Your High Mightinesses' letter, dated 31" December, 1638, with the annexed memorial of the Hon^'''= M'^ Spieringh, Resident of the Crown of Sweden, was handed to us on the 13"" instant, but the previous one, dated 25"' October, has not been received. As soon as we had seen the tenor of your High Mightinesses' said letter, we were prepared to obey your High Mightinesses' order and command, and with that view, sent an express immediately to Medenblick, which brings us the following information :

That on the arrival of the ship there, our brother Director, wishing to attend to, and take care of, the import duty, granted and conveyed by your High Mightinesses to the Company, sent for the skipper of that ship; in whose absence the pilot appeared, and being asked. Where he came from and what his freight was? answered. From the West Indies, and the cargo, tobacco. Being further asked, respecting the quantity thereof, said thereunto, that he was not obliged to give that information, as he did not know who made the inquiry. The quality of our confrere being made known to hini; he persisted in his previous answer, adding, I am no skipper, and the ship is going home to Sweden, and had her Majesty's letters; which being demanded, were refused to be shown. Whereupon, the pilot having departed, he returned shortly after, saying, Our skipper has just arrived. Which skipper being sent for, he answered. Whoever wants to speak with, or has any thing to say to me, may come to me; so that the Director had the said skipper summoned by the city marshal to produce his commission ; this,