write about it with so little detail, it has not been neglect or lack of zeal on our part, but solely the very important affairs of state, which engage at present also this city especially, so that almost continually one or the other of the Burgomasters has been absent as delegate here or there; then came the illness of the Honorable Burgomaster Witsen, so that the worshipful board being not full, we deemed it unadvisable to present our request until 6 or 8 days ago, when we handed the Burgomasters a certain remonstrance drawn up by us regarding this matter with some documents on the same subject. Nothing of interest has so far resulted from it, notwithstanding that we have importuned one or the other of their Worships by constant solicitations, but we have learned from them at least so much, that the present condition of the city will probably not permit to incur expenses or make advances without some assurance or without something tangible, from which they could repay themselves. We have thereupon requested that a committee of the Council be appointed to confer with us on this matter, and to hear our propositions: we are now anxiously waiting for that committee and hope, we shall give them full satisfaction. Anyway, as far as the condition of the Company can or may admit, we shall do our best and exert the power, which the Company still has: upon that you may rely and you may also believe, that we are deeply interested in it, because we desire very much the preservation and safety of that territory, opened with so great expenses, and its inhabitants. Meanwhile we have begun to provide ourselves with arms and ammunition of war and have already gathered 170 muskets, carbines and firelocks to arm the soldiers going thither. We shall not cease to continue in our preparations and care and we trust, that you likewise are very cautious and make the best use of the means and power given to you first and now by God and nature, so that the haughty and intolerable English nation may not get the better of us through our bad management and carelessness.

We are now coming to the reply to your two beforementioned letters, first of that of January 7th 1653, in which you say, that our people there live in great fear because the advantages gained in Parliament over our government are zealously magnified. We may well believe it, although it is sure, that the same are made ten times greater, than they are in reality; but it is in the nature of haughty people and generally the characteristic of that nation and therefore their tales should not be believed so readily or accepted as correct. We think their boastfulness and haughtiness will be considerably diminished now, because they have accomplished nothing or at least very little during the year and specially because the great loss, which the English have sustained in the last terrible engagement at sea against our fleet, causes considerable decline and dissatisfaction with their new usurping government. As to the union, said to have been made by them with the Swedish crown, we have as yet seen no sign or result from it, much less, that they

have joined their forces to blockade the Sound; the English furthermore came out of the beforementioned sea fight in so disabled a condition, losing besides twenty of their best and strongest ships, that they have not been able to recover as yet and go to sea again.

You must also be very cautious in the intercourse with the Swedes on the South river (against whose chief you complain), as well in maintaining the Company's privileges as in avoiding if possible to give them cause for complaints and dissatisfaction: for it is not advisable to increase the numbers of the Company's enemies at this critical period. Concerning the request made by some of his subjects for permission to come and settle among us, if we will engage to protect them, we see no reason, why it should be refused and denied, (unless your view goes farther, than we at present can observe), for it would indeed prevent an increase of population, which is nevertheless the life of a state and therefore should be promoted by all means. Hence the influx of free people should not be impeded, but rather encouraged by resolute and honest measures; justice and equity then demand, that to the extent of our power we protect and guard all, who are willing and have submitted to our laws and customs, like our other inhabitants.

You extol the conditions and the offer, according to which some English families shall be admitted there to establish a new village or settlement near and opposite the village of Flushing who with the village of Middelburgh* are willing to the same conditions and offer. You present the matter as a proper measure, which would place the country and the administration in a firmer and safer position, but unfortunately we take a different view, because the people of Hemstead and Flushing have actually not only not prevented the raising of the Parliament's flag by some English freebooter, but also permitted it to be done; an example, which induces us not to trust to any of that nation residing under our jurisdiction. Their immigrating and having favors granted to them must therefore be restricted henceforth, that we may not nourish serpents in our bosom, who finally might devour our hearts. You will act accordingly.

We have learned with sorrow and surprise from your last letter of the 5th of June of this year (as we already mentioned in ours of the 18th of August, copy of which we enclose) what frivolous and false charges the people of New England have brought up against us only to cover their evil intentions with the appearance of justice and right: they follow herein the example of their principals, whose government is built up on the same grounds and foundation. Upon hearing the rumors from New England they have magnified these false reports, apparently started at their own instigation and have forged and published in London the most shameless and lying libel, which the devil in hell could not have produced, under the title "The second Amboyna Tragedy or truthful Account etc." We have caused a translation to be made of it and send you a copy of it herewith, so that you may see yourself the strategic measures employed by that nation in order not only to irritate against us their own people, but also to bring down upon us the whole world. You must therefore proceed with great caution, for we cannot expect the least good from that nation at present.

The crops, which had been raised, have, we hope, been safely harvested and although we can hardly believe, that the people of New England would have the audacity to blockade and besiege us there, which you apprehend most, the grain and other victuals must not be consumed lavishly at this time; we are told, that the Colony of Renselaerswyck use their grain to brew strong beer etc., and you have done well and acted with due caution by giving them a timely warning. As by prohibiting the trade with New England no more meat or bacon can be drawn from the North, which you fear will cause a scarcity of these provisions, therefore we have at this time.

*Newtown, L. I.

See O'Callaghan, Hist, of New Netherland, II. 571.