Noble, Honorable, Esteemed, Wise and very Prudent Lord:
My Lord, with the return of Mr. Hinojossa I received your letter dated 30 April of this year. Since he had been commissioned to go there and help arrange for the purchase of provisions and all other things necessary for this place, which he might find there, I have, therefore, heard his report concerning the scarcity of provisions and the difficulty in acquiring them there, which was also mentioned in your letter. I have repeatedly communicated to you the reasons why we have such a scarcity of provisions: you know that new lands cannot be brought so quickly into production in the short time that we have been here; I have found that of the few Netherlanders settled here when we arrived, none have, until now, produced one skipple of grain in our time; those who came with us and have arrived thereafter have done or were able to contribute little more, since their time was employed in the first year with the construction of their houses and gardens, and everyone had so much work to do in clearing for gardens and in construction and hauling of materials that the summer passed without putting much seed in the ground; also, the general sickness which has prevailed among us now for two successive years along with the intemperate weather has also [ ] a great hindrance; and when the people [ ] that they enjoyed provisions and other necessities from [ ] magazine, would come to an end, a [ ], indeed often, [ ] among them, and brought them [ ] as well as the most [ ], all the more, since the great sickness, which has consumed so much merchandise and blood, has raged from year to year, here as well as all over this province, causing great retardation in the agriculture and everything else. In addition, the ship, de Meulen, came over very late, just before the harsh winter, with more than 100 people (without bringing any provisions), besides the approximately 500 people who were here last spring according to the transmitted list, all of which was exceedingly more than one had bargained for; and then on top of everything we received a small cargo valued at 3000 guilders for the purchase of foodstuffs. With the late arrival of the ship, de Meulen, and the late harvest because of the bad year, the small amount of grain acquired from the Swedes, which had not been drowned by the heavy rains and had not sprouted from the excessive moisture, was also so expensive that it had to be bought at sky high prices, because they could ill spare it themselves. Since we are not yet able to go to Virginia for supplies, our only bread or food store and relief was at Manhattan where the galliot was sent and which was frozen in there because of the early winter; and because we had so little here and could not fetch any necessary provisions, a shortage was created among many of the settlers although the rations [ were distributed ] for the first year to the colonists who came over as well as to the [ ] military personnel, a little [ ]. We had also corresponded with his honor the governor of Virginia [ ] ordered [ ] we would receive a certain quantity of provisions from there; whereupon it happened that his good intention was put in motion. His yacht (the one that Emme Obbes previously sailed in Brazil) now called de Bregantyn was loaded full with bacon, meat, Indian corn, etc. and dispatched to us here; then it was our misfortune that the skipper of the yacht proved to be untrustworthy when, with the yacht so provisioned, he went privateering to seek a good prize, as has been reported here from various sources. Thus it has been with us lately, as is commonly said: misfortune seldom comes alone. Added to all this we were subsequently subjected to a harsh and prolonged winter which made it impossible to use any vessels. Thus the sickness in the summer and the cold in the winter consumed most of our time during the year and also prevented much work from being done. Moreover, the sickness and mortality struck us so hard that a great number of people and many animals died in the aforesaid period of time. We pray to God and hope that our sins may cease, thus diminishing our punishment. This we desire from the bottom of our hearts.
I also see that the merchandise requested for the Iloere Kill has now been sent, which pleases me, but that no guns are included because there are none at Manhattan. [ I don't know ] why you have ordered that they be supplied from the smuggled guns [ ] from the ship, deWaegh. This I would gladly do if it were [ ] but since the same guns [ ] for some time in the magazine, the case having become rather wet [ ] because many of the [ ] colonists had no weapons and they had to be armed. Therefore we deliberated about it and decided to open the case which was done in the presence of Messrs. Hinojossa and Rynevelt. We found 35 small guns with copper bands; it was said that they cost three guilders five stivers in Holland and it was ordered that they should be delivered to Anthoni Rademan, the ensign, for distribution to the citizens who had no weapons. When the guns were first fired many of them exploded, burst or were damaged. This was reported in detail to the directors, some of whom are also Company directors, with the addition that whosoever desires to claim the aforesaid guns be referred to the fiscal; and because they were needed here anyway, the City's account can be charged to the Company for them. Also, if anyone wishes to bring further action on them, it can be done, because the person to whom they were sent is known.
With respect to your expectation of knowing specifically what merchandise was necessary for the purchase of the land, I wish to say that I am unfamiliar with such dealings because I have never dealt with the Indians in such matters; whereas you have purchased land from the Indians many times before. Therefore, you have much more experience and knowledge of it, to which I defer.
