washed away. The other remaining goods are, according to specification, put on board nine craft, both yachts and schooners, with a perfect account of what goods are shipped in each, to be conveyed to the Manhattes, where, being come, I have been obliged, and have resolved, for the prosecution of the voyage, to hire the ship the Vergulde Bever, agreeably to the charter party thereof, and have agreed to pay three thousand guilders, Holland currency, for the freight; whereby the expenses here will be somewhat increased. To meet this, I shall be obliged to make use of some of the cargoes, as these command a higher price here, such as duffels, @. 34 and @. 4 gl. the ell; the linen, 11 to 30 stivers the ell, and others in proportion. But on the other hand, the freight of the ship Prins Maurits, for the term of four or five months, with the monthly wages and victualing of the seamen, would not amount to less. I am, God knows, most sorry that this misfortune should just now overtake me and all the rest, in the first ship proceeding thither, and superadd, moreover, such labor and inconvenience that, I fear, we shall yet pay dear for it. In the meantime, I trust and will not doubt that Almighty God will bless and prosper the well begun affair of the Colonie, which appears considerable. In regard to the season of dispatching ships for the winter, 'tis better that they be ready, and, if possible, sail in the last of September or beginning of October, so as to be here in December, or by the middle of that month, when it is still fair, mild and ordinarily good weather, as good preparations can then be timely made for whatever is necessary to be done in the winter, so that everything may be seasonably ready in the spring. The latter part of the winter has been severe, and, up to April, the weather has been cold, rough and disagreeable. The most of that time is now lost, but had we arrived all safely, I could not, at the south, be 10 or 14 days more forward, as the ships, the Geldersche Blom and the Beer, which arrived some 10 days after, would have taken all the month of April ere they could be unloaded and the goods again transhipped; but by continual, steady, vigorous and unceasing exertions, we have now brought things so far that the ship the Bever is now fully laden. Your Honors will please, in future, to observe, above all things, that one of the officers of the ships coming hither, whether skipper or pilot, be somewhat conversant with this coast, or hath sailed hither; many such are now to be found and easy to be got. It will also be most necessary, if not already done, that I be immediately provided with some suitable little vessels, to wit: one or two prams, which are here called, also, scows or champans, a good row boat, a sloop of nine or ten lasts and a schooner. The boat is more required; without it much cannot be accomplished here.

As stone and tiles are most necessary, please to supply again, hereafter, at pleasure, materials of which I am now stripped by this misfortune; also, smiths' coals, grindstones, which have remained in the ship; as I expect to be able to get suitable timber here as well as lime, they need not be sent.

I understand that pork, beef, peas, etc., are to be had cheaper here than they can be sent from Holland, to wit: beef and pork at 4 and 5 stivers the pound; peas, three or 3 guilders the skepel, payable in merchandize, such as duffels, linen, etc., at aforesaid prices. And such cargoes are of use for the purchase of cattle; therefore, please remember to send some of these articles continually; as the cargoes are estimated in the purchase of beef and pork, these cannot cost above two or three and a half stivers the pound, or thereabout, a little more or less, according to circumstances, so that many expenses, with some freight and risk, can be saved.

The ship Bever is now ready to sail with us to the South river. God grant we may arrive there speedily and in safety.

It will be necessary that a proper warehouse be got ready yonder, and set up, and being again taken to pieces, be sent, with its appurtenances, by the first opportunity, as, here without materials, good tools and carpenters, none of those sent over as servants being able to make anything good or suitable, it will be a long and tedious job. I shall require, also, a proper young man who is somewhat ready and apt at the pen, to serve me as clerk or secretary, and to write down and enter the daily occurring events, and, moreover, to copy what may be found necessary.

In like manner, should more ships and people come here, it will fall somewhat heavy on Commissary Teynevelt, as he is already pretty well advanced in years, and about sixty years of age.

Should a person suited for the office of Schout offer himself, please make no delay in the matter, as, when more people come here, such an officer cannot be well dispensed with among new and rough people.

I also fully hope, and have placed my entire reliance on a Clergyman coming over in the first ship, so that all our work may begin in the fear of God, and obtain the blessing of the Almighty; that those who have little knowledge or light may not become backsliders; and those who are still weak in the faith may be further strengthened. A learned and aged man who hath good gifts and is well acquainted and conversant with church government, would be of much use there. This should not be deferred, as it is a scandal not to have either Church or Minister there, whenever any of the neighboring people, and even of those who intend to settle, come. I, therefore, request that this may be taken into the greatest consideration, with an effort to accomplish it most speedily.

