The Corporation of New Orange to the States-General. [ From the Original, in the Royal Archives at the Hague; File, West Indie.] High and Mighty Lords. Holland Documents, It hath pleased the All-governing God so to bless your High Mightinesses and his Serene Highness' Arms under the command of Commanders Jacob Benckes and Cornelis Evertse, Jun', that this entire Province of New Netherland, consisting of three cities and thirty villages, was, to the great joy of its good inhabitants, on the 9th August last, reduced again under the obedience of your High Mightinesses and his Serene Highness, their lawful and native Sovereigns, from whose protection they were cut off about nine years ago in time of peace. In the name and on the behalf of our loyal Burghery, we heartily and with due respect thank your High Mightinesses and his Serene Highness, under God, for this reduction and recovery. And, furthermore, have thought necessary, officially and dutifully to represent briefly to your High Mightinesses, that the reduction and recovery of this Province will, in time, be able to confer, exclusive of the reputation and respect, great profit and considerable advantage on the state of our beloved Fatherland, viz.: Many private families who are ruined by the French invasion, will be able very easily to earn a living in this country, if a helping hand were extended to them only for the first year, whereby this Province, which almost wants for nothing but people to promote agriculture and farming, would be so advanced as in time to become, for Fatherland, a granary and magazine of many necessaries which are ordinarily imported from the Sound. A portion of this Province called the Esopus, consisting of three villages, having already, last year, delivered about 25 thousand skepels of grain (kooren). Certainly Curaçao and Serenam could, from this day forward, be provided from this place with necessary provisions. By which means we shall be able to exchange our, and they their, wares. This Province is, also, very convenient and serviceable for Western cruisers in time of war to bring in their prizes and to provide themselves with fresh stores. Moreover, a constant eye can be kept on the actions, in this country, of the King of England, who, in case he only came to be Lord and Master of this Northern part of America, would be able to equip ships here unknown to any Prince or Potentate in Europe, and thus most unexpectedly fall on our State or its allies. To the above is still to be added the Beaver and Peltry trade for the maintenance of commerce with Muscovy; the Tobacco trade, and much more which we shall omit for brevity's sake and in order not to trouble your High Mightinesses with any longer details, and, therefore, rather refer to the verbal report and information of Cornelis van Ruyven, the bearer hereof, who hath filled divers respectable offices here, who will be able fully to acquaint your High Mightinesses with all the circumstances of the country and its inhabitants. For all which preceding and many other reasons, it is highly necessary to maintain this newly recovered Province whose present condition is such that, without an actual and speedy reinforcement from Patria, it cannot, evidently, resist its numerous neighboring English and French enemies by whom it is encompassed around on all sides; who, without a doubt, will exert every effort to take revenge, if possible, for your High Mightinesses' victory here, when the good Dutch inhabitants, who, with women and children, are estimated to amount here to about six to seven thousand souls, but in consequence of the vastness of the country, are at a great distance the one from the other, would have nothing else to expect than total ruin and destruction, which God forbid. Therefore have we taken the liberty to address ourselves to your High Mightinesses, and with all due submission, humbly requesting and praying you, High and Mighty, in your wonted benevolence, to apply yourselves to the preservation of this Province and of so many souls, and supply them with such necessary, and, above all things, speedy succor, as shall be found to appertain to the proper defence of this newly recovered Province. The requisitions therefor we refer to the paternal care and opinion of our Honble Commanders, who, undoubtedly, will submit the necessity thereof, at a proper time, to your High Mightinesses. Meanwhile, hoping they will protect us, under God, with the force they command, from all invasions of the enemy; which praying of the All-good God, who will grant your High Mightinesses and your government lasting and prosperous rule, we shall be and remain, Your High Mightinesses' Most humble and New Orange, on the Island of Manhatans, in New Netherland, this Sth September, A° 1673. Most obedient servants, THE SCHOUT, BURGOMASTERS AND SCHEPENS The Amsterdam Board of Admiralty to the States-General. [ From the Register of Ingekomen Brieven, of the States-General, in the Royal Archives at the Hague.] High and Mighty Lords. Folio 802. One Andries Michielsen, having been placed by Captain Binckes, the Commander of a squadron of four ships and one sloop-of-war, on board a prize of about fifty tons burthen, taken by the