Holland Documents, Resolution of the Common Council of Amsterdam. [From the Resolutien van de Vroedschappen, D., 246, in the Stad Huys, Amsterdam. ] 19th May, 1665. This city's Colonie in New Netherland being invaded by the English, and what manner the obligations for moneys borrowed by the Directors for the for the Colonie in affairs of the aforesaid Colonie, with the consent of this Council, shall be New Netherland. hereafter paid, being considered; it is hereby resolved and concluded to appoint Mess' Joan van de Poll, Henrick Hooft and Nicolas van Loon, to take the accounts of said Directors and report thereon; also to serve as advice to the Council on the aforesaid propositions. Ambassador Van Gogh to Secretary Ruysch. [ From the Original, in the Royal Archives at the Hague, Secrete Kas; Division, Engeland; Kas B., Loket L., No. 125, in Kas F., Loket C., No. 5.] Sir. On Wednesday last, being the 17th instant, whilst visiting the French gentlemen who are Ambassadors Extraordinary here, at the residence of the Duke de Verneuil,' all three being there met together, we fell into conversation, after the exchange of compliments, on the state of differences on both sides, all tending to render palatable the proposal to be made. The offer which I had verbally submitted before, and now handed in writing to their Excellencies, was taken over and communicated to M. Courtin by Lord de Verneuil, and by him read to the former. M. Courtin' immediately said: First, that their Excellencies had not requested 'HENRY DE BOURBON, natural son of Henry IV. of France and Mde. d'Estranges, afterwards Marchioness de Verneuil, was born in October, 1601. He was designed, from his birth, by the King, his father, for the Church; and the Bishopric of Metz becoming vacant, the Chapter was prevailed on to send his name to Rome, in or about the year 1608, as a candidate for the vacant See. His illegitimacy and age were obstacles to his advancement, and the only concession that could be obtained from Paul V. was that kind of approbation which, in the Roman style, is called "expectative," and that the young Prince might bear the title of Bishop of Metz. He was also appointed Abbé de St. Germain des Prez, and held several other considerable livings. Application was afterwards made to Innocent X. to confer on him the Purple, which his Holiness, however, positively refused. He became Knight of St. Louis in January, 1622; was received Peer of France, 15th December, 1623 and took the title of Duke de Verneuil, and was Ambassador Extraordinary to England in 1665. He enjoyed an annual revenue of 400,000 livres from the Ecclesiastical benefices which he held, but surrendered the whole in 1668, when he married Charlotte, daughter of Pierre Seguier, Chancellor of France, widow of Maximilian, third Duke of Sully, and died without issue, 28th May, 1682, aged eighty-one years. Sully's Memoirs (Philadelphia, 1817), IV., 256; Moreri. Grand Dict. Hist., verbo France, III., 707. 2 ANTOINE COURTIN was born at Riom in 1622, and was the son of the Chief Clerk of the Board of Finance of Auvergne. He accompanied M. Chanut to Sweden in 1645, where he became a favorite of Queen Christina, to whom he became Secretary in 1651. He afterwards served Charles Gustavus, whom he accompanied in his expeditions to Poland, and by whom he was sent Ambassador Extraordinary to France. On the death of the Swedish Monarch, in 1660, M. Courtin was appointed by Louis XIV. his Resident-General at the Northern States, and, in 1662, was commissioned to negotiate with England for the restoration of Dunkirk, and, in 1665, was employed with the Duke de Verneuil to mediate between that Power and Holland. After acquitting himself with honor of all his public functions, he returned to Paris, where he gave himself up to practices of piety, and died, without offspring, in 1685. A list of his various works is to be found in Moreri and in Biographie Universelle, — Ed. the proposition or offer which had been verbally made, to be reduced to writing, but rather that their Excellencies, having had an audience of this King, and the explanation received from me having been submitted to his Majesty, this King had requested that the aforesaid offer or proposal should be renewed and brought in writing, promising to give his answer in like manner. Secondly, that they remarked that this writing contained only some offer couched in general terms, without anything being particularized on the part of their High Mightinesses respecting the indemnity for the ships the Bonne Esperance and Henry Bonadventure, the Hoopewell, and others obstructed in the voyage to Couchin, and various other claims in the East Indies, whereby the English say, they have suffered such serious losses, as the proposals, so their Excellencies declared, imported, nay, which they had examined and also had brought to this King. They therefore requested that I should repair this in manner aforesaid. I answered that the aforesaid writing was couched in the form it had verbally been made, and that I also had brought my orders with me, according to which I have regulated myself; but there had been then, indeed, as well as frequently before, some discussion and conversation on this as well as on other English claims, in order to learn and determine the state of the said differences, but this could not apply to the aforesaid proposition or offer. As hitherto, on such occasion, no demand for indemnity had been brought or published on the part of his Majesty; nay, I had no other intention in bringing forward said verbal proposal, than to speak in general terms, as is now done in writing, although the first remark might be a mistake and also possibly easy of correction. But