260 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. proper and necessary, respectfully to petition your High Mightinesses for these following points as advantageous for this Province: First. We supplicate and beseech your High Mightinesses to supply New Netherland with sufficient population to enable it to support, sustain and defend itself against Indians and others who may disturb and invade it; for if this should fail, not only will the direst ruin follow, but it will easily become a prey to our Neighbors and those who already dwell in it will be ;
forced to use all possible means to return and save themselves from misery, or to submit to foreign Nations. All which will be remedied, in our humble opinion: I. Whenever your High Mightinesses will be pleased to take this Province under your gracious safeguard, and allow your Fatherly protection for this Country and granted privileges to be made public and its
manifest throughout the United Netherlands. Then would many be attracted towards this country, from which, on the contrary, every one is discouraged by the Company's harsh proceedings and want of means. II. Consequently were your High Mightinesses pleased for
a few years to send some vessels hither in order that people, principally Farmers and Farm Servants, may with their poverty be removed and conveyed gratuitously hither, together with some necessary support until the poor people have something in esse, your High Mightinesses would not only relieve many embarrassed persons, but also may expect, through their intercession with God, success, a blessing and prosperity. III. Also were your High Mightinesses to please order that all vessels proceeding and trading to those Northern parts of America, should touch first at the Manhattans in New Netherland, and bring with them as many persons as seasonably present themselves, and they can conveniently carry at suitable fixed rates, many friends (liefhebbers) would, no doubt, emigrate within a short time to New Netherland.