But in order that you, High and Mighty, may be correctly informed herein, and understand tlie situation of the countries yet uniiivaded by our enemies, we shall explain to you more particularly the extent and condition thereof, from one end of our boundaries in West India to the other. The limits granted to us by Your High Mightinesses, start from, or begin on the iVorth at, Nova Francia, the bounds whereof were extended somewhat too far by the French so that ;

they have even been inclined to dispute us Ni:w Nclherland, which is the first country occupied and possessed by our people; and the Company, on that account, have suffered, of late years, notorious damage by reprisals. Now, this district, which we have named New Nethcrland, although it ought to be, in point of climate, as warm and as well adapted for the cultivation of fruits at least, as the furthest frontiers of France towards Spain; yet it has been found much colder, and as much subject to frost and other inconveniences as these; nay, as more northern countries. The people conveyed by us thither, have, therefore, found but scanty means of livelihood up to the present time ; and have not been any profit, but a drawback, to this Company. The trade carried on there in peltries, is right advantageous; but one year with another, we can, at most, bring home only Fifty thousand guilders. Proceeding more southerly, next comes Virginia, possessed by the English and Florida, so far as it has ;