Concerning the four servants belonging to Cornelis Haerperts de Jager who has erected a brick kiln in the country near here and the four persons [ ] but because the one named Pie[ ]oonts who came from Fort Orange [ ] brickmaker and is married to a woman from Amsterdam who together with him is indebted to the City [ ] sum [ ] committed serious offenses, stealing animals, such as sheep; and from the ensign in charge of the citizen's guard he has also stolen weapons belonging to the City, as well as many other things for which he has been publicly whipped and banished from this place. But, he was permitted to work in the country in order to earn a living and to pay his debts. This one has been the leader and has under one pretext or another stirred up the others. Together they robbed their master of guns and guns from others, and ran off to Manhattan where Mr. Hinojossa was commissioned to procure provisions and carry out other transactions, having also a warrant to arrest these runaways and to send them back in chains. Their former master says that he had treated them well and had provided them with everything that was necessary; and that, on this account, all his work has stopped, to his great prejudice and irrecoverable loss, since the spring season which serves him best has been lost. The one names Tamme Jouwes has returned here and gone back into his master's service without causing any difficulties. They say that Pieter the brickmaker has broken out of there and that the two others are supposed to be there and desire to stay provided that the interested party would seek justice there at Manhattan, which would consume too much time and expense. Therefore, the aforesaid de Jager and I respectfully request that [ ] aforesaid servants in order to serve out the time due to their master [ ] be returned here on the first vessel. [ ] that the aforesaid servants have brought forth [ ] their defense that [ ] could earn [ ] 30 stivers a day and that their board in contrast was very expensive. The noble lords, however, know that they were de Jager's servants and could not earn a salary from anyone else, and that they received board from their master. Thus they never served me a single day nor could they have. It is certainly true that previously I together with the captain and lieutenant paid the soldiers for City work 30 stivers daily beyond their wages and ration, but I pay other workers 2, 2 ? 3 and 4 guilders daily, according to what is agreed upon here and earned, which they have never earned. Therefore such falsehoods should not be given credence and entered in the roll or in the records to the discredit of me and this place. I, therefore, humbly request that this be considered and avoided in the future.
Concerning the passes for bark masters or skippers who occasionally frequent this place in yachts: you mention that a report has been received from the commissary that the passes for incoming yachts are held up and that the bark masters are unwilling to let them be inspected. It is true that the first bark master who came here this year was Michiel Carreman. He arrived during the night and appeared early in the morning to present his pass, according to the old custom, which was received by me. When Mr. Beekman from Altena came, Carreman in the presence of others said, "You have to [ ]me the pass [ ] Mr. Beekman has come, [ ]" and such of the same, which [ ] to me. I answered, "[ ], we live here together, Mr. Beekman can find the pass here or it will be placed in his hand directly." This was done without having time to make a copy of it. I sent it with my servant to the aforesaid Mr. Beekman so that he only had to wait a quarter of an hour. If this short period of time has caused any inconvenience, please excuse me; it was caused only because of Carreman's unreasonable behavior. Carreman said that I treated him rudely, and hoisting his sail he set off to return to Manhattan, so he said, which could not be prevented here since I had no vessel. In any case, after sailing for some time he let his anchor fall towards evening. The following day, after having sobered up, he meekly returned, lamenting that he had been drunk. In the future I shall guard against such behavior and allegations, as I do now, so that I may suffer no more indignities. Furthermore, we have been obliged to hire Carreman's yacht but when he departed he gave me no proper list, for which reason I wrote to Mr. Hinojossa who requested the fiscal to watch over the unloading there at Manhattan. After returning he has only seen me once in four days, then only to show that he was here. In order to avoid trouble I have not dared to ask him either for a pass or for a manifest, for which, as I now understand, [ ] had to be signed there for various [ ] no one else than Mr. [ ]. So, I let him [ ] from the skippers of barks or yachts [ ] return there again, [ ] shall be able to make inquiries. The private vessels have often been here 8 to 10 hours before Mr. Beekman arrives. In the meantime many inconveniences occur by not being allowed to see the manifest: the days on demurrage accumulate, nobody can unload, papers are received at the skipper's leisure from vessels which we ourselves have freighted on the City's account, all of which is injurious and very detrimental, just as we experienced from the aforesaid Carreman whom I has to pay up to 260 guilders per month, excluding his cabin and the forecastle. Therefore, I most respectfully request that you inform me of the standing order or whatever may yet be established there, so that I may regulate myself accordingly.
I am wholly unaware that the bark masters and others sailing on yachts are unwilling and too stubborn to submit themselves to proper inspection. It is also against my wish and will, and it is painful that anyone would lay the blame on me. Whoever is making the accusation that I am the cause of it here, does it out of maliciousness and fear of too much work or other motives so that proper inspections will not be made. Since more force or a sergeant and soldiers could be used against those unwilling skippers or bark masters, or against their least resistance as the former commissary did, or if he has no soldiers here, it need not cost him two words [ ] can do [ ]. I shall assist him with soldiers or schout and servants, which I am most obliged to do, but I would wish to have [ ] and trust from you so that I...
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...hope that you shall for once be pleased to believe I require little admonition to do what I gladly do. I have never denied in the least a helping hand to anyone who was here on behalf of the Company which I shall try to continue to the best of my ability.
Regarding the proclamation of a day of prayer and fasting which was sent here to be published on the 2nd of April of this year: as soon as it was sent here by you, I gave it to the secretary to make copies of it, according to practice, and in that form in which copies are usually made. I then ordered that it be given to the minister here so that it would be proclaimed at the prescribed time. The minister always keeps the copies in his charge so that it can be seen what has been directed and in what manner it has been given to him. Everything was done accordingly and performed as required by style and custom. Therefore, I herewith send the secretary's declaration concerning this under No. 1.
