Mighty, by such as you yourselves consider have most at lieart the maintenance of the true Reformed religion and the liberties of our beloved Fatherland ; so that many have contributed

abundantly thereunto even out of their poverty. Fourthly: that by means of this Company, even from its very incipiency, a great number of ships were partly purchased and partly chartered, which otherwise must have lain idle in consequence of the dullness of trade. Fifthly: that by means of the same, many large and small vessels, and especially, very fine and fast sailing yachts have been built, to the great increase of Navigation. Sixthly: that the number of our vessels has, from time to time, so much increased, that we have at present over one hundred full rigged ships, of various burthens, at sea, mostly fitted for war. Seventhly: that we have employed, from time to time, in said ships, a great number of seamen and soldiers, so that we had last year 9,000 men, and now, at present, full 15,000 in our service; whereby the people were wonderfully benefited; many experienced pilots formed, and so many educated, that the country can always find fit persons to be employed on board its ships as chief and subordinate officers. Eighthly: that we have victualled the aforesaid ships, some for 12, some for 15, and even many for IS months and more. Ninthly: that we have provided our ships so well with heavy guns, that we had, last year, on board our marine, full 264 metal pieces, amongst which were many demi-carthouns and ;