By this means not only would Brazil be supplied with provisions at a cheaper rate, but New Netherland would by slave labor, be more extensively cultivated than it has hitherto been, because the agricultural laborers, who are conveyed thither at great expense to the Colonists, sooner or later apply themselves to trade, and neglect agriculture altogether. Slaves, on the other hand, being brought and maintained there at a cheap rate, various other descriptions of produce would be raised, and by their abundance be reduced in price, so as to allow, when occasion would offer, of their advantageous exportation hither and to other parts of Europe. Thus having now treated of the three points of reform in the Company, referred to us by your High Mightinesses, to wit. Superintendence, Retrenchment and Trade, we shall add a few words on the subject of the Company's finances, or means of support; as without amendment herein, the preceding points can never be thoroughly introduced, nor put into practice by the respective Chambers; it being notorious, that a great portion of the abuses or •disorders in the Company, principally In the department of trade, proceeds from the want of means and scarcity of cash because each Chamber is under greater necessity to extricate itself ;

from embarrassment than to pay attention to the general interest. By this means the conquests of Guinea, St. Thomas and Angola, were not, sometimes since, properly supplied; yea more, they have been rather a burthen than a profit to the Company. The decline in the Company's finances is caused, among other things, by the heavy military force in Brazil ; especially during the war with the Portuguese. For this reason, the government of this country promised the Company, at the last augmentation of its capital, and on the issue of the Charter, to pay a yearly subsidy of seven tons of gold.