as to the second, that I could be most positive on that point, for well known reasons adduced by myself and also put on record. But, said the gentlemen: They being three in number, ought to be accepted in this matter. Therefore, they again requested that the aforesaid offer may be so enlarged, and no difficulty ought (they said) be made about it, as such an offer had before this been already oftentimes made; yea, even made public in print. They further said, that they wondered how people should hesitate about making the alteration required in this case, and observed, also, that they had now held five conferences and had not met with any success; and their Excellencies seemed to speak with earnestness, saying, if the proposition would not be modified, they would have again to excuse it to the King, and also write to France. Hereupon I remarked, respectfully, that their Excellencies must have misunderstood, and that such a thing could not be thought of, inasmuch as formerly I had generally objected to making any offer, and on this occasion no demand therefor had been brought forward, on the side of the English. As their Excellencies were pleased to be so firm on this point, and to require a modification herein, I then requested that they would be pleased to permit their demand in the matter to be written in a few words on the aforesaid Memoir. Their Excellencies objected that, as they were expressing themselves verbally, they did not think it necessary that such should be done in writing; saying that, being mere mediators on this occasion, they would not commit themselves to writing, and, further, that people seemed to wish to embarrass the business. I indeed declared, on the contrary, that I have given evidence of having exhibited promptness, which is visible on all occasions, and moreover that, according to the order of business, as nobody knew as yet what the King would require, no special offer could, in my opinion, be made by me. Thereupon their Excellencies, wishing, as it seemed, to break off the subject, as they proposed to ride out, said: That they had come hither to do their High Mightinesses a service, and thought they had obtained a great deal when this King had accepted their mediation. At the close of this conversation, one of those gentlemen, speaking of the ships Bonne Esperance and Henry Bonaventure, &c., let drop from him, That here was the foundation of the difficulties between both nations, and that, therefore, here ought the work of mediation begin. Whereunto I again replying as above, they besought me to reflect further on this conversation and on what had passed, and, standing up, said 'twas supposed that news would shortly be received of the meeting of the fleets of both sides, as it was understood that the fleet had sailed from the Texel or at least that the Dutch ships had joined the others. I made no special reply, but in passing those gentlemen again, repeated that I should think further over what has passed, and excuse their Excellencies that they could not communicate the aforesaid writing (copy whereof is hereunto annexed), but must leave it with me, having returned it to me. After which, the carriages being brought out below to their Excellencies, I courteously took my leave. Their High Mightinesses, in their profound wisdom, will know well how to fathom the reasons why these gentlemen dwelt on the above particulars of the ships Bonne Esperance, &c., and please communicate to me, according to my humble request, their conclusions and further opinions. This sort of meeting causes (with humble respect) no little embarrassment in regard to the negotiation, as the business has to be transacted by one single person; for apprehension must be felt, in some degree, in bringing forward any verbal offer under such circumstances. Wherefore it were much preferable that everything should be drawn up and exchanged in writing, &c. The proposed order for the exchange of prisoners is not yet come forth, but it will be issued on the arrival of the Duke of York at Harwich, whence he is expected here, together with Madam, the Duchess, who had gone thither by water from Gravesend to join her consort. Indeed, a declaration to that effect was made, which was communicated at the time to their High Mightinesses. The arrival of the English fleet at Harwich is a sign, 'tis supposed, that people at Court are about to consider what further to order and design, and, meanwhile, as much as possible, to revictual, clean up and repair, as several of their masts, &c., have been injured by the severe storms. It is proposed that the ships be again ready by the middle of next week to go to sea, and, as I am secretly informed, to run down again on the Dutch coast with 100 sail under the Duke of York. The remainder are to be kept in order to come in turn with a squadron to revictual and provide themselves with supplies; some are, also, on all occurring occasions, to be sent here and there, as some, it is understood, are to be dispatched to the coast of Norway on the presumption that 18 Dutch merchantmen had sailed under 2 convoys thither. Herewith is sent to their High Mightinesses the proclamation respecting the English cloths and other woolen goods which were daily conveyed hence to Hamburg and other places on the Elbe to the prejudice of the English intercourse there and then sold in Germany; an order is also renewed for the encouragement of the coal merchants, with some singular concessions and exemptions from compulsion in regard to the price lately set on said coal. News from Plymouth has been received that two Dutch merchantmen trading to France were brought in and five ran aground; further, 16 English Barbadoes traders, laden with