e owners were not fearful of confiscation. It is true of these places
only and the report of it flies everywhere, and produces like fear,
so that this vulture is destroying the prosperity of New Netherland,
diverting its trade, and making the people discouraged, for other places
not so well situated as this, have more shipping. All the permanent
inhabitants, the merchant, the burgher and peasant, the planter, the
laboring man, and also the man in service, suffer great injury in
consequence; for if the shipping were abundant, everything would be
sold cheaper, and necessaries be more easily obtained than they are now,
whether they be such as the people themselves, by God's blessing, get
out of the earth, or those they otherwise procure, and be sold better
and with more profit; and people and freedom would bring trade. New
England is a clear example that this policy succeeds well, and so
especially is Virginia. All the debts and claims which were left
uncollected by Director Kieft--due for the most part from poor and
indigent people who had nothing, and whose property was destroyed by the
war, by which they were compelled to abandon their houses, lands, cattle
and other means--were now demanded; and when the people declared that
they were not able to pay--that they had lost their property by the
war, and asked My Lord to please have patience, they were repulsed. A
resolution was adopted and actually put into execution, requiring those
who did not satisfy the Company's debts, to pay interest; but the debts
in question were made in and by the war, and the people are not able to
pay either principal or interest. Again, the just debts which Director
Kieft left behind, due from the Company, whether they consisted of
monthly wages, or were for grain delivered, or were otherwise lawfully
contracted, these the Director will not pay. If we oppose this as an
unusual course, we are rebuked and it has to be so. We have by petition
and proper remonstrance effected, however, so much, that the collection
of the debts is put off for a time.

(1) Myn Heer Generael is hardly what would be meant in
English by "Lord General"; it is most like Fr. Monsieur le
General.

(2) The church session, in the Reformed Church, consisting
of minister, elders and deacons.

(3) Francis Doughty.

(4) The West Indies.

(5) Jacob Loper, a Swedish naval captain in the Dutch
service, who had married the eldest da