by Reverence John G. Fagg, appeared in the _Year Book_ of the
(Collegiate) Reformed Protestant Dutch Church of New York City, and
also separately for private circulation, and in 1901 the Dutch text with
Reverend Mr. Fagg's translation was printed in _Ecclesiastical
Records_, I. 49-68, which also contains a photographic fac-simile of the
concluding portion of the manuscript. Another is in _Memorial History_,
I. 166. The original is in the New York Public Library (Lenox Building).
Reverend Adrianus Smoutius, to whom the letter was addressed, was an
ultra-Calvinist clergyman, who led a stormy life, but from 1620 to 1630
was a minister of the collegiate churches of Amsterdam, and as such a
member of the classis under whose charge Michaelius served.

For many years this letter of August 11, 1628, was supposed to be the
earliest extant letter or paper written at Manhattan. But a letter of
three days earlier was recently discovered, which Michaelius wrote on
August 8 to Jan Foreest, a magistrate of Hoorn and secretary to the
Executive Council (Gecommitteerde Raden) of the States of the Province
of Holland. This letter mentions epistles also sent to two clergymen
in Holland and to the writer's brother. It was printed by Mr. Dingman
Versteeg in _Manhattan in 1628_ (New York, 1904). All these letters were
presumably prepared to be sent home on the same ship. The two which are
extant parallel each other to a large extent. That which follows, though
second in order of time, is intrinsically a little more interesting than
the other. Mr. Fagg's translation has in the main been followed.

LETTER OF REVEREND JONAS MICHAELIUS, 1628

The Reverend, Learned and Pious Mr. Adrianus Smoutius, Faithful
Minister of the Holy Gospel of Christ in his Church, dwelling upon
the Heerengracht, not far from the West India House at Amsterdam. By a
friend, whom God Preserve.

The Peace of Christ to You.

Reverend Sir, Well Beloved Brother in Christ, Kind Friend!

THE favorable opportunity which now presents itself of writing to your
Reverence I cannot let pass, without embracing it, according to my
promise. And, first to unburden myself in this communication of a
sorrowful circumstance, it pleased the Lord, seven weeks after we
arrived in this country, to take from me my good partner, who had been
to me, for more than sixteen years, a virtuous, faithful, and altogether
amiable yoke-fellow; and I now find myself alone with three children,(1)