Assemblies of the XIX., especially, could be dispensed with, in case a general and permanent Board (whereof mention has been already made) were established, whose expenses would be sufficiently and abundantly economized, were it only in the matter of multitudinous deputations and fruitless meetings. The Company will be principally obliged to get rid of a portion of its ships, which, including cannon, stores, and appurtenances, amount to much more than chartered vessels; and in our opinion the Chambers would be sufficiently provided, were each ninth part to maintain two of its own ships and a yacht, and to hire the remainder at a fitting season. In this way, also, ship yards, rope walks, and other appendages which drain several thousands yearly, could be got rid of. When, even on the other hand, the Company requires some first class ships, it will not be necessary that it should build them ; it can contract for them on suitable charter at the cheapest rate, and have the old ones repaired and fixed in the same way that private merchants are in the habit of doing. The factors introduced at Amsterdam by the outer Chambers, contrary to the 26"" article of the Charter, might be also dispensed with, as they draw salaries from those Chambers and pay private storage when the Company's stores at Amsterdam are large enough to accommodate their goods. Sufficient good understanding ought to exist among the respective Chambers

and Directors to induce the one to attend to the business of the other, as is customary with the East India Company. More precise recommendations on the point of Retrenchment in the several Chambers could be submitted, had they condescended to send us, pursuant to the order of the XIX. and to our letters, the ordinary and extraordinary expenses each has to bear in its own department but having never been able to prevail on the Chambers to furnish us with ;