Appendix F. Extract of a letter from the Director-General and Council of New Netherland to the Directors of the West India Company, Chamber at Amsterdam, dated 10th November, 1663; on file in the West India Company's Chamber, Cahier, No. 12. When all this and what is so often related more circumstantially in divers letters relative to this matter, are weighed and considered justly and according to necessity, your Honors will be able easily to deduce, in your wiser and more far-seeing judgment, not only the impossibility of concluding, in this country, with any certainty, a Settlement of the Boundary, but also that the prosecution of it ought to be pushed and urged earnestly and vigorously in Europe, both by their High Mightinesses with Ambassador Downingh,' and by both these and their High Mightinesses' Ambassador in England with his Majesty. If it cannot be obtained and effected next spring, one of two things is inevitably to be feared and will infallibly follow: Bloodshed, and with bloodshed (which they appear to long for) loss of everything that men possess, if active opposition be offered to the English, as it ought, or to their daily incursions and encroachments, reducing now this, and then that place under their jurisdiction and occupying suitable spots here and there on the North river and elsewhere, a great deal of which is still unpeopled and unsettled. Appendix G. Extract of a letter from the Director-General and Council of New Netherland to the Directors of the West India Company, Chamber at Amsterdam, dated the last of February, 1664; on file in the West India Company's office, Cahier, No. 12. If your Honors will further please to allow your eyes to run over the Appendix N° 4, which is a daily record, with the addition of a Deduction and Remonstrance of the Dutch towns on Long Island, and the proofs thereunto belonging, against the conduct of one Captain John Schot, President, as he styles himself or allows himself to be styled, of the rebellious troops of over 150 horse and foot, your Honors will be able clearly to conclude that, not content with the English towns on Long Island only, but coveting all Long Island, yea, the entire Province of New Netherland, their intolerable menaces have no other object than to get our blood and that of our people up, and in a manner to drive us to some immediate opposition and resistance, or to have but one of their men wounded, imprisoned or in any way ill treated, in order therefrom to create a pretext to fall with a larger force on our people, to plunder and despoil them of all their property; all which more fully appears from the aforesaid daily record and papers annexed thereunto. Appendix H.. Extract from the Register of what passed between Captain John Schot regarding the claim on Long Island, dated 15th January, 1664; on file in the West India Company's Office. After some conversation, it being past midnight and good weather, we resolved to depart, in order not to lose any time. At parting, Captain Schot said to Secretary Van Ruyven and Mr. John Laurens, as they declare, among other things: That there was only one way or means to put a stop to this begun work. This was, to see and agree as soon as possible with the Duke of York, since he knew for certain that his Majesty had granted this island to the Duke, and some parties had informed his Royal Highness that it might produce annually 30 thousand pounds sterling. The Duke had resolved, if he could not voluntarily obtain said island, to see and seize it by force, and for that purpose was to send two or more frigates hither to summon not only the aforesaid island, but the whole of New Netherland, and that he, Captain Schot, would command on board said frigates as Lieutenant-General. This he declared to us, more than once, to be the truth. Whereunto we answered, that we did not doubt, whenever his Majesty and the Duke of York should be informed of the true state of the case, they would come to a proper agreement with the Lords States-General. And thereupon we departed, and came at day-break to The Ferry, and immediately reported our return. Appendix I. Requisition for New Netherland, 10th November, 1663. The following goods are most urgently required here for aid and assistance; without them it is impossible to keep and satisfy the military. Your Honors are therefore humbly requested and besought to provide us with them as soon as possible: We are tolerably well provided here with gun-barrels. If your Honors would please to let us have 50 @. 60 gun-locks (snaphaen slooten), we could have them put together here advantageously for the Company. 50 @. 60 hangers. 100 @ 150 cartouch boxes, of which we are greatly in need, as they cannot be had made here. 10 @. 