use of it as occasion demands, and state decidedly every where, when the subject is mentioned, that your High Mightinesses will not meddle with the domestic difficulties of this kingdom, and that the government of the United Netherlands keeps itself neutral in this regard. I avoid as much as possible having any thing to do with the Parliament, and holding any conversation with the members thereof, in order not to excite any cause of jealousy. I mentioned in my last of the xxxi. July, that the English in New England complain of the Dutch in New Netherland, and that some of the English have spoken very boldly and said, if the affair were not settled, that the Dutch would, within a year, be out of those parts whence

the complaints proceeded. Those who dare threaten in that manner, would perhaps also venture on putting threats into execution. What my Lord Seye requests, is ineffectual to keep the English back from New Netherland, should they design driving our people from their place. I have, therefore, bethought me to

propose respectfully to your High Mightinesses, whether it would not be proper, in order

to obviate inconveniences, that your High Mightinesses should write to the King and request his Majesty to be pleased to order the English in New England to leave the Dutch undisturbed in New Netherland and parts adjacent, where they had been before the English arrived in those countries. For such orders must proceed from his Majesty, who might take it ill that the Houses of Parliament were applied to for a remedy, whose orders probably would not be acknowledged in that far distant quarter. In considering the aforesaid point, it is ( with submission), to be borne in mind, that the winter will be soon at hand, and that opportunities to go, or to send letters to those parts, do not occur every day.