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[several lines lost] [      ] councilors [      ] to have the commissary of [      ] by various [      ] called to his duty and devotion to duty to clear the account books of mistakes, errors, and miscalculations, and to organize them as they should be organized. To their regret, however, the director general and councilors experience daily that their orders in this regard are not being complied with, but that the aforesaid books still are and remain disorganized; many accounts of people who are indebted and who indicate that the Company was paid a long time ago, remain unsettled; on the other hand, that others, who acknowledge to have been paid by the Company, are written down as creditors. Also that some merchants for several years have not been able to get a receipt, which causes various people who are indebted to the Company to refuse to pay, rightfully demanding an accurate receipt beforehand. In order to be exonerated of that blame for once, this needs to be seen to. Therefore, the aforesaid director general and councilors order and direct commissary van Brugge that he and his deputy-commies, with all possible vigilance and diligence will do their best to clear the aforesaid account books of errors and mistakes in the following way.

[several lines lost] in the evening at 6 [ o’clock  ] who within the aforesaid time will be [      ] shall forfeit for [      ] he is absent one guilder for the poor, unless he had left [ the place ] with the lord general’s knowledge, or if he had to do some necessary things outside of the fort, for which he shall have to ask and get permission from the said lord general beforehand, which shall continue until the books are cleared up properly.

2nd: During this time, they shall with all possible industry and diligence first and beforehand enter and transfer all items, both of receipts and disbursements, without exception, of whatever nature these may be. When they are done, and nothing needs to be entered or transferred anymore, they shall notify the lord general thereof.

3rd: Having notified the lord general that all items are transferred and entered, the commissary shall order one of his clerks to send for the merchants and other persons who [ have collectable accounts ] [several lines lost] [ whether he has ] any objections [ against it ], and whether by mistake there was put [ too ] much or too little on his account. If someone points out any mistakes, he shall, after prior examination and sufficient evidence, correct and adjust these, and in a separate register keep accurate note of all changes that will be made in the account. In order that this will be carried out and realized with more discretion, regard, and, respect, it is resolved that either the lord general himself in person, or one of the lords councilors will occupy himself with this for a few hours per day, and that they then can be found at the commissary’s office.

4th: Per saldo, or balance of the accounts, which shall be settled and squared in ways as before; he shall transport [ the entries ] into the new book of finances created by the receiver, Van Ruijven, with proper indication of the numbers and folios. When this is done an order shall be prepared to make an inventory of each of the honorable Company’s effects here.

References

Translation: Gehring, C., & Venema, J. (Ed.). New York Historical Manuscripts: Dutch, Vol. 8, Council Minutes, 1656-1658 Syracuse, N.Y.: Syracuse University Press: 2018.A complete copy of this publication is available on the New Netherland Institute website.