TJie Nine Men of New Netherland to the States General. [ From the Original In'lhe Eoyal Archives at the Hague; Zoi-rftaj of the States General; Kubric West Indisehe C<mpngnie,'So. 30. Divition y Great, Powerful, High and Mighty Sovereigns. After our distressed circumstances had forced and obliged us to represent the poor condition of this country and to pray for redress therein, we considered it proper to delegate also some persons whom we know and acknowledge to be honorable, honest and trustworthy ;

likewise well experienced in, and acquainted with, the circumstances of this country, in order that they may furnish your High Mightinesses, if such be your will and pleasure, with further information and explanation on every subject & circumstance, and also to importune your High Mightinesses to grant seasonable relief and aid. We, therefore, hereby humbly entreat and request your High Mightinesses to be pleased to give credence in all things that they may do or say in the premises, to these persons, to wit, Adriaen Van der Donck, Jacob van CouwENHOVEN, and Jan Evertse Bout, our Delegates and Agents inasmuch as we know ;

them for persons of honor and of good name and fame, also right well disposed towards the interest of this Country. With humble reverence we pray your High Mightinesses to be pleased to grant them a favorable audience, and we are and remain your High Mightinesses' faithful subjects. We have, in addition, presumed to send your High Mightinesses a specimen of this country's products, crops and forage most humbly praying that, according to our straitened circumstances, itmay be graciously accepted, which we pray God also to grant, to whose keeping we ever commend your High Mightinesses' persons, deliberations and undertakings. Amen.