History of the State of New York, Vol. I (1609-1691)
Whereas it is found that greater pains have generally been taken to promote the fur trade than the agriculture and population of the country, the Supreme Council there, shall, in consequence, above all things, provide that cattle be not exported, but be as much as possible retained and reared there; also that a good quantity of grain be kept in store, to be furnished and sold at a reasonable price to newly arriving immigrants, who are to be assisted and favored in every manner, and be located on good lands, suitable for cultivation, taking care therein that they shall dwell as close and as compact together as possible on such lands and places as shall be considered best and most suitable for homestead, bouwerie, plantation and security; the Patroons of colonies remaining at liberty to improve their own lands as they think proper, they being likewise obliged to settle their colonists in the form of villages.
8.
The Council shall also provide for the establishment and continuance of a good trade and commerce in provisions and other commodities between New Netherland and the national forts in Brazil, permitting the merchants to take in all sorts of wares there, and to bring back whatever they shall deem proper.
390 NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 9.
The propositions as they are drawn shall be amplified for the relief of the Directors of the Amsterdam Chamber and the increase of the public revenue, without embarrassing the Slate or West India Company, in such wise that instead of 20,000 guilders or thereabouts, which the Amsterdam Chamber now draws annually, it shall be able to derive fifty thousand guilders and by degrees increase further to the essential advantage of the worthy stockholders, and to that end, the Supreme Council shall be written to and instructed to have the Colonists or their Patroons, and the people of New Netherland convoked, and to endeavor to induce them to consent to, assume and bear the aforesaid charges, causing them to collect and manage the funds and to pay the taxes in such proportion as they shall themselves enact.