Document: Message from director Stuyvesant to the council

Copy

Whereas my indisposition, which has now already continued 12 or 13 days, does not permit me to attend to and to help advance the very urgent business, which must be undertaken effectively and speedily with the arrival of the ship de Waagh, as we so wished from our heart; to which must be added that the councilor Lamontagne three or four days ago has fallen prey to and been striken by the general illness, so that he cannot appear in the meeting. Nevertheless, the matter must not suffer any delay because of it; therefore, the lords Nicasius de Sille and Corn, van Tienhooven are required and at the same time hereby also specially qualified, authorized and directed to promote everything for a speedy execution, which their honors may consider in any way necessary for the aforesaid expedition, and they are to accept as colleague the honorable and valiant Frederick de Coninck, captain of the aforesaid warship de Waagh; and [ he is ] freely to communicate with us on all occasions, to ask and request, whenever he might need our advice and counsel.

Ady ut supra, Amsterdam in New Netherland. (It was signed:) P. Stuy- vesant. (Below stood:) by order of the honorable director general of New Netherland. (And signed:) Cornelis van Ruyven, secretary.[1]