Accordingly, in the year 1624,as in previous years, divers families went from Holland to Virginia in the West Indies, a great portion of them being English, called Brownists, whom King James will not permit nor suffer to live in his land, because they hold and maintain divers points of religion improbated by the present church of England.

1 The preceding part of this article seems to have been borrowed from Van der Donck's Beschryving van Nieuw Nederlandt, published in Holland in 1656. Ep. '

2 They settled in what is now the State of Delaware. Ep.

132 . DESCRIPTION OF NEW NETHERLAND.

A ship arrived in August from that part of Virginia called New Netherland, which had conveyed some families from Holland thither. This vessel brings many and various letters from private individuals, each written to friends and acquaintances, whereof this is mostly the tenor--

" We were much gratified on arriving in this country ; Here

we found beautiful rivers, bubbling fountains flowing down into .

the valleys ; basins of running waters in the flatlands, agreeable fruits in the woods, such as strawberries, pigeon berries, walnuts, and also voor labrusten or wild grapes. The woods abound with acorns for feeding hogs,and with venison. There is considerable fish in the rivers; good tillage land; here is, especially, free coming and going, 'without fear of the naked natives of the country. Had we cows, hogs, and other cattle fit for food (which we daily expect in the first ships) we would not wish to return to Holland, for whatever we desire in the paradise of Holland, is here to be found. If you will come hither with your family, you will not regret it."