Concerning the letters from the honorable directors about the smuggled guns, the citizens' oath here, as well as the refusal to give notice of appeals, and that they were denied through indirect means by the secretary: for my exoneration concerning these matters I shall first submit that when the ship, de Waegh, arrived here and when all other ships come in (above and beyond the inspection of them ordered by you), I ordered the commissary, that he should make a close and sharp inspection during the unloading of all goods from ships...
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...and that each time he shall specify with date and day on one-fourth of a page or more, if necessary, what has been shipped in the aforesaid boats or vessels, indicating whether they are chest, case, barrel, package, etc., writing down clearly the names on each package, and if lacking a name, [ indicating ] whether identification can be made according to the size of the aforesaid articles by measuring the width, height and length, then recording this next to the articles in order to facilitate identification; otherwise, if he records "one chest" or "case," it is sometimes 1 ? or 2 feet and sometimes even 4 or 5 feet long. Since I was not able to establish this procedure at first, I had to attend to it myself, day and night, so that it happened by chance while unloading that the sideboards or planks of a certain case gave way just enough because of the weight inside so that close inspection revealed what it contained. When I realized that it was contraband, I ordered that it be brought to the magazine with the order not to let it be removed from there without my consent or knowledge. When I discovered to whom it was sent, I immediately made a thorough examination which produced this and that alibi. I listened to everyone, barely responding, for which I was judged to be inflexible. I answered that it was not in my power to do anything in the matter, and [ I should let the matter rest ], notwithstanding that I have been troubled repeatedly [ ] by those who were daily in my service, as well as [ ] words and...
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...general, this past year, when [ ] was present at this place in my house. When the guns were seized by me, I gave notice collectively to the honorable general, the directors and to my superiors that they were being held ad opus jus habentis in order to preserve the guns from damage and to use them in emergencies on behalf of the City. This was proposed here to the council or assembly and was subsequently discussed and resolved as above; everything was done that was proper to duty and honor. If I had wanted to take part in underhanded dealings, a favorably disposed table companion would have probably obtained something, but I would not have tolerated this in the least nor have looked the other way. In any case, a person has been unjustly accused through misunderstanding and misinformation. If the seizure was wrongfully done, I promise to cause no offenses in the matter again. He who smuggled the goods is discontent; he who claimed the seized goods is hardly content that I had made claims before the seizure. I realized well that it would bring contention. Such offices do not suit me; I shall not endeavor to become examiner or inspector. If I have committed an offense here, I shall gladly submit myself to a sound judgment. In this matter I have only wanted to do what is the best for the Company.
Concerning the oath [ given ] the citizens: the West India Company was at first expressed in the form [ of the oath ], but the ensign and other officers as well as the citizens said that they came under conditions offered by the City and considered the City alone as their patron...[1]
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... in order to observe and follow the order of the lords-superiors. I had also agreed with the honorable general to send the form of the oath to the fatherland, which was done June [ blank ] 1658 on the ship, de Sonne, but I have not yet received any reply about it. Nevertheless, in order not to cause a delay because of this, if you would be pleased to send me a form of the oath as it should be given, I shall follow it strictly and precisely here.
It now only remains to speak in my defense against the contrived slander that I have impeded appeals to the honorable director-general and council of New Netherland by indirect means, and that the secretary supposedly has refused to record them; this allegedly happened to a certain van Nas and Nicolaes de Ringh, which seemed very strange and surprising to me, the council and the schepens because this was never contemplated, much less done or approved. The aforesaid persons have been summoned before our assembly here to answer for themselves, and have declared, as testimony of the truth, that they have never been involved in such a suit here for which an appeal could have been made, and also know nothing about anyone ever having been denied the recording of an appeal, as can clearly be seen by the attached document, under No. 2, of specific questions and answers signed by them respectively...
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...I cannot help it that the people in this country lie and deceive so, and thereby trouble and deceive you and the council as well as the honorable directors. Also, please do not believe everything so hastily; this will prevent the shadow of much discontent. We have enough problems here, as you can well imagine and know, without seeking more work or discontent. To this I shall only briefly add that Mr. Beekman at Fort Altena has hired as soldiers various servants of colonists who have gone there, notwithstanding they are bound here, thereby depriving their masters and this place. It has therefore been proposed to him that he be pleased to take along with him at this time to the Hoerekill the five soldiers and another one whom he occasionally employs, then the same soldiers could be left there or, for those who are so disposed, transferred to the City's service, if there is anyone there who can be spared. At his request it can be easily granted. The soldiers there do neither duties nor guard (so I am told) and ours would rather be there than here. Also, soldiers are now needed more here. I am sending twenty under Captain-Lieutenant Hinojossa to the Hoerkill for the purchase of which place Mr. Beeckman and the aforesaid Hinojossa (who will remain there as commander) are going there. May God guide and grant them success. In conclusion, I pray that the Almighty may preserve you in continuous health and prosperity and bless [ ] administration.
Alrichs
