Maaze Chamber of the 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 Incorporated New West India Company, Chamber of the Maaze, respectfully represent: That, although no person is privileged to frequent the coasts within their jurisdiction except by the Petitioners' previous consent and passport, who are qualified thereunto by your High Mightinesses' Charter, Article 1; yet the General of the Board of Admiralty at the Maaze, maintains that such does not apply to persons residing in other kingdoms, which must be to the profit of said Board of Admiralty, as the aforesaid Charter to the Petitioners applies only to your High Mightinesses' subjects, notwithstanding said Charter was granted generally; and the General also disputes the payment of the duty and convoy money (veyl gelden) on the ships and goods imported from the Virginias; thus trying to deprive the Petitioners of what fairly belongs to them, and to debar them from such right as is granted them, the Petitioners, by the aforesaid Charter and resolution, notwithstanding you, High and Mighty, have, by resolution dated the 14th May, 1677, been pleased to grant them, the Petitioners, the receipt of the duties and convoy money of goods coming from New Netherland, which borders on the Virginias, being an island. And as the Petitioners believe, since they oppose him, the General in the matters aforesaid, that he will, by petition or otherwise, address himself to you, High and Mighty, and endeavor to obtain a resolution or order prejudicial to your Petitioners, they request, in case the General aforesaid happen to apply, or hath already applied to you, High and Mighty, that your High Mightinesses will please not to dispose of his petition until the Petitioners be previously heard. Folio 536. West India Company. Resolution of the States-General. [From the Register of Resolutions of the States-General, in the Royal Archives at the Hague. ] Thursday, 24th June, 1677. The petition of the Directors of the Incorporated New West India Company, Chamber at the Maaze, on and against the Commissary-General of convoys and licenses, at present residing at Rotterdam, concerning the trade to the Virginias and the the payment of the duties and convoy money on the ships and merchandise coming thence hither. It is after deliberation held as antidotical, to be attended to at its Duty on Virginia trade. proper time. Petition of the Merchants trading to New Netherland. [From the Original, in the Royal Archives at the Hague; File, West Indie.] To their High Mightinesses the States-General of the United Netherlands. The undersigned persons, all trading to New Netherland, respectfully show: That the commerce to that quarter is burthened by the Incorporated West India Company of this country with such high duties, that they are greatly incommoded in consequence. And whereas this ought not to be, especially where the merchants must run, in this sorrowful season of war, very great risk with their goods, and said Company although thereunto requested, manifests no moderation therein up to the present time, the Petitioners find themselves necessitated to apply to you, High and Mighty Lords, humbly requesting you, High and Mighty, to be pleased to apply such redress in favor and for the encouragement of trade as you, in your wisdom, will find to appertain. Folio 26. Traders to contra, New Resolution of the States-General. [From the Register of Resolutions of the States-General, in the Royal Archives at the Hague. ] Monday, 12 July, 1677. Read at the Assembly the petition of divers persons all trading to New Netherland, showing that the trade to those parts is burthened by the Incorporated West India Company of this country, with such duties as greatly to embarrass them. It is after deliberation resolved and concluded, that copy of the aforesaid petition shall be transmitted to the Presiding chamber of the abovenamed West India Company for information. The West India Company. Folio 161. Traders to New States-General to the West India Company. [From the Register of Uitgegane Brieven of the States-General, in the Royal Archives at the Hague. ] THE STATES, &c. Honorable, &c. Divers persons, all trading to N. Netherland, have represented to us by petition that the trade to that quarter was burthened by the Incorporated West India Company of this country, with such heavy duty as seriously to embarrass them, as you can more fully and circumstantially perceive from the aforesaid petition accompanying this. We therefore request you to communicate your information thereupon to us as early as possible. Wherewith ending, etc. The Hague, 12th July, 1677. Chamber at Amsterdam to the States-General. [From the Original,'in the Royal Archives at the Hague; File, West Indie.] High and Mighty Lords. From your High Mightinesses' esteemed despatch, dated the 12th July last, and the accompanying petition presented to your High Mightinesses by or on the behalf of divers merchants trading to New Netherland and the Virginias, respectively, we have seen their request, tending to obtain some modification or diminution of the duties wherewith the trade. to that quarter is incumbered. As you, High and Mighty, have been pleased to require our information and advice before the same is disposed of, we shall, in obedience and in fulfillment thereof, humbly say: That we can well conceive that the duty paid to the Company on the goods which are conveyed to New Netherland and the Virginias, respectively, and thence hither, is somewhat high, and therefore we may permit that