Wee shall desire you to make all convenient haste to your habitation on Long Island, and by the waye as you pass through the Countrey and when you come hither, that you acquaint such as you thinke the Kings Commission"^' will be welcome to, smd are affected for his Majestyes Service, that some of us are arrived here, & shall suddenly bee in Long Island where they hope they will be ready as in other places to promote his Majestyes interest, their readiness & affection shall be much taken notice of, and your care and Incouragement bee acknowledged by Your very lovinge friends

Robert Carr.

Samuel Mavericke.

Pascataway July 23d, 1664. to Mr. John Richbell, there.

III. Thompson's "Hist. Long Island." 2 Vol. II., 15.

3 II. Thompson's " Long Island." < Ante, page 75.

A warrant under the same hands to presse a horse for Mr. Richbell if occasion should bee, hee paying for the hire." '

Four years before, Charles II. had constituted a Council in England, to which he committed the care of the Trade with the Plantations in America. It was created by Royal Patent on the seventh of November 1660. This " Council of Trade " consisted of the Lord High Chancellor Hyde, the Lord Treasurer of England, Thomas Earl of Southampton, Monk Duke of Albemarle, eleven other peers and Nobles, twenty-three Baronets and Knights, and twenty five " Merchants," together sixty two persons all mentioned by name in the Patent itself. Among the "Merchants" was included Robert Richbell, the brother of John. As this "Council of Trade" embraced the leading public men in England at that day, with the noble at its head who four years later drew the King's Patent to his brother James for New York, it is almost certain that John Richbell had some prior intimation, from his brother, a member of the same Council, of the expedition intended for the capture of that Province from the Dutch, and the persons who were to be at the head of it.