12 drums, with duplicate skins, snares and cords; they are particularly required for the villages, in order to warn the people in time of need. A package of hour-glasses, to be used on the watch, instead of Match. A package of flints. Books to enter the accounts and resolutions, together with guns, paper and inkstands. Finding ourselves sometimes at a loss in differences arising with the Farmers of the revenue, we request you therefore to be pleased to let us have the ordinances enacted respecting the wine and beer excise, payable by tapsters. We most respectfully beg and request your Honors to be pleased to send us, among the articles to come over, 200 guilders' worth of copper kettles and tin ware, such as dishes, plates, &c., together with 20 English Bibles, which we have promised here on purchasing a quantity of beef for the garrison. In default, we shall be obliged to pay nearly double the value for them here on the spot. Appendix K. This day, the 4th March, 1667, before me, Henrick Outgers, Notary Public, admitted by the Honble Court of Holland, and residing in Amsterdam, and the undernamed witnesses, appeared Harmen Martensen van der Bosch, aged 26 years, and Evert Willemsen Munnick, aged 38 years, both of whom have served the Iucorporated West India Company of this country as sergeants in New Netherland at the time it was surrendered to the English, and have, at the request of the Honble Directors of the Incorporated West India Company here, declared, testified and deponed as the truth: That, in the year 1664, some time before the coming of the English, to whom the aforesaid Province of New Netherland was surrendered, news being received there that a force was coming to reduce it if possible, they could not observe nor remark that any effort was made by the government to bring New Amsterdam into a proper state of defence in case of attack, but that everything was left in the same state as it was before. That finally, in the latter part of the month of August, further news being come there, two or three days previous to the arrival of the four frigates, the government, for the first time, gave orders to put the city and fort of New Amsterdam into a state of defence, even as though it were resolved to resist the English, and that they, the deponents, with the soldiers under them, being fully resolved and disposed to defend the aforesaid place to the last, helped to raise the fortifications of the city and fort, and performed every duty, in order to place themselves in a posture of defence. Which being done, so far as the shortness of the time permitted, they, for the first time, began to remark that some of the Burghers manifested cowardice, and, instead of keeping guard with the soldiers, as they used to do, came no longer to the guardhouse. They therefore, seeing that the Burghers were unwilling, as it appeared, to assist in protecting the city, retired with the other military, who numbered about one hundred and fisty men within the fort, in order to defend it. That, in the meanwhile, some negotiation being commenced between the English and the Director, the purport whereof they, the deponents, were ignorant of, two of the aforesaid frigates being of very light rate, sailed up, to their very great surprise, in order to pass the fort; and, approaching it without a word being uttered to prevent their passage, the soldiers began to murmur and to exclaim aloud that they were sold. That thereupon the aforesaid frigates, always sailing onward, did, in fact, pass the aforesaid fort without a shot being fired to prevent their passage, which might have very well been done. That the negotiation, continuing two or three days after, they, the deponents, were notified that the capitulation was concluded, and that they were to march out with colors flying, drums beating and bullets in the mouth. The soldiers heard this with singular displeasure, chiefly because they knew that they were able enough to resist the force which was then around the place, and had no need to be particularly reinforced; for, the soldiers and old sailors who had come from Old England with the frigates, amounted together to only four hundred men, who were very feeble and inexperienced. Furthermore, that the Company's soldiers, on marching out, could not have the satisfaction of seeing the English, through fear that, being full of courage and spite, they would yet have attacked them, having still had inclination and courage enough to do so, and with a good prospect of overpowering the English; on which account they were embarked on board the ship Gideon before the English made their appearance and marched into the city and fort, having remained meanwhile at the Bouwery, only within view of them. Furthermore, the aforesaid Evert Willemsen Munnick alone declares, that when the aforesaid little frigates were passing the fort, Director-General Stuyvesant acted as if he were about to go to the gunner to order him to fire, but