and furnish us with an analysis of such government as they, in conjunction with us, would be willing to grant there.

VI. That the Company would be pleased in all things to see in the inhabitants of New England, who number about forty thousand souls, a people who covet peace in their ways, the planting of the gospel above all things, and not to cause trouble or injury, in any manner whatever, to the Company.

Letter D.

May 20th. After the birth of Christ, 1653.

VINDICATION of Captain John Onderhill in the name of as many of the Dutch and English as the matter concerns, which justly impels us to renounce the iniquitous government of Peter Stuyvesant over the inhabitants living and dwelling on Long Island, in America.

We declare that it is right and proper to defend ourselves and our rights, which belong to a free people, against the abuse of the above named government.

We have transported ourselves hither at our own cost, and many among us have purchased their lands from the Indians, the right owners thereof. But a great portion of the lands which we occupy, being, as yet, unpaid for, the Indians come daily and complain that they have been deceived by the Dutch Secretary, called Cornelis, whom they have characterized, even in the presence of Stuyvesant, as a rogue, a knave and a liar; asserting that he himself had put their names down in the book, and saying that this was not a just and lawful payment, but a pretence and fraud similar to that which occasioned the 'destruction of Joes Huchinsen and Mr. Collins, to the number of nine persons.

III. He hath unlawfully retained from several persons their lands which they had purchased from the natives, and which were confirmed to them under the hand and seal of the previous Governor.

IV. He hath unlawfully imposed taxes contrary to the privileges of free men; namely, six stivers per acre, chimney money and head money; the tenth part of all our grain, flax, hemp and tobacco; the tenth part of butter and cheese from those who pasture cattle; excessive duties on exported goods-fifteen stivers for a beaver; all which taxes are to be paid by the poor farmer to maintain a lazy horde of tyrants over innocent subjects.

V. He hath, in violation of liberty of conscience, and contrary to hand and seal, enforced articles upon the people, ordering them otherwise, against the laws of God and man, to quit the country within two months.

VI. He hath imprisoned both English and Dutch, without trial, setting them at liberty again, after the manner of a Popish inquisition, to their great sorrow, damage and loss of time, himself not having any patent from James, King of England, the right grantor thereof.

VII. He hath also imposed general laws forbidding the inhabitants to sell their goods or to brew their grain, without the approbation of the government.

VIII. He hath neglected to avenge English and Dutch blood shed by the Indians since the

peace.

IX. He hath treacherously and undoubtedly conspired, as proved, to murder all the English. X. He hath been guilty of barbarous cruelty towards Mr. Jacob Wolfertsen and his wife, at the time of the birth of their child.

XI. He hath acted treacherously towards Thomas Miton,1 for, notwithstanding the government hath promised him safe and secure conduct, he hath ordered his arrest and extradition.

XII. He hath been guilty of the unheard-of act of striking, with his cane, an old gentleman, a member of his Council, and had publicly threatened every freeman who does not conform to his pleasure.

XIII. He hath, moreover, imposed magistrates on freemen without election and voting. This great autocracy and tyranny is too grievous for any brave Englishman and good Christian any longer to tolerate. In addition to all this, the Dutch have proclaimed war against every Englishman who live wherever he may wish or like.

The above grounds are sufficient for all honest hearts that seek the glory of God and their own peace and prosperity, to throw off this tyrannical yoke. Accept and submit ye, then, to the Parliament of England, and beware ye of becoming traitors to one another, for the sake of your own quiet and welfare. Written by me,

Addressed:

(Signed),

JOHN ONDERHILL.

To the Worthy Mons' Couwenhoven, Mons" Potter, Petres Wolfersen and the Worthy Commonalty of the Manhattens.

Letter E.

We, individuals of the English nation here present, do, for divers reasons and motives, as free born British subjects, claim and assume unto ourselves the laws of our nation and Republic of England over this place, as to our persons and property, in love and harmony, according to the general peace between the two States in Europe and this country.

Publicly proclaimed in this village, now named Gravesend, situate on the west of Long Island,

this 9th March, 1655. Old Style.

God preserve the Republic of England and His Highness, the Lord Protector. And the continuance of peace between the two countries. Amen.