aforesaid Commander near Guadeloupe, in the Caribbean Islands, to bring her here, was forced, by leakage and insecurity of the ship, to run through the Channel, where he had the misfortune to be captured by the English off Bevesier. He presented himself to-day before our Board, and verbally reported that, after the abovenamed Captain Binckes, reinforced by Captain Cornelis Evertsen's squadron, had, together, burnt in the River of Virginia five English ships laden with tobacco, and captured six others, without having been able to effect anything further there, they had sailed for New Netherland, and became masters of the principal fortress situate on the Island Manhates, on the 9th of August ultimo; that also, before his departure on the nineteenth ditto, when he was dispatched with letters hither, he had heard that they had reduced another fort, situate some thirty leagues inland. The English had, some days before his departure, been removed elsewhere in four ships, viz., three belonging to this Board and one of Zealand; the remainder staid at anchor before the Island Manates. This news being a confirmation of the reports thereof received by way of England, we could not neglect communicating it to your High Mightinesses, because we hold ourselves fully assured of the truth thereof; though the aforesaid Andries Michielsen says that, according to a written order of the above named Captain Benckes, exhibited to us, he threw overboard all the letters he had with him before he was taken by the English, in order to keep the contents thereof a secret. This causes us great inconvenience, as we do not know how to proceed reliably, and are in consequence wholly ignorant of the aforesaid Captain's intentions, and what order he has taken for the preservation of the recuperated places. Andries Michielsen does not know any particulars thereof nor of any other events. We, however, are in hopes of hearing of the further successes of that squadron. Folio 428. Admiralty at Amsterdam. Resolution of the States-General. [From the Register of the Resolutions of the States-General, in the Royal Archives at the Hague. ] Wednesday, 25th October, 1673. Received a letter from the Admiralty Board at Amsterdam, written there the 24th instant, giving information of what occurred in the River of Virginia and in New Netherland on and about the 9th of August last, to the advantage of the State and injury of the enemy. Whereupon no action has been taken. Preservation of Secretary De Wildt to Grand Pensionary Fagel. [From the Original, in the Royal Archives at the Hague; Secrete Kas of the States-General; Division, Admiraliteit, No. 29. ] Honorable Sir. At length, my Lords of the Admiralty here have obtained the confirmation of the recovery of New Netherland. But whereas, misfortune has decreed the loss of all the letters by the capture of the little vessel which Captain Binckes dispatched to Europe with the news, the Pilot having, agreeably to orders, thrown them overboard, we are utterly ignorant of what will have been done for the preservation of the Colony; also, of the plans of our officers who have, in passing, effected said reduction. To this is to be added, that the Pilot was a man of so little curiosity that he has no particulars to report. You will please to consider, in your wisdom, whether it will not be necessary that something be done in conjunction with a committee from the Zealand Board, to be appointed by their Noble Mightinesses, which is the opinion of this Board. But it is not to be begun with any prospect of success without the authority of their High Mightinesses or of some of the committee on Secret affairs. I have concerted here with Mr. Ingels, by order of the Lords, respecting the employment of the abovementioned squadron, and our intention now is, when joined by seven or eight first class privateers, carrying 24 @. 30 guns, to order a cruise, with the knowledge of some Lords, about Cape St. Vincent, to watch there and intercept, if possible, the convoys which usually sail from England towards the end of November and in December for Spain and the Mediterranean sea, whereunto the King has already given his consent, unless matters, meanwhile, be so much changed as to cause the above convoys to be detained in England. The formation of the aforesaid junction is kept secret by us, in order not to endanger the loss of the expected advantage by any premature notification to the enemy. In case your Honor receive, in a post or two, any intelligence worthy of attention, I pray you to be pleased to communicate it to me. Wherewith, Right Honorable, Your most humble servant, Amsterdam, 24th October, 1673. H. DE WILDT. Folio 815. Netherland. Secret Resolution of the States-General. [ From the Register of Secret Resolutions of the States-General, in the Royal Archives at the Hague. ] Wednesday, 25th October, 1673. Grand Pensionary Fagel1 hath communicated to the meeting a certain letter Secretary de Wildt. from M. de Wildt, Secretary of the Amsterdam Board of Admiralty, written the 24th instant, addressed to him, Grand Pensionary Fagel, setting forth that the Lords of said Recovery of New Board of Admiralty at Amsterdam had received confirmation of the recapture of New