We willingly confess that we have not experienced what the philosopher here represents, for not an unkind word was exchanged between us and Mr. Kieft in our intercourse with that gentleman. His Honor must prove that the Eight chosen men, who were elected by the Commonalty and approved and authorized by his Honor and his Council, acted unlawfully in communicating to their High Mightinesses and Lords Majors, the general ruin and necessity of the country, in order thereby to obtain earlier aid and assistance, as is, God be praised now evident. Were !

this true, as we trust it is, we think, under correction, that we have not injured Mr. Kieft in general nor in particular ; and that his Honor ought not so sharply and so severely censure and reprimand us for the ancient Sage was of opinion that a person high in station could not ;

commit a graver fault than to insult those who durst not answer him. But it had been better that this matter had been referred to those by whom it could have been brought to a final decision for it Mr. Kieft has yet to prove that his Honor lawfully and of a necessity, commenced the war in question against those Natives. If lawfully, his Honor will rejoice, and we, on the other hand,

shall remain in shame and disgrace ; if the contrary be established, to wit, that it was urged forward through his own fancy, let us then once see what the law of nations thinks of it; for in the exacting of punishment, this law must first of alt be observed, so that no war be ever again undertaken, unless men are stronger than the opposite party. For not only doth prudence, or the love of one's own, but even frequently those also who administer justice, demand that people abstain from a hazardous war, as, from the nature of government, the sovereign is