We, therefore, unable to delay any longer, being reduced to the lowest ebb, have determined' to fly for refuge to your High Mightinesses, our gracious Sovereigns and the Fathers of this Province,^ most humbly craving and beseeching you to look with eyes of compassion on this your Province,^ and to be pleased so to order and redress matters that dangers may be removed, troubles put an end to"" and population and prosperity promoted," as your High Mightinesses in your illustrious wisdom shall consider best."^ Only we have, with humble reverence, deemed it proper and necessary respectfully to petition your High Mightinesses for these following points as of advantage to this Province.'^

' That is, petty traders, who swarm hither with great industry, reap immense profit and exhaust the country without adding anything to its population or security. But if they skim a llittle fat from the pot, they can take ^gain to their heels. 'Whereby agriculture and many necessary matters remain neglected, and this causes great scarcity and leaves many things undone. ° This was not the case previous to the war, but the loss of their fathers, mothers, wives, children and friends, has greatly troubled them. There cannot, therefore, be any permanent peace with thera, until an increase shall he remarked in the number of our Dutch people in New Netherland. It has been so long proclaimed, in New Netherland, that more people were coming, that the Indians laugh at it, and say The :

Dutch do nothing but lie. * Without, in any way, by words or deeds, if there be good order, directing any thing for the service of the country. ' When people were in the greatest danger from the war.