On inquiry into the progress made in the translations and the condition of the work generally, it was found to be so nearly completed that it was deemed inexpedient by the Regents to attempt any exercise of the discretion vested in them under the second section of the act of the Legislature. All that remained for them to do was to superintend the residue of the publication, according to the arrangement determined upon and the contracts made by their predecessors.

TRANSCRIPTS OF DOCUMENTS

EOTAL ARCHIVES AT THE HAGUE AND IN THE STAD-HTTYS OF THE CITY OF AMSTERDAM.

HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: I-YIIL

1603-1656.

HOLLAND DOCUMENTS.

The documents contained in the first and second volumes of this work are translations of accurate transcripts of originals found in the Royal Archives at the Hague, and in the Archives of the city of Amsterdam, during the year 1841. It will be observed that there are several different references at the head of the papers. These relate to the particular divisions or repositories in the Archives, in which the originals were found ; and it has been thought advisable to retain them in every case, not so much on account of any particular use they can now be to the investigator, but rather because they afford a curious and valuable proof of the authenticity of each document.

ROYAL ARCHIVES AT THE HAGUE. In arranging the papers -- which it will be noticed were separately transcribed --a strictly chronological

order was observed, being the one that seemed to be most judicious. Each paper has, generally, two memoranda upon it -- the day of its actual date, and the day when it was presented to the States-General. The Resolutions have, of course, only one date ; but most of the papers and memorials presented to the States being the subjects of Resolutions of that body, there is a memorandum of the day of reception marked on each, which corresponds with the date of the Resolution ; and in this manner each paper has been arranged -- not according to the actual date -- but according to the order of time in which it was acted on by the States, and being always found near the Resolution to which it gave rise.