Myn Heer Stuyvesant had received several letters ; among others, from Mr. Pergens and other individual directors of the Hon''''' West India Company, and that M' Pergens had written, that the Committee had from their body stated to their High Mightinesses in the matter of New Netherland in their High Mightinesses' meeting, that New Netherland did not belong to their High Mightinesses that the Lords Majors had purchased the country that it was their property ; ;

exclusively, and also that such was true. He said further, that they will uphold the Director with all their might and means, even (they write) unto blood.

Extract from the letter of the Select men to Van der Donck, of 22""* December 1650.

At present we are nothing more than ciphers and esteemed as a scoff, and Stuyvesant moreover threatens us with utter ruin, for which purpose he applies every means, and we already behold with pain its approach from a distance. This, it appears, will be the end and reward of our honest labor for the public good, unless God and their High Mightinesses otherwise seasonably provide, as we, nevertheless, hope and trust they will. We have, among other things, submitted to the Director and Council on the 12"" of this month, pursuant to our Commission and instructions, the nomination of a double number in order to elect six other Select men in place of those retiring, but he himself reports, that he will not act on it ; he says, that we have exceeded our Commission and instruction, and ignores the amplification granted to us, which he, nevertheless, signed in his Register of resolutions in the presence of us all, and his Council afterwards approved and also signed. The Vice Director and Fiscal entered the annexed protest against the Director principally because his Honor hath without their knowledge negotiated with the English at the North, and in that transaction hath without doubt committed an error, for the version of the news from New England is for the most part true and moreover, because his Honor was not willing to ;