least account the copy of the report and Provisional Order. '". the matter of the Redress, preservation and peopling of New Netherland, &c., with great labor and pains drawn up, proposed and submitted by you. High and Mighty, for the advantage of this country and its inhabitants, and which we were under the necessity of communicating to the Commonalty, in order to animate and encourage them, notwithstanding his Honor never deigned to look at it. The Commonalty live in fear and anguish, not knowing with whom to associate. They dare not now, as we fully know, make any declaration of what they are cognizant of. Terror But we hope that their High Mightinesses and possesses them, thinking he can still injure us. you, Noble Mighty, will give full credit to all that we have represented and written, all which (God help us) is too true -- We gladly saw, and it was fortunate that the drainage of the people had ceased, and that they could earn an honorable livelihood. God grant that the country may this year be redressed it would cheer and console the people and set them on ;

their legs, otherwise we and the entire country are in danger of going to ruin, and of falling into foreign hands. But we shall wait patiently, and cannot but hope that a matter in which their High Mightinesses have taken so much trouble and interest, hath already, or will soon, come to perfection. We cannot conceive, let alone express, words sufficient to convey our gratitude to you, Noble Mighty. We have written to our delegate and agent, Adriaen van der Donck, all the particulars; we request and pray you. Noble Mighty, to be pleased to attach credit to it all, which is the strict truth, and to continue to support and uphold the cause, and to look with indulgence on, and to excuse our plain and humble style.