ughter of Cornelis
Molyn.

(6) Mr. Murphy quotes an apposite passage from a letter
which the company had written to Stuyvesant on April 7,
1648: "As they [the Indians] urge it with such earnestness,
that they would rather renew the war with us than be without
these articles, and as a war with them, in our present
situation, would be very unwelcome, we think the best policy
is to furnish them with powder and ball but with a sparing
hand."

(7) These sentences were imposed in July, 1648.

(8) Peddlers.

Besides this, the country of the Company is so taxed, and is burdened
and kept down in such a manner, that the inhabitants are not able
to appear beside their neighbors of Virginia or New England, or to
undertake any enterprise. It seems--and so far as is known by us all the
inhabitants of New Netherland declare--that the Managers have scarce
any care or regard for New Netherland, except when there is something
to receive, for which reason, however, they receive less. The great
extremity of war in which we have been, clearly demonstrates that the
Managers have not cared whether New Netherland sank or swam; for when
in that emergency aid and assistance were sought from them--which
they indeed were bound by honor and by promises to grant, unsolicited,
pursuant to the Exemptions--they have never established any good order
or regulation concerning it, although (after all) such a thing had been
decreed and commanded by Their High Mightinesses. Neither have they ever
allowed the true causes and reasons of the war to be investigated, nor
have they attempted to punish those who had rashly begun it. Hence no
little suspicion that it was undertaken by their orders; at least it is
certain that their officers were chosen more from favor and friendship
than merit, which did not make their matters go on better. But this is
the loss and damage for the most part of the stockholders. Many of the
others doubtless knew well their objects. In a word, they come far short
in affording that protection which they owe the country, for there is
nothing of the kind. They understand how to impose taxes, for while they
promised in the Exemptions not to go above five per cent., they now
take sixteen. It is a common saying that a half difference is a great
difference, but that is nothing in comparison with this. The evasions
and objections which are used by them, as regards merchants' goods,
s