At these Courts appear four Governors and the Deputy of the place, besides the entire Council, if they be not a party in any case ; together with as many Delegates from the towns throughout each Province as they deem necessary ; and no business is transacted except what exclusively interests the country at large. Here is commissioned an Agent for New England to the Parliament ; and this is what we have learned from divers of the English respecting New England. In Military affairs they have also some Generalia which we shall pass over with a word or two. All their inhabitants, burghers, farmers, planters and servants bear arms, and thereto each particular place hath its arrangement. They are divided into separate companies, and are commanded by their Majors and Colonels, who are the Governors. In case of invasion or other necessity each town knows, according to its strength, the quota either in men or money which it must contribute to the member or members in danger, according to the federation and order agreed upon in the case, among themselves from this league is excepted only the :

difference which the Southern English have with the Dutch, in regard to occupation and settlement of boundaries and time may determine that one way or other. ' It is to be remarked, that our neighbors pay no duties nor any other charges; not even on the wares they purchase from us, which amount to considerable ; so that a great deal of fraud is committed in this way, because several ships go first to New England, and then skulk under our neighbors wings; this they justify, and say they must do, because they are too much harassed, tyrannized and imposed upon among us. This not only brings depopulation and loss of character on New Netherland and this State, but also greatly damages and injures the country.