As we declare that it has no other design than the good of the country and defense and preservation of the property and Freedoms of its inhabitants ; not to commit any unlawful usurpation on any person's power and authority, to whatsoever office or service he may be lawfully appointed, but to prevent illegality and to remove and to anticipate troubles and mischiefs which have already overrun the country, or are yet to be apprehended ; therefore, though some obscurity may be apparent in this petition, it might be favorably interpreted, and should anything be found wanting, it may be graciously supplied. Vol. I, 70

554 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS 4.

First.Our apprehension of the establishment of an arbitrary government among us. Whetlier this apprehension be founded can appear from tiiis : -- The entire government of this Country is directed and controlled exclusively according to the pleasure and caprice of Dr. Stuyvesant or one or two of his favorite Sycophants; in divers cases decisions were given without the knowledge, yea, frequently without summoning his adjoined Councillors, who have no further power to decide except as the Director permits them, his will being a Law absolute,whereby everything is controlled even if the Burgomasters and Schepens were ;

sometimes summoned to the Council when occasions presented, to dispatch business with the Director General and Council, it is, in fact, rather to approve of his plans than to assist in consultation upon them ; for notwithstanding the Burgomasters and Schepens may dissent and differ from his opinion, the Director decides without them, declaring it must be so ; moreover, if any resolution be adopted with the consent of the Burgomasters and Schepens, 'tis changed and altered, without their knowledge, at the pleasure of the Director; and lastly, to show how great an appearance there Is of the establishment of an arbitrary government among us, 'tis considered sufficient that a Director, a fellow-subject of a Free State, though filling a high and honorable office, with arrogant words disclaims his fellow subjects who are assembled with his previous knowledge for the good of the country, and are thereunto convoked beforehand by the lawful Rulers of the first and most important City in this country, and present an humble Remonstrance, declares their Assembly illegal, protests against it, forbids the Members and Deputies thereof to meet again, orders and commands them to disperse forthwith on pain of his highest displeasure and arbitrary punishment, as if they were, by their acts, guilty of resisting authority and had conspired to revolutionize the State and reduce it under another Ruler and government. 5.