the population of this Country ought to be disregarded, and it ought to be borne eoLideredT™"" in mind that beginnings are difficult, and that sowing would be irksome were men not comforted by reaping. We trust and are confident that your High Mightinesses' very great experience will accomplish this better than we are able to suggest ; but it may probably appear strange to your High Mightinesses and some other friends before whom this may come, that we speak so highly as we

do, and as we know to be true, of this place, and yet complain of its indigence and poverty and beseech help, assistance, redress, diminution of burdens, population and other similar benefits for it, and show that it is in a poor and ruinous condition yea, so low, that unless it receive especial aid and assistance ;

it will utterly fall away and be ruled by foreigners. It becomes therefore

incumbent to point out the true reason and cause why New Netherland is in its present low condition, which we shall do as correctly, minutely and truthfully as will be in any wise possible, according to the facts as we have seen, found and heard them ; but as this relation not only will call forth and experience much The relation of the

reach, not to allow the truth to yield to falsehoods, previously trumped up and invented ; and not to admit any evidence against it, except of such impartial persons as have not either directly or indirectly been injuriously affected by, nor had a hand in, the ruin of New Netherland, nor are otherwise under obligation to it.And with this observation, we proceed to the reasons and sole cause of the evil, which we truly, though briefly and indistinctly set forth in the beginning of our petition to your High Mightinesses.