aforesaid Directors, that they would receive all deduction in presence of their High Mightijust and respectful representations. And to nesses' deputies.

this end, having inquired into the system of government hitherto maintained in New Netherland, the heavy burdens which the Company hath in consequence borne, and the small profit derived therefrom, the impeding The Directors request proof wherein or of the population, the neglect in applying whereby population has been impeded remedies to errors and excesses; and con- or hindered by them.

VoL. I. 50

394 NEW- YORK COLONIAL JLINUSCRIPTS. sidering that your High Mightinesses cannot, The Directors have never done anything in and ought not any longer look approvingly on administration and management except in the perverse administration of the privileges presence of their High Miglitinesses' deputies and benefits granted by charter to the to the Assembly of the XIX.

stockholders of the West India Company, and The Commissioners of New Netherland have that the good proposals and offers submitted no knowledge that such Boundary proposals for the security of the Boundaries and popu- have been made but it can be proved by all ;

lation of the country have been slighted or the letters written by this Chamber to Director opposed by the Commissioners of New Stuivesant that the boundary is therein Netherland under the authority of the Chamber particularlyrecommended provided ; it be at Amsterdam. approved by their High Mightinesses. And whereas your High Mightinesses, as Sovereigns over your subjects, are well qualified, nay bound, to see that the property of the latter, still in a condition to be saved and improved, if no time be lost and if good care be taken, shall not be allowed to go to ruin or fall into the hands of others; Therefore, they, your High Mightinesses' Committee, are of opinion that the preservation of those countries, and advantages granted originally by your High Mightinesses, not to the Direc- The Directors will not believe that their tors of the Chamber at Amsterdam, but to all High Mightinesses will repudiate the administhe Stockholders of the West India Company tration of thisChamber, as it was accorded scattered throughout the provinces, demand to them by the Assembly of the XIX. in the other orders than those issued heretofore for presence of their High Mightinesses' Deputies. the government of the country, the increase and establishment of the population, the raising and bearing of necessary taxes, the prevention of mischiefs and general ruin These mischiefs have occurred without our similar to what have been bitterly experienced knowledge and order; and when we had for a few years ; and further, for the effectual advices of them we called the late Director removal of all sorts of evils and troubles Kieft home to defend himself. which have been fully submitted to your High Mightinesses ; And in order, with that view, that the complaints of the Nation's subjects These people are themselves the cause of now heard and examined during the space of their delay, as they did not apply to the proper five months, may be deferred no longer by quarter nor deliver their credentials before, conferences and objections, but be remedied and until they had sojourned a long time at by good resolutions; It is, therefore, con- the Hague. cluded that your High Mightinesses do, with the advice and communication of the Directors now summoned from all the Chambers of the West India Company, the major part of whom are in attendance, permit the New