Our associates, Jacob van Couwenhoven and Jan Everts Bout, who were delegated last year, 1649, to your High Mightinesses, by our Assembly, in consequence of the extremely urgent necessity of tiie poor distressed people of this country, returned here, through God's mercy, on the 28"" June, bringing with them an authentic copy of the Report, or Provisional Order, drawn up and submitted to your High Mightinesses, by your Committee deputed for the affairs of New Netherland in the matter of the Redress, Preservation and Population. That we have not, as yet, received your High Mightinesses' ratification thereof is, we owing solely to the tedious and dangerous voyage, for we have seen and confidently trust, found your High Mightinesses to be our beloved fathers, who have been pleased to take to

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HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: V. 421

heart the sorrowful condition and extreme necessity of tiiis poor, distressed people. We cannot express nor render sufficient thanks to our Gracious God and your High Mightinesses, which the love and affection exhibited towards us, can sufficiently do. And perceiving that the Redress has not yet arrived, and that your High Mightinesses' letters have been handed, on said 28"" June, by our aforesaid associates to Director General Stuyvesant and Council, who are pleased, as yet, not to obey your High Mightinesses' said order, except only in proclaiming Peace with the King of Spain, which iiath been done here at the Manhatans but nowhere else, to our knowledge; and as the distressed state of this country remains unchanged -- except by getting from bad to worse, as we have informed our associate, Adriaen van der -- Donck, we are, therefore, to our grief and sorrow, obliged to apply to your High Mightinesses in this wise, and to implore your favor. We pray you. High and Mighty, to be graciously pleased to remove our suffering, for so long as we are here without the Redress, we cannot be relieved.