You will be able to see from mine and other persons' letters, how we are lorded, and how, with his illegally appointed Select men, we live like sheep among wolves, one friend not being able to speak to another without suspicion. 1 greatly desire to communicate verbally with

you and others. had willingly assisted Melyn in sending over his documents, but with my

inhibition it could not be; however, the most important are forwarded. In my opinion, 'twill be decided that very spoil has been made of another man's property. Whilst almost every one is harassed by all sorts of practices, power, force and undue means, as Melyn, myself, Dyckman, the bookkeeper, and others, have just reason to complain, I hope, and

HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: VI. 453 justice demands, that when requisite, such be talien into consideration, and no person be condemned unheard. It grieves me that the representative sovereignty of their High Mightinesses should be abused here, as appears by the annexed furnished to me; otherwise, people would be ashamed to obstruct everybody's complaints before their High Mightinesses and the Hon''"' Company, &c. Sic passim.

Extract from a Latin letter, addressed by Van Dincklage to Van der Donck, 19"" September, J651.

To describe the state of this government to one well acquainted and conversant with it, is a work of supererogation 'tis to wash a blackamoor. ; Our great Muscovy Duke goes on as usual, with something of the wolf; the older he gets the more inclined is he to bite. He proceeds no longer by words or writings, but by arrests and stripes. We daily expect Redress and a remedy.