draft of a Charter and its cons(^quences, and to render a report of the whole to the meeting; and they having first reported, that it was necessary for the promotion of the affair that the States General should pass an Act including the Trade to Guinea in the aforesaid Charter, the said Act is finally drawn up and concluded, as follows : -- " The States General of the United Netherlands having a understood the difficulty j Act appertainmg suggestcd on the paragraph of the draft of a General Company for the Coasts thereunto

of Africa and America where Trade and Navigation are free by the Truce -- to wit, that

itwas feared that some may secretly endeavor under that cover to pursue trade to Guinea, with a General Company, and that it was desired to retain and continue to prosecute this, notwithstanding the Company and Trade should not prosper in the open parts of America, either because through some defect or impediment, it may not have been included, or being included, it may happen to cease tiirough want of good success and profits, or some other causes. " Therefore, We being desirous to afford sufficient security thereto, as we have proceeded herein only uprightly, sincerely and in good faith, did and do Declare hereby, that Our intention was none other than to proceed in good faith, and by means of the aforesaid General Company earnestly and zealously to cause Navigation and Commerce to be undertaken as well to the West Indies and the Coasts of Africa as to Guinea; consequently that the Charter which this General Company will obtain in this regard, shall not convey any power or clause to enable any person to take advantage thereof against others, in case Trade shall not be speedily undertaken and prosecuted by said Company as well in the other various Quarters as on the Guinea coasts, or in case the Trade to the other Countries should, through any impediment, by want of profit or through any other cause, happen to fail, be interrupted or cease but that in such case and then, the Guinea Trade shall be again free, common and open ;