Only three or four copies of this pamphlet are now known to exist, and it is so rare that within ten years a distinguished New York antiquarian reprinted it in fac-simile.

As it is the first instrument under which lands in the States of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware, and Connecticut, were acquired, and on which titles rest, it is here given in full from the translation made by the late eminent historian of New Netherland, Dr. Edmund B. O'Callaffhan, for his own great work, the " History of New Netherland ; or, New York under the Dutch, "first published in 1846-

"FREEDOMS AND EXEMPTIONS.

GRANTED BY THE ASSEMBLY OF THE XIX. OF THE PRIVILEGED WEST INDIA COMPANY, TO ALL SUCH AS SHALL PLANT ANY COLONIES IN NEW NETHERLAND:

"1. Such members of the said Company as may be inclined to settle any colonie'^ in New Netherland,

1 1. CoL Hist. N. T., 39 ; Ibid., r,.5.

2 This word **colonie," pronounced in Dntch with tlie accent on the last two letters, does not mean "colony" in the English sense, bnt means a plantation, or settlement, and inclndes people, rattle, tools, stock of all kinds, as well as the lands on which all were to be placed.

shall be permitted to send in the ships of this Company going thither, three of four j)ersons to inspect the situation of the country, provided that they, with the officers and ships company, swear to the articles, so far as they relate to them, and pay for provisions and for passage, going and coming, six stuyvers per diem ; and such as desire to eat in the cabin twelve stuyvers, and to be subordinate, and give assistance like the others, in cases offensive and defensive; and if any ships be taken from the enemy, they shall receive pro rata, their proportions with the ships company, each according to his quality ; that is to say, the colonists eating out of the cabin shall be rated with the sailors, and those who eat in the cabin with those of the company's men who eat at table and receive the lowest wages.