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[several lines lost] It is known and [ open  ] kingdoms and republics with [      ] decline in the trade, therefore being [      ] practiced that the rate thereof is being increased along with its [ value ] and worth, and no reduction is employed unless pressing distress and fear of the aforesaid evil demands it; because who does not see that otherwise one would fall from Schyllam to Charybdim?^[i]

Having determined and presupposed this, it needs to be considered why, and which reasons could move the director and councilors, and which would be required to introduce some alterations in the rate of sewant or to apply a reduction; the more so because by edict of 29 November 1657 sewant was declared an absolute commodity, this recognizing that it should not be taken for any kind of money, silver or gold. From this, then, some absurdity or contradiction results, namely that on the one hand sewant is declared a commodity, and on the other hand it is devalued as money.

On the other hand, it makes no difference that one would want to say that the aforesaid reduction and explanation respectively only takes place, is, and was done^[ii] as far as sewant serves as a distinction between man and man, because this does not prevent that it would not stay a commodity^[iii], only, in that case some degrees shall be considered therein, namely, less and more, smaller and larger commodity.

[several lines lost] [      ] of the number of sewant [ beads ] in a [ stiver ] [      ] is being [ continued ] [      ] without disadvantage to the general public; at least it is against the principle of trade to want to limit the commodities, with only the exception of bread, which for certain good reasons and political insights is taxed at a certain rate by the magistrates.

It is true that after some time the aforesaid sewant is found to be of lesser value than before, but the merchants know well how to sell their goods at a suitably higher price; they also know that nobody is forced to accept it as payment unless he wants to. Whether through a special stipulation one would want to say and imagine that—by the aforesaid reduction of the value and balance of the beavers [ regarding ] the proportion of guilder to guilder—one seemingly makes somewhat of a profit. It looks that way, but experience teaches and shows us at the same time that this is in vain and without effect, as no fewer guilders are being paid now than before by^[iv] those who are in need of them.

If on the other hand, sewant were taken for money or a similar [ kind ] thereof, it can happen, as far as it is available, that some trifles [ bring into being ] a distinction between man and man as before. Thus, in order to reduce it, the aforesaid reasons are required, namely, either pressing need or that it rises above its valid course; but [ it  ] will provide us with the standard to determine to what [ value ] one will reduce it in order to prevent all decline. Europe and [      ] will not deliver those to us unless one searched for the wilde in the sinl [      ] ^[v] [several lines lost] a kind of money or [      ] therefore unsuitable to send back.

From which, in turn, it should be feared that the wilde, from now on being able to get much sewant for [      ] beavers, could easily slow down their hunt and the catching of beavers, being assured and aware of the fact that they can turn half of their beavers into sewant. If that happens, from which revenues should the Company expect to pay the costs of around ƒ60.000 just for the monthly allowances of its servants? Our largest part of America likewise would not be visited so frequently. On the other hand, who will be able to assure us that in the future, because of the difference in the rate of sewant between us and the English nation, the peltry trade will not be taken away to our neighbors and transferred to them because the source of sewant is there? And except for the fact that that nation only longs and hankers for the opportunity to win and obtain the windward side, that same English nation, in my opinion, would be provided with a suitable opportunity thereto by the aforesaid reduction and the exceptional avarice of the wilden, who don’t spare themselves to travel 1 or 2 days just to get to the English to receive a handful of sewant more for a beaver; if only they absent themselves from this place just for a year or two and withhold their sewant, or if, on account of the costliness of the merchandise here they get cargoes from Holland through other ways or places than here, the more encouraged thereto [several lines lost] [      ] that I brought up before [      ] sewant is the cause of the lesser value, and [ therefore ] [ conclude and decide ] that the aforesaid reduction is the true and only means to support the flowing away of it from the English to our nation. But this reinforces all the more what I said before, namely that we having the scarcity [ and ] the English the abundance, they could give all the more to the wilden, as well as that [ it is ] the right and only means to lure and attract them.

If, on the other hand, one would want to say likewise that because of the aforesaid reduction, the sewant will not be brought to us less frequently now than before—it is possible, but then I say that in the [ coming ] year and trading time, for the steadiness of the beaver—[ the same ] mostly taken by the director general and councilors—we should be especially precise, as [ we were ] before, because, as said before as well, if the merchants receive more sewant for their merchandise, the traders are likewise able to give more to the wilde; [ it is ] impossible to keep the traders from giving much or to prevent their selling below the value,^[vi] one against the other.^[vii]

Now concerning the resolution taken by the director general and councilors after [ the commencement ] of the aforesaid reduction, in order to raise the sewant [ coming ] to the Company again from eight to 10: in my opinion, this could take place together with the former sewant rate, [several lines lost] in order to [      ] therefore advantage and

[      ] reduction cancel our [      ] increase and decrease of the value [      ] recommending [ the same ] to the time, tendency, and custom as before, which [      ], as it [

] so far as well as in the future naturally, smoothly, and gradually will assume the power of law.

For which then some reduction, or rather further determination, such as time and habit in the care and trouble seemed sufficient to us, for without it benefitting the community this alteration causes the majority thereof to agree that it is harmful and spoils their business; while others who are unexpectedly and suddenly surprised by the aforesaid reduction complain that hundreds are being harmed by it.

The aforesaid annulment should happen all the more because, as is still known and fresh in memory, the burgomasters were allowed the said reduction only upon their presumption and oral statement that in the district of New England sewant was being spent and received at 8 and 4 for a stiver, of which now mostly the contrary appears to be true according to the declaration given in our meeting by several persons who were called especially for that. Therefore, I don’t see any reason why the aforesaid reduction shall take place and persist, because sublata causa tollitur effectus,^[viii] except that such is [blank] with the opinion [several lines lost] will be [      ].

[ First, ] it should be pointed out which advantages or profits can result or be expected from the aforesaid reduction, such as, namely, that at present one ought to buy a pound of meat for 4 stivers instead of 6 stivers as before; instead of 8 stivers for a loaf of bread, 6; instead of 22 guilders for a tonne of beer, 16 or 18 guilders; instead of 5 guilders for an elle of duffel, 4 guilders; and everything accordingly, this way. But on the contrary, we are at least informed that besides the increase of sewant, some, in addition, still increase [ the price of ] their goods.

Secondly, it is to be feared that because of the aforesaid reduction our trade and the regular visits by the English nation to this place will be somewhat driven away. For example, something that I recently was told by a certain merchant, namely, that certain Englishmen intended to buy something at his house and thought that payment in sewant at 6 and 3 for a stiver would be sufficient as before; when he demanded eight or four they departed again with their sewant. Behold the fruit of the aforesaid reduction. To tell the merchants and shopkeepers [ that they ] are allowed to give their goods for fewer guilders or stivers— this cannot very well happen. The reasons are shown before, everything remaining equally expensive.

Third, it is beyond dispute that our merchants and shopkeepers [      ] not [several lines lost] consideration of [ a merchant  ] point that not by servants [      ] judge advisable and most suitable [      ] to first greet [      ] on it, otherwise, in case of disproportion^[ix] they will cause great upheaval, confusion, and discontent [ in the future ]; it is better to prevent this by gradualness and caution, then, once they took place, to thwart them again, or to redress them. Done on 11 November 1658.

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.