Extract of a joint letter of the Select men to Adriaen van der Donck, dated 26 November, 1650.

To be brief, you will be able to understand everything from the accompanying. It grieves us exceedingly that we, in the observance of our oaths and honor, are still daily subjected to gross scoffs, jeers and misrepresentations, to our serious private loss respectively, as has been stated to you in the extract from the Journal, &c. So far is it gone, that the Director, instead

HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: VI. 451 of obeying their High Mightinesses' order, acts directly contrary to it. His Honor has been with the Englisli at the North, and negotiated with them about the boundaries, &c., but i\eeps it all, as yet, a secret from his Coupcil. The annexed news from New England, wiiich has been brought here and thrown in to a certain English house, where the English themselves laugh at the Director, is, we fear, too true, as it is, also, confirmed by daily rumors. We hope and request that you, at least, will may attract the attention of our do your duty so that it

Sovereigns when the Treaty of the Director and the English may come up for ratification. We know not what the Director will effect by such a mode of proceeding, especially as it happens that the stamped guns, distributed among the people, are sold to the Indians with his consent, and those guilty of such acts are not sought for ; whereby, and as his Honor will not permit the inspection of the arms, still further opportunity is afforded. Those persons would be soon found out were the Director pleased to follow High Mightinesses' order; their certainly if he will permit those who have charge of the distribution, to obey it but that may ;