Moreover, they have cost the Company and individuals so many millions, and can contribute so essentially to the damage of the general enemy and the security of this State, that your High Mightinesses will be induced in your wisdom and generosity to contribute further aid, and to vote for a short period, the oft requested succor, which indeed ought to be done early, if possible, considering that the number of soldiers and sailors already in Brazil, at great expense to the Company, will otherwise remain useless and ineffective, and the most favorable season and opportunity for the execution of any thing worth mentioning, would have passed away, not to be afterwards retrieved, except at double the outlay.

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HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: IlL 237

Tlie aforesaid conquests being thus, with the assistance of God, recovered, further means of redress, in the matter of superintendence, retrenchment and trade of said Company, could be taken in hand and promoted as follows:

First. -- Respecting Superintendence. Buperintcndcnoe. The government of the Company consists as well in supervision by the Directors in this country, as in the good order and administration to be maintained by the officers and servants in foreign conquests. In this country we must treat, first. Of the election of the Board of Directors; secondly, Of their management and administration. As Directors, ought to be chosen not only men conversant, active and vigilant in business, but also those who can properly attend to it, and are not too much engaged in private trade, by means whereof it happens that they frequently absent themselves from ordinary meetings, and, excusing themselves from duty, the burthen devolves on some few persons. Amsterdam,.... 27 Ilercupon it is to be duly considered, that the number of Directors, which with .....". mmz",.'. 17 the Supernumeraries, consists at present of 89 persons, could be diminished at Korth Quarter, .14 Groeningen 14 least one-third, and reduced to two-thirds without prejudice to the business to be ^ transacted by the Company, provided that the Supernumeraries be obliged to remove their domicil to the place where the Chambers are established, and render effectual service like the rest, and this particularly, with a view to furnish their respective superiors and stockholders with information and a knowledge of the Company's condition.