Afterwards, however, in October following, at the meeting of the XIX., in Zealand, it happened that some Chambers found it difficult to share the expense, and thus this superintendence has remained exclusively to this date with the Chamber at Amsterdam. Again, the Committee of the Amsterdam Chamber considered 'twould be better that those countries should remain bound to all the Chambers in common, but as trading to these places in rotation could not conveniently be carried into execution, the Commissioners, subject to a better decision, were of opinion, that^t would be best, that the outfitting should remain with the Amsterdam Chamber, and be done through its Commissioners, to be appointed for that

purpose, to whom likewise all returns must be consigned under bond that they be responsible to the respective Chambers, to appropriate to each its contingent proportion. Now, in order to be able properly to provide good order and necessaries for those coasts, and to supply them with troops for the defence of the four forts in New Netherland and one at Curasao, we consider that the garrisoning of the first four requires 100 men under the command of sub-officers, as the country is at peace ; 12 soldiers only need be sent to the last place under a commander at low wages. To carry out the above, we judge the sumoffl to be necessary. As the respective Chambers might consider this amount burdensome, it must be decided whether it shall be raised on interest at 4 per cent, pledging for both principal and interest all the effects and coming thence, together with the whole Territory still belonging to returns the Company, and not conveyed to Colonists; and especially the Island of Manhatans. As the islands of Curasao, Bonaire and Aruba have been found for many years to be only a burden to the Company, not producing any profit, we have, therefore, considered whether it would not be well to request permission of the Supreme government to give up said Islands: but if such were not feasible, 'twould, in our opinion, be best, to permit every one to establish Colonies on said Islands, to distribute and concede the land free of rent, and to allow all to