This statement is untrue, as appears by the propositions submitted to them. 'Tis worthy of remark here, however, that the English residing under the protection of the Dutch, have taken an oath of fidelity, and are domiciliated and settled in New Netherland ; they are therefore to be accounted fellow citizens of the country, which these persons have always opposed, because the English would, as well as they, have had some voice in the delegation, and would not subscribe to all the calumnies and slanders, but aimed solely at thegood of the country and of its inhabitants. No postil was ever affixed to the petition, authorizingthem to go and speak privately to the Commonalty. The intention of the Director was, to have the people convoked at his own time and when the proper season

430 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

arrived, when they might be addressed publicly on the subject of the delegation. The Director was not obliged, as alleged, to have the people called together immediately he must;

be the judge of the time, and when every one could leave home conveniently, and without serious loss, especially as some lived far in the interior, etc. The unwillingness of the Remonstrants to communicate, arose from the circumstance, that all whom they now paint in such ugly colors, could have provided themselves with means of defence, and have the contrary proved, and in that case would be able to produce something even from some of those very persons. And as the Director and those belonging to the government in New Netherland are sorely wronged and defamed, I request time, in order to await, if necessary, documents to the contrary from New Netherland. Verdonck and his colleagues say, that the Director had instituted personal actions against some. The Director arriving at the house of one Michiel Jansen, a co-signer of the Remonstrance, was notified by said Michiel and by Thomas Hall, saying: -- " A scandalous Journal of Adriaen van der Donck is within there." The Director took this Journal away with him, and on account of the calumnies and aspersions it contained, as well against their High Mightinesses as against individuals.