Netherland. But that misfortune had decreed the loss of all the letters, in consequence of the capture of the little vessel which Captains Binckes and Evertsen had dispatched with the intelligence, the pilot having, agreeably to orders, thrown the despatches overboard. That, therefore, their Lordships are entirely ignorant of what has been done for the preservation of the Colony, and of the plans of our officers who have effected said reduction; also, that the pilot was a man of such little curiosity that he has no particulars to report. That he, Secretary de Wildt, must, therefore, suggest whether it were not necessary that something be done in conjunction with a committee from their High Mightinesses and some members of the Zealand Board to be appointed by the States of that Province. Which, being considered, it is resolved and concluded, that the aforesaid shall be communicated, by letter, to M. de Hubert,2 Grand Pensionary of the Province of Zealand, with request that he will explain it in the proper place, in the best, fittest and most secret GASPARD FAGEL, son of Francis Fagel, member of the Supreme Council of Holland, was born in the year 1629. He was named Supreme Magistrate of Haarlem in 1663, and on the decease of Secretary Ruysch, in 1670, succeeded that gentleman as Secretary or Clerk to the States-General. On the resignation of John de Witt, Mr. Fagel was elected Grand Pensionary of Holland, 20th August, 1672, and filled that office sixteen years with honor and dignity. He took great interest in the success of William III.'s descent on England, which he did everything in his power, by pen and counsel, to promote. He died on the 15th December, 1688, aged 59 years, and was buried in the Great church at the Hague. Kok. * PETER DE HUYBERT was born at Middelburg 1st August, 1622. After having studied the law he was sent Deputy to the States-General. In 1652 he attended the negotiations at Mechlin with the Spanish Ambassadors, and went, about 1660, to Sweden and Denmark to assist in concluding a peace between these powers. In 1664 he was advanced to the dignity of Grand Pensionary of Zealand and filled that high office twenty-three years. In 1667 he assisted in negotiating the Treaty of Breda. Count d'Estrades considered him a chief supporter of the Prince of Orange and an avowed enemy of John de Witt, the Grand Pensionary of Holland. He died at the Hague on the 7th January, 1697. Ib. -- ED. manner, and direct matters so that by Sunday evening next, which will be the 29th instant, New Style, some Deputies from the said Board be sent here to the Hague, to enter on business next day and to send off the despatches by post on Tuesday following, in order, being maturely informed and instructed, to consider and deliberate with some Lords deputed by their High Mightinesses and some members of the Amsterdam Board of Admiralty what further ought to be done for the protection and preservation of the Colony of New Netherland aforesaid, or else to deliberate and resolve on the further employment of the ships under the command of the abovenamed Binckes and Evertse, as shall be found most advantageous for the public service; and this extract from their High Mightinesses' Resolutions shall be transmitted to the abovenamed Secretary de Wildt, to the end that he, too, will, in the most secret manner, take care that by the time aforesaid some Deputies from the Board of Admiralty there may be also sent hither for the end aforesaid. Folio 450. and Resolution of the States-General. [From the Register of the Resolutions of the States-General, in the Royal Archives at the Hague. ] Monday, 30th October, 1673. The Petition being read to the meeting of divers persons, ship-owners and merchants trading principally to New Netherland and Muscovy, all inhabitants of this State, containing divers observations principally touching the preservation and maintenance of New Netherland, and, consequently, for the furtherance of navigation and trade for the public interest and the prosperity of the people. It is, upon deliberation, resolved and concluded that the aforesaid Petition shall be placed in the hands of Grand Pensionary Fagel and other their High Mightinesses' Deputies for Secret Foreign Affairs, to inspect, examine, and, if they so resolve, to hear the Petitioners verbally, and so to dispose of the matter as they shall think proper. Without reconsideration. ralty. Folio 402. Government of New Secret Resolution of the States-General. [ From the Register of Secret Resolutions of the States-General, in the Royal Archives at the Hague. ] Friday, 15th December, 1673. After previous deliberation, it is resolved and concluded that the superintendence Amsterdam Admi- of New Netherland, and whatever appertains thereto, shall be committed, as it is hereby committed, provisionally and until further order, to the Board of Admiralty at Amsterdam, ordering and commanding the inhabitants of New Joris Andringa, Netherland aforesaid, and the military who shall be sent thither, absolutely and without any reserve, to obey the orders which will be issued by or on behalf of the said Board in their High Mightinesses' name: That by commission of their Governor of New Commission. |