we address to your High Mightinesses herewith, as we would conform ourselves to those Observations for so much as could be considered out of the Treaty concluded with the King of Great Britain, in order, agreeably thereunto, to stipulate something, leaving it to your High Mightinesses' wisdom to pay, on the further suggestion of the interested, so much regard as, according to occurring opportunity, shall be consistent with the public service.

Merchants trading to New Netherland to the Admiralty at Amsterdam.

To the Honble Mighty Lords Deputies at the Admiralty residing in Amsterdam.

Honble Mighty Lords.

Folio 212. The undersigned committee from the New Netherland Merchants, having understood that their High Mightinesses, by their letter of the 5th instant, request your opinion on the security which should and ought to be, in fairness, requested and required from the Crown of England for the inhabitants of New Netherland on the restitution of that country, have, on your recommendation, prepared their Observations thereupon. Before explaining themselves, they have deemed it their duty humbly to pray you that, as they consider how importantly profitable that country is to this State, as the New Netherland Merchants have fully remonstrated, you would please to direct matters so that their High Mightinesses will be pleased to have the goodness to discover some means whereby his Majesty of England may be prevailed on to relinquish the promised restitution for the behoof of this State, either in exchange or for a sum of money, according as their High Mightinesses, in their profound wisdom, shall judge most beneficial for this State; and, were this to succeed, to stipulate from, and condition with, the Crown of England, if necessary, such security as their High Mightinesses contemplate herein. But, if his Majesty were not to be disposed to that relinquishment by any devisable means, and if, accordingly, New Netherland must be restored to him, the undersigned committee think. under correction, that their High Mightinesses, considering with paternal commisseration, the miseries and troubles to which, in consequence of the restitution of that country, its inhabitants are exposed, who, through great attachment for their High Mightinesses' government, have zealously exerted themselves for the success of their arms, are, in duty bound, emphatically to oblige his said Majesty not to molest, punish nor injure those inhabitants for the aforesaid cause nor for any other, for anything whatsoever they might have done directly or indirectly during this war with England against his said Majesty, nothing excepted, but that everything shall be for all times forgiven and forgotten, to all appearance, as if it had never happened, nor occurred.

Also, that the inhabitants there, as well as those of this country, shall remain in possession of their houses, lands, bouweries and all other goods and rights which they have in yonder

country; and if dispossessed of any of them during or previous to this war, that all such shall be restored to them, with full power, so long as they remain there, to trade and barter, to sell or exchange their goods, to collect payment of their debts, and for all of them to settle, contract, prosecute and obtain judgment in all things with the same right, privilege and freedom as the English inhabitants there. Likewise, that the Dutch inhabitants there shall, at all times, be at liberty to transport themselves, with their goods and slaves, from that country whithersoever they please, free and unhindered, and that the Commander who shall then be over that Colony in his Majesty's behalf, shall give proper passports for such purpose to such departing Dutch inhabitants within two or three weeks after their request has been made; that, also, the Colonie of Renselaerswyck shall be restored to the owners, with all such rights and freedoms as they have enjoyed and possessed from the foundation thereof.

Further, that the inhabitants on both sides, from here to New Netherland and thence back to this country, shall be at liberty, free and unmolested, to go and trade without being obliged, in the outward or homeward voyages, to touch at and pay duty in Old England or any other place under his Majesty's jurisdiction, which trade and resort his Majesty did grant to some ships about the year 1668. But in case his Majesty object to grant it, and insist that the outward or homeward bound ships must touch at and pay duty in Old England, we, the undersigned committee, humbly request that his Majesty may be disposed to appoint some person or persons in this country to whom the ships going to New Netherland or returning thence, may pay the King's customs and duties, and thus be relieved and excused from touching at or paying duty in Old England.

But should free trade be considered unsuccessful, in such case the Dutch inhabitants, who, in the first instance, will have remained in New Netherland, and who, afterwards, contrary to the concluded agreement on experiencing ill-usage, may resolve to depart thence, and shall be in want of ships for their conveyance, their High Mightinesses might insist on sending ships thither for the conveyance of the inhabitants, on such conditions as his Majesty hath agreed to the transportation of his inhabitants in Surinam by the IV" Article of the Treaty of Peace concluded at Westminster.

Finally, that the Treaty or Agreement whereby New Netherland was surrendered to Mr. Nikols for the Duke of York or Crown of England in the year 1664, shall remain valid and be faithfully executed, except in so far as it may be or is modified or altered by any subsequent agreement. But the undersigned submit all the aforesaid to your Honble Mightinesses' wise judgment and correction.

Wherewith, Honorable, Mighty Lords, may God preserve your persons and bless, prosper and render successful your administration in this intended work, which is the sincere wish of Your Honble Mightinesses'

(Signed),

Humble servants,

GERART HAMEL,

JOHN BAPTIST VAN RENSELAER,
NICOLAUS Gouverneur.

Folio 406.

Admiralty at Amsterdam.

The inhabitants of

Resolution of the States-General.

[From the Register of Resolutions of the States-General, in the Royal Archives at the Hague. ]

Friday, 23 March, 1674.

Received a letter from the Board of Admiralty at Amsterdam, written there the twentieth instant, and with it an inclosure containing, in compliance with New Netherland. their High Mightinesses' despatch of the fifth, its information and opinion on what, with all civility, ought to be stipulated by the King of Great Britain in favor of the inhabitants and settlers of New Netherland; Which, being considered, it is resolved and concluded that copy of the aforesaid letter, with its inclosure, shall be placed in the hands of Mess's Van Beuningen and the other their High Mightinesses' Deputies for Naval Affairs, to examine and inspect, and to look up the retroacta and to make a report on the whole to the meeting.