And this being published three times, it was openly proclaimed. Whereof all and every may take notice.

The following was in Dutch:

This was done on the date above written, by George Bacxter and James Huybert, in the presence of Fiscal Tienhoven and Burgomaster Allart Anthony, and many inhabitants of Gravesend.

Beneath was:

Agrees with the original. To my knowledge.

(Signed),

CAREL VAN Brugge.

Sic. Newton. - ED

Letter F.

The Magistrates of Gravesend to the Directors at Amsterdam.

Honorable and Most kind Gentlemen.

Our last letter to your Honors was by the Secretary, Mons' Van Teynoix,' wherein we declared that we threw ourselves on the wisdom and uprightness of our Governor in regard to what was best for the Commonwealth, because through him your Honors might receive a correct account of the state of the country, which, we hope, he has rendered. As to what regards ourselves, we cannot omit thankfully to acknowledge the many benefits which we have received and at present enjoy under your Honors' authority, as lawful proprietors of this place, and, therefore, shall be prepared, in all submission, to address ourselves to your Honors, on all occasions, to provide against whatever we understand will be prejudicial to the public welfare or to the privileges granted us by the Governors whom your Honors have been pleased to send us.

And, inasmuch as we have heretofore, in a certain Petition, remonstrated to our above mentioned Governor and Council respecting such things as we considered oppressive, of which we cannot say but our Governor was inclined, as far as he was concerned, to afford us satisfaction, as the case demanded. Nevertheless, it appears there was some obstacle in consequence of somebody's opposition. We understand that he sent the Petition for consideration to your Honors by the Secretary; wherefore we humbly request your Honors to be pleased to agree to so much thereof as you will approve of in your letters of approbation, to be sent to our Governor. And, as such want of gunpowder sometimes exists here, that an entire city can hardly furnish four pounds for our protection, in case of necessity, and as what people have procured, sometimes costs three, four, yea, five guilders the pound (for those who had powder to sell for the sake of profit, favored Indians in preference to us); we humbly request you will be pleased to send, or to order to be sent us, four hundred pounds of lead and two hundred pounds of good musket powder annually, in such ship or ships as you will think proper; the said powder and lead to be delivered to the Magistrates of Gravesend, for the time being, on condition that they give honest pay for it in such merchandise as the country produces, and that they dispose of said powder and lead in such manner as shall tend, on occasions, to the necessary public defence and to the individual use of the inhabitants, in hunting and fowling; whereof they shall render a yearly account to the Governor and Council for the time being, so that the whole of such powder be not sold to the Indians.

Regarding ourselves: As we are living under your Honors' authority and that of the Governor by you authorized, so is it our desire to acknowledge such, and so to remain residing without any change, and to evince our submission and fidelity to you on all occasions. We shall consider ourselves unworthy to enjoy the benefits and freedoms kindly granted us by your Honors' Governors, should we, in the least, desire or endeavor to abridge your rights; wherefore are we sorely grieved at the reports spread by some who have come hither in the ship Valckenier, all the particulars of which our Governor will, doubtless, have transmitted to your Honors; for as the government of the public affairs of this place has been intrusted to us, the same being only a small member of the entire body, so we cannot be otherwise than sensible of, and appreciate, the manifold troubles which are likely to arise therein, such as

schisms, faction and internal tumults, not respecting the government but trampling it under foot. Therefore do we most humbly pray your Honors to take the same into your most wise consideration in order that a seasonable remedy may, by your Honors' wisdom, be applied thereto, so as to prevent these inconveniences. This, in our opinion, we humbly conceive will best be done by maintaining and upholding our present Governor against all malignant persons, our superiors in Holland paying no attention to the reports of dissatisfied persons; for we have had such experience of his affection for the general welfare of this place and of his carefulness over us, in the execution of the public service committed to him, that we are anxious that he be still continued so that we may live under his government; and in case your Honors should please to send over here, at the same time, the seasonable reinforcement of soldiers to lie ready in garrison in the fort, on all occasions, we doubt not but he will afford your Honors good satisfaction in the management of his onerous charge, for the advantage and benefit of the entire land.