sugar, had arrived, 12 in the river here and 4 at the west quarter; 15 others are expected there within a short time. The aforesaid ships report that 1,200 Negroes were sent by the factors of the Royal Company in Guinea to Barbadoes, mostly on Spanish account. The Commissioners of Prizes have again resolved to sell 25 captured Dutch ships, with all their appurtenances, at Dover, Portsmouth, Bristol and Plymouth. It is understood that ten ships are about to sail immediately to New England, and, furthermore, that three have already gone to Newfoundland; 7 ships have come here since last week from various countries; among them are some with large quantities of canvas from Dieppe and St. Malo; one ship has sailed and three cleared outwards. Mess", the Ambassadors Extraordinary from France, &c., to the King of Great Britain, after having been fully informed by the undersigned, Ordinary Ambassador of my Lords the States-General of the United Netherland Provinces, in several conferences held with them on the differences which have arisen between the English Nation and that of the said United Provinces, and at their reiterated request or suggestion as to the expedients whereby a peaceable settlement might be reached, having anew and after divers discourses held together on that subject, demanded, in writing, their High Mightinesses' intention in this affair so as to make use of it near the King of Great Britain, the undersigned, Ordinary Ambassador, complying with their Excellencies' desire, would not fail to repeat, in the few lines following, the resolution and intention of his Lords and Masters, and to say: That their High Mightinesses, through a particular inclination for peace which they have at all times evinced, in order to live in friendship and good correspondence with the English Nation, are still ready and prepared to act with all reason and equity on the affairs of Guinea and the other misunderstandings which have arisen between both nations as well in as out of Europe, and, consequently, not to oppose any objection to obliging themselves to restore whatsoever has by their States or the inhabitants thereof, been alienated or taken from the English in any part soever of the world, on condition that his Britannic Majesty enter into a like obligation to restore New Netherland, Cape Verd, Fort St. Andrew, the Island of Boavista, Cape Corse, Taccorary, and all other countries, towns, forts, ships and property taken by his Majesty or his subjects from the States of the United Provinces, or their good subjects and inhabitants either in or out of Europe, so far as any of the aforesaid may not now happen to be recovered and retaken by their High Mightinesses, or otherwise restored in their entirety. That, in like manner, in order to prevent, for the future, the abovementioned and other inconveniences, their High Mightinesses are resolved and inclined to covenant and agree on the details of a sound regulation in regard hereunto, so and as one might have been already concluded, could the King of Great Britain have been disposed to consider as just and equitable, in all parts of the universe, the general maxim which his Majesty himself has proposed for practice in those places where he appeared to apprehend the most inconvenience for himself and his subjects. [And the above named Ambassador declares, further, that in order to effect a settlement with the said King of Great Britain, he is instructed and authorized on all the points aforesaid, and will be able to exhibit a power in forma as soon as the case will require it and arrangements thereto be made.1 ] 1 Chelsea, th May, 1665. The passage within brackets is from the copy of the above paper printed in Aitzema, Saken van Staat en Oorlogh, sto, XL, 756. — ED. Ambassador Van Gogh to Secretary Ruysch. [From the Original, in the Royal Archives at the Hague; Secrete Kas of the States-General; Division, Engeland; Kas B., Loket L., No. 125, in Kas F., Loket C., No. 5.] From the 13th to the 23d May, inclusive, Old Style, 67 ships have come in here from divers parts, mostly from Virginia, Barbados and other Caribbean islands in the West Indies, also, some from France, with canvas, cable, yarn; from Bilboa with large parcels of iron; from the Baltic, Bruges, &c., quantities of rope, cable, yarn, hemp and steel; and from Norway, timber, &c. On the other hand, eight sailed and 10 cleared within the same time. Holland Documents, Colonie in New Resolution of the Common Council of Amsterdam. [From the Resolutien van de Vroedschappen, D., 258, in the Stad Huys, Amsterdam.] Heard the Report of the Committee of this Council, who, pursuant and in obedience to previous resolution, dated 19th May last, examined the accounts of Netherland. the Directors of this city's Colonie in New Netherland, which, being considered, the members of said Committee are thanked for the trouble they have taken. Ambassador Van Gogh to Secretary Ruysch. [From the Original, in the Royal Archives at the Hague; Secrete Kas of the States-General; Division, Engeland; Kas B., Loket L., No. 125, in Kas F., Loket C., No. 5.] Sir. Having been again, to-day, with M. Courtin, the French Ambassador Extraordinary, to inquire whether anything further had transpired since my last visit to his Excellency in and about the proposed mediation, he answered: That since the receipt of the last letters from France their Excellencies had, indeed, another conversation with the King on that subject; that his Majesty had not manifested any change, but they found that he persists in the previous claim, maintaining that the offers or advances towards a peaceable settlement proposed on the part of their High Mightinesses, the continual haughty manifestation in |