The Zealand Board of Admiralty to the States-General.

[From the Register of Ingekomen Brieven, in the Royal Archives at the Hague. ]

High and Mighty Lords.

Folio 266. We have duly received your High Mightinesses' despatch of the sixteenth instant, whereby your High Mightinesses request to have the benefit of our opinions as to how the inhabitants of this country, being in New Netherland, could best be served and accommodated. We are unable to say much to your High Mightinesses on that point, except that we know no fitter means than to furnish said inhabitants with ships and craft for their conveyance either to this country or Surinam, or some other Colony dependent on the jurisdiction of this State.

Herewith, hoping we have complied with your High Mightinesses' intention,

Charles II. to the States-General.

High and Mighty Lords, Our good Friends, Allies and Confederates.

Whereas by the sixth Article of the Treaty recently concluded between us, it is agreed that all lands, islands, towns, ports, castles and forts that one of the parties might have taken from the other in Europe and elsewhere during the last war, should be restored on the one side and the other to the Lord and Proprietor who was in possession thereof previous to the said war, in the same state in which they might be at the time of the publication of the peace, agreeably to said Article; We desire that you would order the dispatch as early as possible of the necessary instructions to your Governor or Commandant of the place called NEW-York in the West Indies, to surrender it to Sieur Edmond Andros, or to such other person as we shall depute thither, with all its dependencies, arms, artillery, ammunition and material of war, of what sort soever they may be, and in the same state as they were at the time of the publication of the peace; Which orders you will please give to Chevalier Sylvius to be sent hither, as we have ordered said Andros to proceed to the said place of New-York with all diligence, and to take possession of it, for us and in our name. We rely on the effects of your friendship and justice on this occasion and on all others on our part we promise you the like. Praying God that He may have you, High and Mighty Lords, our good friends, allies and confederates, in His holy keeping. Written at Whitehall this last day of March, 1674. Your very good friend, (Signed),

CHARLES R.

Folio 470.

Inhabitants of New
Netherland.

Resolution of the States-General.

[From the Register of Resolutions of the States-General, in the Royal Archives at the Hague. ]

Thursday, 5th April, 1674.

Received a letter from the Board of Admiralty in Zealand, written at Middelburgh the 28th March last, containing, in compliance with their High Mightinesses' letter of the 16th instant, its opinion how the inhabitants of this country who are in New Netherland could be best served and accommodated; Which, being considered, it is resolved and concluded that copy of the aforesaid letter shall be placed in the hands of Messrs Van Beuningen and the other their High Mightinesses' Deputies for Naval Affairs, to inspect, examine and report on the whole to the meeting.

Folio 514. England.

Resolution of the States-General.

[From the Register of Resolutions of the States-General, in the Royal Archives at the Hague. ]

Monday, 16th April, 1674.

Received a letter from the King of Great Britain, written at Whitehall the Letter of the King. 31" March last, concerning the Restitution of New Netherland, which letter, inserted word for word, is as follows:

Restitution of New
Netherland.

[For the Letter, see, supra, p. 544. ]

Which being considered, and the most prudent opinion and advice of his Highness the Prince of Orange being received it is, agreeably thereto, resolved and concluded that copy of the aforesaid letter shall be sent to the Board of Admiralty of the States of Zealand and the Board of Admiralty at Amsterdam, who shall be also written to, that they give such orders, and make provision that, conformably with the sixth article of the Treaty of Peace concluded with the King of Great Britain and published on the sixth of March last, New Netherland above named, be vacated and restored to the said King of Great Britain. And that to such end the officers and military, &c., who have reduced said place and still keep possession of it, be withdrawn with all their property, artillery, gunpowder, implements of war and everything they have had, taken and conquered there or before the date of the aforesaid publication of the peace, leaving the aforesaid place, also the cannon, gunpowder and all implements of war appertaining thereunto, in such a state as they were at the time New Netherland was mastered and reduced, for so much and so far as all of them were in existence at the time of the publication of the peace aforesaid. That moreover, the Governor or Commander there shall be ordered and commanded by a letter from their High Mightinesses, to restore and give up New Netherland above named to Edmond Andros, or to such other person as his Majesty shall depute thereunto; and that with all its appendages and dependencies, arms, artillery, ammunition and implements of war which belonged to, and were in, the place aforesaid at the time of the publication of the aforesaid peace, without committing nor suffering to be committed any exploitation, plundering or robbery of any of the inhabitants, or the removal of cannon, gunpowder or any other material of war which hath belonged to any of the to-be-restored places, at the time when they were reduced and taken. And that the letter to be dispatched on this subject shall be placed in the hands of Chevalier Sylvius, to be used by him as shall be proper. And that, further, information shall be given by letter to the said King of the aforesaid, their High Mightinesses', promptitude in what is to be complied with aforesaid; adding, that their High Mightinesses request, trust and expect from his Majesty, that he will allow the inhabitants of New Netherland aforesaid the enjoyment of their lands, bouweries and all their goods and rights which they possess in that country; all with the same right, privilege and freedom as the inhabitants abovementioned enjoyed previous to the aforesaid And that an extract from this their High Mightinesses' resolution with the aforesaid to-be-written letter to the King of Great Britain, shall be sent to M. Van de Lier,1 one of their 'FREDERICK VAN REEDE, Baron of Reede, at Renswoude, Lord of Schonauwen, was the third son of Johan van Reede (supra, p. 516). In 1674 his name was inscribed among the Nobles of Holland, as Lord of Lier, near Delft. Kok, verbo REEDE. See, post, p. 548.

war.