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

Concerning the resolution and agreement made between the directors and the City of Amsterdam to add the lands at the Hoere Kill to this colony, about which our superiors have reciprocally notified you there as well as me here; consequently, you have issued orders to accomplish this and also have appointed a commissioner, the honorable Mr. Beekman, to purchase the aforesaid land together with another person who is to be appointed from here (being the honorable Hinojossa). I have met with the two respective commissioners about undertaking the journey there and estimated what was required for the purchase of the same. It was proposed that it would require a parcel of duffels, also coats for the Indians, kettles, mirrors, knives, beads, jews' harps, etc., of which the majority of these items are unavailable here, either for money or goods; since presently not a single ell of wide duffels was sent over on the City's account with the ship de Meulen, nor have any of the other items ever been sent. There fore, it has been argued that it would be fruitless to undertake the journey empty-handed; moreso since it is winter and the transaction now assumes some importance, especially with that nation, and cannot be undertaken or accomplished without having some items...

[  Remaining seven lines of page torn away.  ]

...that the most necessary things needed for it may be sent. It is the opinion of both aforesaid commissioners that these things are extremely necessary and shall be of service so that negotiations may be started as soon as possible. They thus consider it necessary to request this of you, whereupon we shall await a reply by the galliot and the result of such as you deem to be most useful.

[ P.S.: ] It is said here that the sailors on the galliot are so bold as to accept goods such as casks and packs from private parties to take to Manhattan in their own name whereby the City is deprived of the freight charges. What else they plan to smuggle is unknown to me. The truth can be ascertained more exactly by the inspectors during the unloading.

[ Addressed: ]

Noble, Honorable, Esteemed, Wise and very Prudent Lord. Petrus Stuyvesant, General over New Netherland, Curacao, Bonaire, Aruba, etc. Residing in Amsterdam in New Netherland.

By an Indian.

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.