We suppose that the Directors will maintain that it will be best for the Company to continue the duties. We are, nevertheless of a contrary opinion and say, that it would be

HOLLAND DOCUMENTS : V. 375

It would be better would be best for the Company in general to remove at once the New Netherlands tbatiiK-re w.'.ui.rbu dutv."^ But US this simple i position may r ^ not, perhaps, r r be admitted bv tliem, we ' ' no duly, than the . '

contrary. shall submit further reasons in support of it, and show in what respect it is of advantage to the Company that the duty should not be collected any more. 2. There is not a man in New Netherland who does not believe, that the duly is tiie cause The duty preTents °^ ^^^ intolerable Scarcity, and of the disorder and want of population there, popuiatiun. Many reproaches and curses have been in consequence heaped upon it, which will not cease, but continue so long as the duty lasts.

The doty diverts the "^^ ''^''^ exacting of duties diverts trade from here, for were the imposts removed, "'*''°" a greater and a larger business would be transacted at New Netiierland ; and this renders the duty with good reason unsavory to, and hated by all maritime cities, adapted to commerce, such as principally Amsterdam and similar places, which in this conjuncture do not require them. 4. Where the curse of every man is now directed against the Company, numbers of people The Company drawa down everywould be bound to bless it were New Netherland peopled, * which cannot be so *