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Order respecting the Swedish ship Shark and her cargo

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Whereas Mr. Hendrick van Elswyck, factor, on behalf of the Crown of Sweden and the South Company in the aforesaid kingdom, verbally requests permission to sell some hides (seized and detained in and with the ship, de Hay),[158] for which a good opportunity now presents itself; after deliberation, the director-general and council respond that they never intended nor designed, and do not now intend nor design, anything else with their neighbors than fraternal harmony, friendly communication and commerce; therefore, they can easily agree that the aforesaid Mr. Factor sell not only the aforesaid hides, but also all other merchandise to his and his honorable master's profit, provided that the equitable proceeds be paid into the hands of the honorable attorney and counsel of the Chartered West India Company. The honorable Fiscal Thienhooven, until such time that we as representatives of the aforesaid Company are given proper restitution and legal satisfaction for the surprise and capture of our Fort Casumier with all its munitions of war, buildings and effects pertaining thereto, by Mr. Johan Rysingh, the aforesaid Crown's present commander on the South River; without any previous declaration of war or differences, it was surprised and attacked on the 30th of May, last past, and continues to be kept as of today, with all the private property and effects of our officers and private subjects, from the honorable Company and us, for which, in return, the director-general and council could do no less than seize and detain, without damage, the aforesaid ship and its cargo until, as stated above, restitution and satisfaction

Notes

This is the Swedish ship Gyllene Haj which was seized by the Dutch at New Amsterdam. It was eventually put into the West India trade by Stuyvesant under the name Diemen.

References

Translation: Gehring, C., trans./ed., New York Historical Manuscripts: Dutch, Vol. 5, Council Minutes, 1652-1654 (Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc.: 1983).A complete copy of this publication is available on theĀ New Netherland Institute website.