That princely power was usurped. 5.

That the Eight men received foul taunts and reproaches when assembled, and that they scarcely dare open their mouths. 6.

That they conceded our proposal of the excise.

7.

That the little Book treating of the war, contained as many lies as lines.

That the Indians were previously like lambs, and that men were seized with a rash hankering for war, and by an accursed act had murdered the Indians.

9.

That 2,500 pounds of powder had been received in store, and not 500 pounds used against the Indians. 10.

That skipper Laurens could not defend his case, in consequence of the Director's authority, etc.

We are prepared to prove that these are all false calumnies and lies. Your Hon" can well We have, in the writing hereunto annexed, answered in all respects infer what the rest are. these two fine gentlemen of whom the Directors have warned us, according to their letters exhibited to your Honors. They dispatched in an irregular manner and clandestinely sent off, that libellous letter; deceived the good people whose names they used; who, according to their own declarations, were not aware that it contained such scandalous things. Jacob Stoffelse and Jsack Allerton principally implored the people to sign --yea, even after the letter was off to Holland, they suborned, according to Melyn's own acknowledgment, the Secretary's clerk, and caused him also to sign, thus abusing our Lords Patroons, making them believe that the original letter was subscribed by the Eight men, cheating the good people, and endeavoring with false and bitter poison, to calumniate their magistrates and to bring them into difficulty; wherefore we demand justice, in order that our innocence may be known both here and in Holland, and their falsehood punished, that the Fiscal may prosecute them according to the heinousness of their crimes; also, that they be required to prove said letter, and to exhibit the copy of it which they sent off by the Blue Cock, and to which the Directors refer.