486 NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. that the aforesaid petition shall be placed in the hands of Mess" van der Capelie tho Ryssel, and the other their High Migiitinesses' Deputies for the affairs of the West India Company, to investigate, examine and report thereon.

Ansioer of England to the Proposal of the Dutch for Free Trade and Stttlement of the Kew Netherland Boundary. [ From Iho Original Vtrhad van cU Ambamade naar Engdandt, 1652, Id the Eoyal Archives at tlie Ilagne. ]

Extract from the XXXV^I articles, submitted to the Council of State of the Republic of England. 21 February, 1652.

The inhabitants and subjects of the aforesaid Republic of England, and of the States General of the United Netherlands, shall sail and trade to the Caribbee Islands and to Virginia, free and unmolested, in the same manner as they have hitherto resorted to and traded with these places, without any distinction as to whether those islands and places were first or last occupied or possessed by the inhabitants and subjects of the aforesaid Republic, or of the United Netherlands, any prohibition published or promulgated to the contrary notwithstanding.

12.

And with a view, in manner, to maintain friendship, peace and good neighborhood like

between both the Nations aforesaid on the continent of North America, a just, certain and immovable Boundary line there shall be settled and determined as soon as possible.'

Extract. The Councell hath considered the Thirty six Articles exhibited by your Lordships to their Commission" the i-y February, and have returned answer thereunto in the following particulars -- 11. For answere to the Eleventh wee say. That the people of the Commonwealth of England having beene alwayes strictly forbidden Trade in all Plantations & places belonging to the people of the United Provinces that are not within the Netherlands; Wee shall acquiesce therein and shall therefore forbeare to sayle or trade with any of their plantations abroad ; and shall not interrupt or disturbe them in their saylingto them. -- And as for their tradeing to any of the English plantations it is forbidden by the late Act for Encrease of the Navigation of this Nation, from which wee thinke not fit to recede.