History of the State of New York, Vol. I (1609-1691)
But this prosecution of war, instead of commerce, has not been undertaken by us, of our own mere motion, but principally by the advice of the High and Mighty Lords States General, and the concurrence of his Serene Grace, the Prince of Orange; for your Great Mightinesses will well remember, that from the very inception of the Company, we have all been solicited by their High Mightinesses' Commissioners, not only to undertake some hostile expedition against the enemy, but even to dispatch our fleet to
reinforce that which a short time before had been ordered out under the command of Admiral L' Hermite, and to send the ships we had then by us ready equipped in the Zuyder Zee, which
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from good motives and with their High Mightinesses' concurience, were dispatched to Bahia de Todos los Sanctos. From these beginnings have we proceeded farther and farther into war; and undertaken, with their High Mightinesses' advice and the approbation of iiis Serene Grace, divers expeditions which, to the astonishment of the universe, have been crowned, from time to time, with sucli success; and neglected to plant colonies and to settle countries, from which as great trade might have followed as we at present possess, or in all probability, could speedily establish; so that there remains only the trade to Guinea and Africa, which is comparison with the Company's large Capital, and had been already diverted and trifling in
spoiled, by other nations; and, iu season of truce, still greater hazard is to be expected in that quarter. We, therefore, confidently, and of our certain knowledge, do assert, that the entering into a Truce, must be the ruin of this Company; and that your High Mightinesses will for ever lose the fortunate prop of this State, and the great decrease of your hereditary enemy's finances; for, let us by means of commerce be much greater than we can yet imagine, not a straw can the enemy be weakened thereby; nor can the sixth part of our ships be employed; and, consequently, only a small portion of the Seamen kept in service.