rectly or indirectly, within the said three years, on pain of confiscation of the vessel and Cargo wherewith infraction hereof shall be attempted, and a fine of Fifty thousand Netherland Ducats for the benefit of the said discoverers or finders ; provided, nevertheless, that by these presents We do not intend to prejudice or diminish any of our former grants or charters; And it is Our intention, that if any disputes or differences arise from these our concessions they shall be decided by ourselves.

" We therefore expressly command all Governors, Justices, Officers, Magistrates, and inhabitants, of the aforesaid United Countries, that they allow the said company peaceably and quietly to enjoy the whole benefit of this Our grant and consent, ceasing all contradictions and obstacles to the contrary. For such we have found to appertain to the public service. Given under our seal, paraph and signature of Our Secretary, at the Hague the xith of October, 1614."'

This exclusive charter expired by its terms on the first of January, 1818, and the company of merchants to whom it had been granted, -- " the United New Netherland Company '' -- as they styled themselves, applied for its renewal. This the States-General refused, having in contemplation to charter a great military and commercial company for the West Indies similar to the great organization of that nature then existing for the East Indies. The object in view in both was the same, namely, to establish a power, which could, at the same time, maintain profitable foreign trade, and carry on military and naval enterprises against Spain, thus in both ways crippling their hereditary enemy. In the summer of 1618, Hendrick Eelkens and his partners, by special permission of the States-General, sent their ship, the " Scheldt " to the Manhattans for a single trading voyage.