some moderate change be made in it. But we have hereby to request you, High and Mighty, before disposing hereof, to forward the opinions the abovementioned traders may entertain, respecting the aforesaid diminution, to this Presiding Chamber, in order to be able further to communicate to you, High and Mighty, our information and advice. The aforesaid petition is returned inclosed. Herewith ending, High and Mighty Lords, We shall pray God Almighty, &c., The Directors of the Incorporated West India Company, Chamber at Amsterdam. Amsterdam, 16th November, 1677. (Signed), PAULUS GODIN. VOL. II. 95 pany. Folio 480. duties on the tra ginias and New Resolution of the States-General. [From the Register of the Resolutions of the States-General, in the Royal Archives at the Hague.] Monday, 22 November, 1677. Received a letter from the Directors of the Incorporated West India Company, West India Com Chamber at Amsterdam, written there the sixteenth instant, in answer to their Modification of the High Mightinesses' despatch of the twelfth July last, and the accompanying ders to the Vir- petition, presented to their High Mightinesses by or on the behalf of divers Netherland. merchants trading to New Netherland and the Virginias, respectively, to obtain some modification or diminution of the duties, wherewith the trade to those parts is burthened. Which being considered, it is resolved and concluded, before proceeding any further herein, that the abovementioned merchants trading to New Netherland and the Virginias, respectively, shall have to deliver, in writing, to their High Mightinesses, the opinions the Petitioners may entertain concerning the aforesaid diminution, to be transmitted to said presiding Chamber, to the end that said Chamber may be then better able further to communicate its information and opinion to their High Mightinesses thereupon. Folio 48. pany. Diminution of traders to New Resolution of the States-General. [From the Register of the Resolutions of the States-General, in the Royal Archives at the Hague. ] Friday, 14th January, 1678. Read at the meeting the further petition of the merchants trading to New West India Com- Netherland and Virginia, relative to their request, previously presented on the the duties for the twelfth of July last, to obtain some modification or diminution of the duties Netherland. wherewith the trade to those parts is burthened, containing, in compliance with their High Mightinesses' resolution of the 22a November, 1677, the opinions which they, the Petitioners, entertain respecting the aforesaid diminution. Which being considered, it is resolved and concluded that copy of the aforesaid further petition shall be sent to the presiding Chamber of the Incorporated West India Company, at Amsterdam, in order to let their High Mightinesses receive their information and advice, as in the present instance, concerning it. Folio 18. Traders to New Netherland Virginia. States-General to the Chamber at Amsterdam. [ From the Register of Uitgegane Brieven of the States-General, in the Royal Archives at the Hague. ] THE STATES, &c. Honorable, &c. We have resolved to send you herewith the additional petition and presented to-day to us, by the merchants trading to New Netherland and Virginia relative to their previous request, presented on the 12th July last, to obtain some modification or diminution of the duties wherewith the trade to those parts is burthened, and containing further, in fulfillment of our resolution of the 23d November last, their opinions on the aforesaid diminution; requesting you to communicate your information and opinion thereupon to us. Wherewith, etc. The Hague, 14th January, 1678. Chamber at Amsterdam to the States-General. [From the Original in the Royal Archives at the Hague; File, West Indie.] High and Mighty Lords. Agreeably and in obedience to your High Mightinesses' most esteemed dispatch of the 14th instant, wherein you are pleased to require our information and advice on the additional petition given in on the same day to you, High and Mighty, by or on the part of divers merchants trading to New Netherland and Virginia, relative to the previous one presented on the 12th of July last, to obtain some modification or diminution of the duty, wherewith the trade to that quarter is burthened. We shall with all respect say, that we do not oppose the petition, but can well see, with submission to your High Mightinesses' most wise considerations and better knowledge, that said duties may be provisionally modified and regulated in manner as requested in the aforesaid petition, namely: That from all goods, wares and merchandize shipped for New Netherland and the Virginias, and coming from that country hither, there be paid to this Company two per cent ad valorem, the peltries alone excepted from which should be paid only one per cent ad valorem; further, that from the tobacco in ordinary tubs weighing four hundred pounds gross, may be paid thirty stivers the tub. This then being our information on the request made in the aforesaid petition, we will hope and trust that you, you, High and Mighty, will have the goodness to pay attention to it and to make arrangements accordingly, comporting with the interests and advancement of trade. The aforesaid petition petition is returned enclosed. Wherewith ending, High and Mighty Lords, We shall pray God Almighty, &c. The Directors of the Incorporated West India Company, at the presiding Chamber. (Signed), FRANCOIS DE VICQ, GASPER PELLICORNE. Amsterdam 25 January, 1677.1 1 Sic.-ED. |