As the ships lie ready to sail in Texel and the Petitioner hath embarked all his goods and also divers people therein, he most humbly requests an open dismissal with the clause de non offendendo, and that the Director and whosoever it might further concern, may allow the Petitioner again to hold peaceably the office of President of the Commonalty in New Amsterdam, which the Petitioner was filling at the date of his departure, as he is not able, otherwise, to leave without direct contravention of your High Mightinesses' resolution of the 14"' of March of this year, and he offers, should your High Mightinesses think proper, to appear again in person at the Hague next winter. Vol. I. 60

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474 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

The Petitioner to this end, also, most humbly prays your High Miglitinesses to write to the Commonalty of New Netherland, that the settlement of the boundary, population and reduction of duties shall be taken into early consideration by your High Mightinesses, wherefore they have resolved to recommend my return hither also that the Director, Council ;

and Select men shall not practice evasion or delay respecting the incurred expenses and vacation during this delegation, which the Petitioner is obliged to demand as he has certain information that the Director intends anew, through him, by lack of pecuniary support, to crush the good and needful work for the Commonalty in New Netherland. Which doing. ( Endorsed Memorial of Adriaen van der Donck, delegate from the Commonalty in New Netherland 13 May, 1652.