We shall add nothing more but pray your Honors to excuse us in case we have overstepped the limits of propriety, requesting you to ascribe it to our sincere and upright affection for the public weal, as we understand that we owe such to your Honors by our oath and fealty. Remaining, herewith, your Honors' humble and obedient servants and inhabitants.

Gravesend, in New Netherland, the 20th August, 1650; New Style.

Addressed:

To the Honble, the President and Directors of the West India Company Chamber at Amsterdam.

Beneath was:

Faithfully translated from the original this 7th December, 1650, in Amsterdam, by me. (Signed), J. HEYNS, Notary Public.

The Magistrates of Gravesend to the Directors at Amsterdam.

Honorable Gentlemen.

Your Honors' letter, dated the 21" March, 1651, was handed us by our honored and revered Governor, agreeably to your Honors' commands, and we return you our humble and thankful acknowledgment for your Honors' care not only of us, but also for the general welfare and prosperity of the entire country, it being to us a very great encouragement that we should receive your favorable inclination not only to hear but to redress the just grievances of your subjects in this Province; also, that your Honors are pleased to maintain us in our privileges; wherefore shall we, on all occurring occasions, apply and repair to you, as our Lords and Patroons, for the improvement of whatever we consider out of order, or to obtain any further just privileges.

We especially take to heart your Honors' wisdom and candor in postponing to answer our previous letter until your Honors had fully examined and sifted the truth in regard to our actual government, being heartily rejoiced that you are satisfied therewith, and that you are resolved to support and maintain its authority under your Honors. We clearly acknowledge that the frequent changing a government, or the power of electing a Governor among ourselves, which some among us, as we understand, aim at, would be our ruin and destruction by reason of our factions and various opinions, inasmuch as many among us being unwilling to subject themselves to any sort of government, mild or strong, it must, on that account, be compulsory or by force, until the Governor's authority be well confirmed; for such persons will not only despise, scorn or disobey authority, and by their evil example drag other persons along, whereby the laws would be powerless, but every one would desire to do what would please and gratify himself. In fine, the strongest would swallow up the weakest, and by means of elections or choosing, we should be involved in like inconveniences. Moreover, we are not supplied and provided with persons qualified and fit for such stations. Therefore, and seeing that we have nothing to bring forward against our present Governor, but, on the contrary, truly, and in deed approving his public deportment in his administration, we request that he be still continued over us, and that no change be made.

We presume that your Honors are informed, by our neighbors of Hemstede, of the divers injuries and damages done them by the Indians, on various occasions, by slaughtering their cattle, as well as those of private individuals at other places. Although we doubt not your Honors have, by commands and otherwise, labored to prevent the importation, into this place, of muskets, powder and lead to be sold to the Indians; yet, whether by connivance or winking, or neglect of the officers appointed to that duty carefully to examine or inspect, or in consequence of the activity and cunning of the inhabitants, the fact is, so great a quantity of every sort were imported and sold to the Indians that the latter have thereby become obstinate and daring enemies, highly dangerous to our lives and properties, and difficult to tolerate; that we must daily suffer such injuries and losses from the Indians for which we have received no satisfaction, so that it is to be feared great dangers will arise herefrom to the ruin of your Honors' Province, unless seasonable remedies be applied thereto.

We are very sensible of your Honors' great care for the welfare of the entire country, inasmuch as you have appointed a detachment of soldiers for us, and have, also, heard our petition and allowed us to receive a good quantity of ammunition for our necessary defence, wherefore we heartily thank you; requesting your Honors, at the same time, to continue the same annually on condition of our paying our Governor therefor. The reinforcement of soldiers has, however, been very small; and although we have had, this year, many ships here from Holland, yet that has been of little avail to the strengthening of these parts; on which subject we have taken the humble liberty to submit to your Honors these two questions or propositions. In case they are obtained or carried out, they will avail, considerably, to the strengthening of this country and the general revenue of the Tenths, to your Honors' profit. First. Our Governor, considering, with the advice and approbation of others who will agree with him thereupon, the imposition of the traders and the little strength added by some of their shipping to the security and increase of this Province, inasmuch as they, for the most part, are traders and factors, who do not add to the public prosperity, but come and go solely for their individual profit and advantage, we have bethought ourselves of chartering some ships in Holland for the behoof of this country, to bring over whatever we stand in need of, viz',