Were the noise thereof confined exclusively to the country, it were well; but he has spread it himself, throughout the neighboring English, both north and south, even to the West Indies and Caribbee Islands; everywhere there is such evil report, that not a ship dare venture here from those parts. Worthy and reliable people who come thence here by way of Boston, and others trading hence to Boston, assure us that more than 25 ships would come annually here from the Islands, were they not afraid of confiscation. This refers only to these places ; the same report flies all over, and carries similar terror, so that this Vulture is sorely destructive of the rprosperity Kumnr of conflsca- •' r J tion causes much inof New Netherland ; it diverts trade and renders the people discontented ; for {"H^ """^ "*'"*'''

other places, not so convenient as this, have more shipping. All permanent inhabitants, whether merchant, burgher, farmer, planter, working man or servant, sufTer great damage in consequence; for were there plenty of shipping here, piemj- of shipping °"' "^"" everything would be cheaper, and necessaries more easily obtained than now; whether goods or articles which the people themselves get through God's blessing, out of the earth, or otherwise raise, they would meet a more ready and a more profitable demand. People and privileges create trade. New England and Virginia especially, afford a clear example that this policy causes prosperity. Now all the debts and claims are called in which Director Kieft left uncollected, and which were due for the most part by poor and impoverished people, who