816 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. were discovered, and when it was perceived that this labor would be vain, an attempt was made to create a diversion by instituting personal actions against some who were considered the bell-wethers. ^ Accusations were made against them and they were prosecuted by the Fiscal and the other subordinate officers, who made them out to be about the biggest villains in the country, where they had shortly before been recognized as the best of persons and most deserving children. To accomplish that, an opportunity now offered which (to use the

Director's own words) was as precious to him as his own life. In the beginning of the year 1649, we clearly saw and perceived that not only should we have considerable to do as regarded the delegation, but that we should with difficulty accomplish it; we therefore considered it necessary to make out a series of

ofthe Rough notes, memoranda in order to draw up a proper Journal from them, when occasion allowed. This task devolved on one Adriaen Van der Donck who, according to a resolution which was adopted at the same time, was lodged in a room in one The notes seized Michiel Janss' house. One day when Van der Donck was abroad, the General arrested. seized this rough draft with his own hand, placed Van der Donck the day following under arrest, convened the Supreme Council, accused him of having committed Crimen lesae Majestatis, and took the matter so seriously that scarcely anything was to be done -- either the delegation must be a joint one, and then (17) it remained still to be arranged -- or sufficient cause of action was furnished by the Journal, as the gentleman designated the rough notes from which the journal was to be prepared "for," said he, "it contains gross slanders against their High ;