Those who were officially obliged to take a part in public affairs and did so, were fortunate if they acted in accordance with the General's will and pleasure; if they did not, they were Those who speak prosecuted and sued, incarcerated, guarded by soldiers, so that no person might treated very badly, gpeak to them, angrily abused as all sorts of dangerous monsters, threatened to be taught this and that and everything was done, and recourse had to every expedient that could be invented or ripped up against them. We cannot dwell ' Some legal proceediDgs were instituted against Van der Donck. Ed.

HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: IV. 317 long on this, but refer to the Journal kept of it, and to the writing which the Director himself will furnish. Your High Mightinesses, and such other friends as happen to see it, can easily infer, from the preceding Relation, what trouble and labor we have had on our shoulders, with which we would have most willingly dispensed, had it not been for the love of the country and of the truth, which, as far as we know, hath long lain in the grave. The trouble and difficulty, Thetmihreearding though wanting no addition, have not wearied us, or rather, will not be to us '""S' so great a source of grief as is the sorrowful condition of New Netherland, now lying at its last gasp. But we hope and trust that our affliction and the sufferings of the inhabitants and people of the country, will excite commisseration in your High Mightinesses, in order that New Netherland may rejoice.