I learn and understand here nothing but what is good of the lands on the South river. The original deeds of purchase are here and were offered to be delivered to me, but for greater security I have determined that they should remain here in the Secretary's office until further order, taking only authentic copies thereof, which are here inclosed, to wit: No 1 is one preparatory to the purchase of the land; N° 2 is the deed of it. I also send a deed conveying Fort Casimyr, now New Amstel, and all the lands thereunto belonging. Herewith is a second, or other, donation deed or conveyance of some presented lands situate on the east bank, as well as of a portion of land on the west side, whereof no deed has as yet been given by General Stuyvesant, because he hath no special instruction regarding it from the Directors; this they can do on some future occasion.

There being other good lands which, I understand, are useful to the Colonie, I shall, from time to time, write over about them and about other circumstances. There are a great many people here who request permission to go to the South river on the conditions granted by the city. I told them they could communicate their desire to me in a written application when I should arrive at that place, and I should then make every effort to accommodate them as much as possible, but I shall bear in mind to include therein as many conditions, for the ease of my principals, as can be beneficial and proper.

In order to prevent disturbances, it will also be necessary that the soldiers be placed on a certain allowance for rations, payable to them in kind or in cash, weekly or monthly. I have noticed that such is provisionally fixed at sixty guilders a year, but it must be expected that your honors will, moreover, be pleased to direct the time when it shall commence and be

observed. In my opinion, the sum of sixty guilders is too little, and I think, under correction, that it might be raised to thirty stivers per week, which would amount to seventy-eight guilders. But your honors will please to dispose hereof as you will think proper; and I shall pray God,

Honorable, Worshipful, Wise and Prudent Gentlemen!

to bless your administration and to keep your persons in continual health and prosperity.
Your obliged and faithful servant,
(Signed),

Fort Amsterdam, the 13th April, 1657.

J. ALRICHS.

Vice-Director Alrichs to the Burgomasters of Amsterdam.

[From the Bundle endorsed Verscheide Stukken raekende de Colonie van N. Nederlandt No. 17, in the Stad Huys, Amsterdam.]

Right Worshipful, Most Wise and Prudent Lords.

Jolland Documents
XV., 227.

My Lords. As you have been pleased to employ, and, by commission and otherwise to command me to repair to the South river, there to perform my bounden duty to your Colonie to that end I embarked on the 21" December, of last year, in the ship Prins Maurits, with one hundred and thirteen souls, including Colonists, free mechanics, soldiers and attendants, together with sixteen matrosses, in all 129 souls, and proceeded with them on the proposed voyage, and after some storm and other obstacles, reached, on the 8th of March, the vicinity of the Manhattes, and was in daily expectation of arriving there. But the Lord God did not vouchsafe this, for, through ignorance of the skipper and pilot who were never on this coast, and of other officers of the ship, having neared the shore in the evening, she immediately grounded, and so shoved, which continued afterwards harder and harder, that we were not, for a moment, sure of our lives, and seeing no escape in the morning, we unanimously resolved to save ourselves on a broken coast, which we, some days later, understood to be Long Island, and then brought the ship as close to the beach as was possible, saved, with the great labor, most of the goods. These we brought over the broken coast to a little river and, whilst there, sent for nine several sloops, in order to transport in them whatever was saved, to be put on board another vessel. An agreement was made to this effect, as by the Charter party, with the skipper of the Bever, when at the Manhattes or New Amsterdam. I have about 50 persons more, who arrived with other ships, and in order to go to the Colonie, have also taken up with the ship Bever, which, having completed her cargo, set sail, on the 16th of April, from the harbor of New Amsterdam, and arrived in the Colonie and at Fort New Amstel on the 21" ditto, where I have been put in possession agreeably to the deed of conveyance executed for me by the Director-General in Fort New Amsterdam. Authenticated and other copies of this deed were sent by the ships Bever and Gelderse Blom to the Directors at Amsterdam.

The situation and quality of the lands on the South river are good and highly considered, the rather, as I perceive, that divers other families, from various places, evince an inclination, and request permission to remove or to settle on the above named river on the granted conditions. When I was at the Manhattes I promised to accommodate as many as

was possible of them, after I had reached the South river, and if they then would communicate their request again and in writing, I shall remember to add such suitable conditions thereto, nay, as much as possible shall be then done as will save your Honors from any disbursements for such as come hither.

Further, I have granted to the Colonists and free mechanics here, on their request, 24 or 25 lots for house and garden, each lot about 30 feet front and 180 feet deep; the Colonists and some freemen are zealously at work; the aforesaid places are mostly all fenced, and prepared for gardens, even whilst busy planting, for which it is now the season. As soon as the gardens are finished, and the people are somewhat under cover, they will look at the lands, a portion of which will be granted and conveyed to each, then, by lot. Here is still a good deal of fine land lying waste for want of people, who, with whatever appertains thereto, will, I hope, be sent out by the first opportunity. As I find now, at first, a great deal of one sort and another to do, I have not, as yet, had time to inform myself of divers circumstances. Not one carpenter has been sent out in service with us. I could not save any stone or lime or smiths' coals, because the ship, after she was almost discharged, went into a thousand splinters and pieces. And, as there was scarcely any storehouse, I have been obliged to fix something tent fashion, to preserve the goods which, in such a manner or with such covering, are not sufficiently protected from rain, rotting, &c. Therefore, necessaries are required to be sent hither for a large storehouse; also suitable boats and a Minister, all which are of the greatest necessity. As there was no powder-house here, I have had a cellar constructed under the walls, so that the powder may be preserved in a sure place which is beyond danger. Meanwhile, the ship Bever has been discharged within her ten allowed days. The soldiers, with the Captain and Lieutenant, marched overland because there was no room in the Bever, above mentioned, to allow of their coming by water. The ship experiencing contrary wind, the soldiers, on that account, started somewhat later from the Manhattes, and therefore arrived at the fort six days after me.