that the Megapolensis, the Clergymen, both father and son, led him away and prevailed on him to retire. And the aforesaid Harmen Martensen alone, that being sometime with John Schot's troop, he very well knew that it was not of the slightest account, and had little influence; that observing, further, that nothing was done to oppose the enemy, but that Secretary and Councillor Van Ruyven had sent his wife to Overen to the English, he asked the above named Secretary what they, the government to wit, proposed, as he had sent his wife off to the English. Who answered that they had no powder, and the English were their friends; whereas, on the contrary, when they were embarked on board the ship Gideon and asked for the provision of powder which they were to have with them, Captain Martin Kreygier said to them that he should furnish them with it. But, through fear that the soldiers would attack the English, he had caused two barrels of powder to be conveyed to his house, instead of to the ship. Finally, the abovenamed deponents again declared conjointly, that the wife of Nicolaes Meyer, a free merchant there, being on her way with the abovenamed Madame Ruyven, out of the fort, said: She wished to be on her guard whenever she saw soldiers; now, the rascals will fight as they have nothing to lose thereby; and we have our property here, which we must lose in case of a collision. Which having been done in truth, and in their, the deponents' presence, they offered, when required and necessary, to confirm the same by solemn oath. Thus executed in Amsterdam; present, Marten Hegervelt and Staphanus Pelgrom, as witnesses hereunto invited. Lower stood : In promissorum fidem. (Signed), HENRY OUTGERS, Notary Public. We, the Burgomasters and Regents of the city of Amsterdam, to all and every whom it may concern, make known, certifying as the truth that before us appeared Harmen Martenz van den Bosch, aged six-and-twenty years, and Evert Willemsen Munnick, aged eight-andthirty years, legally summoned to bear witness to the truth, at the requisition of the Honble Directors of the Incorporated West India Company, and have by solemn oaths testified, declared, and deposed, the contents of the foregoing affidavit read to them the deponents, by the undersigned Secretary, to be the truth, and that they persist therein. So truly help them, God Almighty. In witness whereof the Seal of this city is hereupon impressed the 8th of March, 1667. (Signed), NICOLAI; having depending a Seal impressed on red wax covered with a lozenge shape paper. Memorial of Ex-Director Stuyvesant. [ From the Original, in the Royal Archives at the Hague; Loketkas of the States-General; Rubrick, West Indische Compagnie, No. 57, 4th division.] To the Honble M. Ommeren, Deputy to their High Mightinesses' Assembly. Ex-Director Stuyvesant, having learned that Mess's the Directors of the West India Company have presented to your Honor, on last Saturday, the 12th of March, their Further Reply to the Petitioner's Answer in vindication of the reduction of New Netherland, several months after he had been referred a second time to said Directors, he humbly requests you will be pleased to allow communication of said Reply to be given him, and, if necessary, that he be at liberty to defend himself further against what has caused his detention now so long a time, in order thus, at once, to obtain his dismissal. West India Company to the States-General. [From the Original, in the Royal Archives at the Hague; File, West Indie.] To the High and Mighty Lords States-General of the United Netherlands. The Directors of the General Incorporated West India Company of this country, with due respect represent, that the intention of this State, in granting the Charter to the West India Company, having been to promote foreign trade and to establish Colonies in Africa and America, whereby the trade and navigation of this country could be encouraged and maintained in Africa and America, the abovenamed West India Company, among other Colonies, set out that of New Netherland, which was one of the most considerable, and fostered it at an excessive expense of many hundred thousand guilders for the space of forty-six years with great care and risk, and reared it like a foster-child for the benefit of the State and Company; so that the abovenamed Colony, before the invasion of the English, produced some return for what the Company had been obliged to spend for the benefit aforesaid to the amount of so many hundred thousand guilders in 46 years. And whereas the aforesaid Province was treacherously taken from the Company before the war with the Crown of England, without that Crown having ever had any foundation or reason to make any pretence to it, and thereby such damage and loss have been inflicted on the Company as it can hardly bear, in regard that the |