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Noble, Honorable, Esteemed, Wise and very Prudent Lord:

Upon the return home of the commissary^[1] and the minister^[2], I was pleased to hear of your good journey from here; but I have also learned from them that you had been called away from home and had left for the Esopus on account of the murder of a Christian by the Indians there. I hope that matters have been managed there in such a way, through your direction and presence, that their evil designs may be stopped and that no further acts of sedition or rebellion may be committed by their Indians. May the good Lord please grant this.

Furthermore, I heard from the commissary that he and you have purchased on the City's account twelve head of oxen at the great flats before Heemstede, with an option on two other head amounting altogether to 1500 guilders; and from Michiel Jansz two draught oxen, six cows with seven calves, three three-year old oxen, one three-year old bull, three two-year old heifers, one two-year old ox and four yearlings: two bulls and two heifers, altogether nineteen head of cattle and seven calves amounting to 1330 guilders; and that you would pay for them on the City's account, provided that it be paid back in goods at suitable prices from the first ship to arrive, which shall be done promptly.

In order to fetch the cattle and drive them here overland, I am sending Jean [      ]holten^[3] and P. Eenloos who [      ] and engage a guide there who knows the way overland to [      ] either an Indian or a [      ] is able and then another one or two [      ] and no more than is necessary to [      ] the aforesaid cattle to this place [  1 calves could not be [ 4  ] along the way, then they can be sent over in Skipper Jacob's^[4] galliot which you may be pleased to order, if it is thought fit.

Furthermore, we are in need here of 100 skipples of wheat or rye-flour; if it were 150 it would not be too much. Since there is mostly wheat there and the difference in price is minimal, I expect wheat flour, at least as much as can be conveniently ground. If the galliot should have to wait long or a few days for the grinding, then a portion may be sent unground, since we shall soon have a horse mill in operation. I recently sent some letters overland with an Indian (about three weeks ago) which were to be forwarded to the mayors in the fatherland. I hope that they arrive safely and have been given to one of the departing skippers for delivery; likewise, that the letters to the honorable Bec[      ] ^[5] have also been forwarded to Curacao. I would be most pleased to hear that such is the case. The ship, de Vergulde 'Sanne, is ready to sail and shall depart tomorrow.

In closing I pray that God may keep the Noble, Honorable, Esteemed, Wise and very Prudent Lord together with your wife and children in His Almighty protection and in continuous health.

[ P.S.1 ] Please inform me by letter how matters stand with the ship, de Wassbleek, and whether [      ] arrived safely...

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[ P.S.2 ] My Lord, through haste and much business [      ] I have omitted in the enclosed letter to you [      ] to say anything [      ] concerning the laying out of lots or [      ]; likewise farms and cattle; as well as concerning the high prices paid on goods here.

Concerning the laying out of lots: when I first arrived here, eight days or more passed before I could [      ] since there was hardly one lot which could [      ] because one or another has a claim on them, which is still the case. For more detailed reasons and circumstances I refer to the report on the petition of Jacob Elders which accompanies this. Moreover, they were given out by drawing lots; upon the arrival of the ship, de Waegh, I also had Fabryk Spelt (now deceased) and Hudde give everything out by drawing lots. At the first opportunity after my arrival. Lieutenant Iniosa supervised the disposition and drawing of lots. Now, with the arrival of the ship de Sonne, he has again been entrusted with the distribution and disposition of lots together with the secretary or Schopen Rademan, and he has accepted. Last June, Hudde, together with a freeman named Briant, surveyed for each and everyone, colonists, soldiers and officers as much as they desired and signed for (as appears by each signature in my custody); and now they have requested those hundred morgens approved without the least...

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...and there were still few here; hardly any housing had been built for their dwelling places, and there are still many busy with it because there were only four or barely five carpenters here whom I, for the most past, had to engage for work; and it is usually the case that pitiful workmen and people of little skill have to do double the work for their construction, and then it is nothing special. They who have no means must work alone and live poorly; then it takes all the longer. The general sickness and burning fever has set us back considerably and many are languishing. There was neither a stable ready nor hay in storage, nevertheless, some English cattle were brought up from Virginia which were bought against my better judgment. Whenever I sought advice from the captain he would say nothing; neither would he explain himself nor come; if I sent the lieutenant or commissary there, he would listen to nothing, and would give no reply. Likewise in many other things, such as not posting guards or securing the fort, which I had to endure in order to keep the peace; it is not, however, excusable and I have to bear it, that is to say, let it pass. Disrespectful talk about me and my [      ] I had to bear. Concerning the overcharging for goods from the magazine: they are established and charged to the soldiers against their monthly pay at prices set by the lords-mayors; likewise [      ] and other free men; not one stiver...

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[ Addressed: ]

Notes

References

Translation: Gehring, C. trans./ed., New York Historical Manuscripts: Dutch, Vols. 18-19, Delaware Papers: Dutch Period, 1648-1664 (Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc.: 1981).A complete copy of this publication is available on the New Netherland Institute website.