HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: V. 343 who had signed the declarations as deponents, when heard thereon, frequently asserting that the declarations were drawn up quite contrary to their meaning, it was ordered that no declarations should be of any force in that country unlessdrawn up by tlie Secretary or some other public persou qualified thereunto, but by no means with any such view as the petitioners represent.

43.

The Company's negroes, taken from the Spaniards, being all slaves, were, on account of their long services, manumitted on condition that tlieir children serve the Company whenever it pleased. Of all the children, no more than three are in service, viz., one, which Stuyvesant has with him on the Company's bouwerie one at the house, the Hope; one wench with ;

Marten Krigier, who hath reared her from a little child at his own expense.

44.

It is not true that the Company hath received five per cent, but in reality sixteen per cent, made with merchants in the premises they enjoy, in return, trade according to contracts ;

which the Company might otherwise retain to themselves agreeably to the charter and the ;

text -- five per cent -- is incorrectly applied, it having reference to freights and not to duties; according to Exemptions, article 10. 45.

The merchants are treated agreeably to the regulations made therein.

We know not what the petitioners mean by this article. 47.

We think the Company has done enough, to wit: in conveying over, at the Company's expense, numbers of people, among whom were Jacob Couwenhoven's father and brothers, together with cattle and other necessaries.