The fort is nearly falling, especially in front of the beach; this will have to be repaired, which will be done in its own time.

Little is thought here of the inhabitants or natives and other neighbors, and we shall be sufficiently cautious towards them, not to give them the least occasion to be dissatisfied, but use every exertion to treat them with all friendship and kindness, in order to maintain, as occasion shall require, all good alliance.

Moreover, I shall, as in duty bound, so acquit myself in my station that you shall be satisfied and content. Here with, abbreviating, I shall, on the earliest occasion, furnish fuller information of what relates to this Colonie, according to further experience. I shall also transmit a little map of this District, especially of its extent, with the condition and extent of the buildings in this fort; likewise a perfect little sketch of this fortification. To this purpose, I must receive the assistance of a land surveyor. With my dutiful respects, I pray Almighty God, Honorable, Right Worshipful, Most Wise and Very Prudent Gentlemen, to bless your government and to grant you, personally, continual health and prosperity.

Vice-Director Alrichs to the Commissioners of the Colonie on the Delaware.

[From the Bundle endorsed Verscheide Stukken raekende de Colonie van N. Nederlandt, No. 19, in the Stad Huys, Amsterdam.]

Honorable, Worshipful, Wise and Right Prudent Gentlemen.

My last was on the 12th of April, since which, the ship Bever being loaded, I Holland Documents, XV., 233. embarked in her on the 16th April, and proceeded from the road-stead in front of the Manhattes to Fort Casimir in the South river where he arrived on the 25th ditto, God be praised, with about 125 souls, followed on the 1st May by 38 soldiers, with whom were some freemen, who traveled over land with the Captain and Lieuteuant. On the day of my arrival I took possession of the fort, the keys of which were delivered me by the Vice-Director Jaquet, and the place vacated, agreeably to the deed conveyed to me at the Manhattes by the Honble Mr. Stuyvesant, Director-General of New Netherland, etc., whereof I have transmitted an authentic copy. But the fortifications and all the buildings are in a very ruinous condition, whereby from the want of a store-house, etc., I now find myself considerably embarrassed. In order to unload the goods I, moreover, put up a tent, but in consequence of unsettled and rainy weather, have been obliged to arrange matters here as well as I can, not as I would. The house is covered with oak shingles which are so shrunk, drawn up, and in part rotten, that scarcely a dry spot can be found when it rains. And as there was no place for the powder, and only from eight to ten kegs in the house, I have thought it best to have a powderhouse constructed under the southeast bastion of the fort for the greater security of about 36 or 40 kegs. In addition to this, I unloaded and dispatched the ship Bever in the quickest time. To each of the Colonists and free tradesmen I showed and conveyed in fee a lot 30 feet in breadth and about 180 in depth, which was soon fenced or encircled with palisades. The greatest portion of them are prepared for gardens, which, for the most part, are already planted, and am now busy providing each with some sort of lodging in order to get under cover. So quick as that is done, I shall look out for land, so as to distribute a portion to each by lot. And as I have been wholly deprived of materials such as stone, tiles and lime for the mason; Item, wood-work and carpenters; coals and other necessaries for the smith, I most humbly request your Honors to be pleased to take some trouble to send out a storehouse or necessary materials for such; should the freight be too high, I shall endeavor to get boards, but these will not be what such work demands; they will be badly sawed, and not easily had. Of the effects and property belonging to the Company, I have taken the shot and ammunition, furniture (treynsgoederen), with some necessary cattle which I cannot do without, for hauling palisades and other timber absolutely required for the repairs of the fort; this and the gun carriages and platforms are in a most ruinous condition, and the building greatly out of order; these and much other work are in great need of improvement and repair. The property made over is specified according to inventory as to be seen annexed.

The land here is good and fertile, and better and finer in the vicinity. If one, two or more hundred men additional are sent here, be pleased to consider whether it would not be wise, first of all, to secure all the lands at present lying within the Company's jurisdiction, or claimed and heretofore occupied, or to be occupied by it, on both sides of the South river, so as to prevent many claims or questions which may he set up thereto by private persons in consequence of some right ownership through individual purchase, gift or other privilege.