The West India Company's Charter consists of a preamble and forty-five articles, together with the preamble and twelve articles of the final agreement of the 21st of June 1623 above-mentioned. The central power of this vast association, as O'Callaghan states, " was divided, for the more efficient exercise of its functions, among five branches or chambers, established in the dilferent cities of the Netherlands, the managers of which were styled ' Lords Directors.' Of these, that of Amsterdam was the principal, and to this was intrusted the management of the affairs of New Netherland. The general supervision and government of the Company, were, however, lodged in a board, or Assembly of Nineteen delegates [briefly termed the Assembly of XIX.] ; eight (changed to nine in 1629) of whom were from the Chamber at Amsterdam ; four from Zealand ; two from Maeze ; and one from each of the chambers of Friesland and Groeningen (forming the North Department). The nineteenth was ajjpointed [as their own representative] by their High Mightinesses, the States General of the United Provinces."
Apart from the exclusive trade of the coast of Africa, from the tropic of Cancer to the Cape of Good Hope, and of the coast of America, from the Straits of Magellan to the extreme North [Terra Nova or Newfoundland], this Company was authorized to Ibrm alliances with the chiefs of the Indian tribes, and obligated to advance the settlement of their possessions, encourage population, and do everything that
s I. O'Call., Appendix " B," 408. * I. Col. Uist. N. Y., 22-27.