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[several lines lost] honorable esteemed lords [      ] budding province in general, but this city of New Amsterdam [ in particular ] under your honors’ wise and [      ] laudable direction from 8 or 9 years ago until now [      ] trade, inhabitants, and prestigious buildings grew so much, is admired by anyone who frequented this place during that short time, and who still frequents it. We gratefully recognize that, along with God’s blessing, your honors’ mild mannerness in encouraging and allowing the English tobacco trade by the English in the middle of their preparations for war and threats against this place was a great means to [ accomplish ] this; ever since, this trade has stimulated and still encourages many to decorate this city with lofty and elegant buildings, even such that surpass the neighboring place. This makes us, your honors’ obedient subjects, wish and pray for your honors’ continuation thereof, and on the other hand, makes us firmly hope that your honors unremittingly speculate on means through which this place and inhabitants not only may continue in trade and prosperity, but grow as well; and that therefore, it will not displease or trouble your honors’ usual discretion to consider, along with other more important matters, this humble plea from your honors’ faithful subjects, which concerns the same goal and objective. It is such that your honors [several lines lost] peltry trade, but also [      ] Virginia tobacco trade dangerous [      ] English, and also is brought [ here ] and maintained only by the English, is very much divided in small parts and the majority of the inhabitants complain that many, yes, most people who previously were able to make a good living by that trade, by the lack of other trade are sitting around doing nothing, and as a result have to be reduced to decline and poverty. Except that that trade, being very unstable and uncertain in itself, is beginning to falter and weaken, both with regard to the English, who in previous years imported this merchandise in greater quantity, as well as with regard to the New Netherland tobacco, of which the cultivation and planting is abandoned^[i] almost completely. The principal cause of this is either attributed to the traders—it being said that because they are [ so ] particular regarding the tobacco that they sell their wares at such an excessively high price, both to strangers and inhabitants, that the planter and the importer of this commodity are unable to carry on, which provides a feign reason to the ignorant— or, however, under correction of your honors’ wiser judgment, this is not the true cause, but more likely the bad quality of the tobacco and its high price are. As it is, it is exchanged here at one schellinck per pound, which is one third more expensive as for what it can be sold in the fatherland, to which then is added the great expense of recognition fee, freight, lease, and other expenses, as well as the loss of weight and stems, adding up to two and a half stivers for every pound before it reaches the market at Amsterdam, which then is being sold at three, four, and five stivers a pound at most is [several lines lost] and there [      ] they are constrained [      ] whereas otherwise they

vrij civiel [      ], from which it is then to be feared that

[      ] inhabitants of this province having [ no  ] of trade, neither in Europe nor in America [ if ] New England, Virginia, and the Caribbean islands remain closed for them they will have to perish as it is or depart to such places where they enjoy lesser burdens and more freedom in the trade, which would bring more loss to the Company and a complete ruin to this place. Your honors’ petitioners and faithful subjects wish and pray that in this regard they will be found to be bread-eating prophets and ill predictors. What your honors’ petitioners with all humble obedience show regarding the tobacco trade, can also be said of the beaver and the peltry trade, which in everyone’s experience is so corrupt and spoiled that hardly anybody can make any profit therein, and that the majority of the traders shall not trade money for money. Being created every year it will diminish and spoil more and more, as this year’s experience already showed the hard way, the bad and expensive barter of the beavers to three ells of duffel, and 15 or 16 guilders sewant for a beaver. And still being unable to get them, it brought the inhabitants of the village of Beverwijck great depreciation of their houses, that many that were sold, [      ] not [several lines lost] [      ] precaution usual wisdom [      ] to the flourishing and well-being of this [      ] place for us, its inhabitants, or granted [ by ] your honors’ authority, or by your honors’ recommendation, which many may obtain from the lords directors under the bearable burdens of somewhat more liberty and freedom of the domestic, but especially foreign trade, such as the preparing of clapboard, pipes, wooden staves, boards, planks, grains and other wares from here, from our province, for such foreign countries, cities, and places as are in alliance with the high and mighty lords States General and the United Netherlands, and by virtue of their charter with the lords directors of the Chartered West India Company. How, and in what manner we would not dare to propose without making ourselves suspect of too great a delusion of arrogance. This is our simple plea, which under your honors’ wise and prudent consideration, only intends the well-being and flourishing of this province and the just-now-budding place in which we, together with others are engaged with family and honorable dwelling, each according to his situation, and therefore, we would like to see its best and its continuation. Hopefully the domestic and foreign trade, the soul and life of all states and the republic, under your honors’ wise direction and authority or recommendation can be regulated, directed, and brought to such a stage that your honors’ subjects [several lines lost] more [      ] hope our [      ] not only your honors

[      ] other amateurs from the [      ] to equip

and employ [      ] and laborers in agriculture and [ the preparation of the ] material demanded for such foreign trade; consequently, also to order and send more merchandise from the fatherland for the benefit of the Company’s and your honors’ revenue, whereas on the contrary, by decline and lack of trade these and all goods will disappear and deteriorate. Expecting hereon your honors’ favorable resolution, we are and remain your honors’ humble and faithful subjects (was signed),

Allard Anthonij, Hendrick Huijgen, Isaacq de Foreest, Daniel van Donck, Paulus Schreck, Johannes de Peijster, Cornelis Steenwijck, Govart Loocquermans, Johannes van Bruegh,

P: Cornelisse vander Veen, Johannes vander Meulen, Timotheus Gabrij, Isaacq Grevenraet, Pieter Rudolphus, Pieter Jacobsen Marius, Cousseau, Anthonij Moore, Warnar Wessels,

Pieter Couwenhooven, Harmen Douwerse, H: Hendericksen Obe, Jacob Backer, Jacob Haaij, J. la Montangne Junior,

Tillman van Vleck, Hendrick Jansen vander Vin, Mattheus de Vos, Pieter Jacobsen Buijs, Jacob Kip, N: Verleth.

Notes

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.