Joachimi to the States General. [ From the Original, in the Eoyal Archives at the Hague ; File, Engelcmd. ]

High and Mighty Lords.

Mess" William Clobery, David Morehead and Johan de la Barre, merchants here in London, having fitted out a ship to trade on Hudson's river, as they call it, have been prevented to traffic there, and in that vicinity, by the Officers of the Dutch West India Company. Deeming themselves injured thereby, they pretend to demand reparation for their damages. Previous,

72 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. however, to submitting their complaints to the King or to the Lords of his Majesty's Council, they concluded to speak to me and to place the information in my hands, to see if they could obtain satisfaction voluntarily for what they claim. Copy of the aforesaid information accompanies this. I have also sent a like copy to the Directors of the aforesaid Company. Parties have given nie tlie name of a person who offered them a good sum of money for the claim, in order, as they say, that these complaints may be added to the other grievances.For the Ambassador gathers together ail that can be collected against your High Spanish Mightinesses and your subjects, with a view to provoke and foster misunderstandings among this nation, against your High Mightinesses and the inhabitants of the United Netherlands.

To this they seem to attach altogether too much credit. Some months ago, disputes about boundaries broke out here, in presence of the King and his Majesty's Council, between those who have the King's Charter for Virginia and those who sail to and colonize New England. A noble Lord, who regrets to perceive that there is any misunderstanding between the English and Dutch nations, has informed me, that the aforesaid disputes did not arise because the persons above mentioned were suffering any injury, the one from the other, but in order to pick a quarrel with the Dutch about the possession of New Netiierland.