If the petitioners know of any Directors here, who have preferred their own private interests to the general advantage of the Company, contrary to their oath and honor, they ought to state it, or be bound yet to do so. Failing therein it is answered, that the petitioners do in no wise refer to the Company's government, inasmuch as they speak of matters which transpired before the major part of them were in the country.

To the 2nd. The Directors ignore this ; saying, if lands have been refused for purposes of cultivation, the petitioners ought to indicate who those were that did so, if they know them.

3.

The Exemptions have never been altered without the knowledge of your High Mightinesses and that of the XIX., and let it be shown who aimed therein at their private advantage.

4.

The Directors are not aware that contributions have been levied off the Indians, much less that orders to that effect have been issued by them or any other person.

The letter was communicated to the Director with good intentions, in order that he might see, and purge himself of, the accusation ; without any orders to molest the signers of the letter for what they had done.

;

HOLLAND DOCUMENTS : V. 339 6.

The Directors do not select any agents but such as they consider qualified, and are approved by their High Mightinesses and by them provided with regular Commission and Instruction. And as regards the case of Jochim Pitersen and Cornelis Melyn, vfho have been punished for reasons more fully set forth in their sentence, the Board finds it particularly strange that these people dare complain that (to use their own language) evil doers and their gross misdeeds go unpunished, when on the other hand, 'tis notorious that up to the present time, no application has been made to the Directors.