Proposals submitted in writing to the session held on 22 February 1656 at Fort Amsterdam.
Honorable lords:
Many times I have verbally and in written form expressed the stagnation and dearth of the treasury, and the necessity to find and deliberate something as a supplement thereto; however, until now nothing further has been done thereon except for increasing the customary excise tax on wines and beers consumed within this city, which can offer little consolation in comparison with the great expenses incurred this past year for the Southern expedition, and still to be incurred in the maintenance of the garrison, both there as well as here, and elsewhere, now more than ever before; whereby is still to be added the resupply of the ship de Waagh and the equipping of the small ship de Dolphijn by these[ ]
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unless your honors [ ] resolve to find [ ] and to practise some means for which end we have many times proposed; first, our and your honors’ well-known resolution approved by the honorable lords superiors and so earnestly recommended, concerning land and homed livestock in the countryside, and two to two and 1/2 stivers per rod on the lots within this city and the village of Beverwijck, the latter temporarily and for the time being to be introduced and received by the respective magistrates for the repayment of the debt incurred by the city; In order to cause as little discontent and commotion as possible, I hope that the enormous greed for land shall be prevented by the first one, namely, the land tax, and that settling closer together be promoted by the latter. It is my opinion that the aforesaid building regulation shall be facilitated, and the preservation of such spacious lots within this city’s walls, or if someone wants to preserve for pleasure or profit such large gardens and orchards, postponing as much as possible the construction of others, it is my opinion equitable that they contribute, together with others, according to ability a reasonable amount for the general welfare. In addition, your honors, still objecting against the large profits of the brewers on their beer, [ ask ] whether one could not consider something [ i. e. tax ] on the malt; it is in my opinion not a burden on the commonalty, or if your honors’ could [ ] some other less burdensome taxes [ ]
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to present written recommendations [ ] neither we nor your honors [ ] in more than twenty months [ ] seen [ ] nor balancing of the treasury [ ] by the laziness and carelessness of the present commissary and bookkeeper [ ] stemming from the poor trade in furs [ ] year, from the expenses incurred nevertheless, and the discredit that the ministers of the Company—that is those responsible for the Company’s accounts—have with the merchants, determines the retardation, and determines the necessity of devising and introducing of subsidies, or a requisite dismissal of as many civil, ecclesiastical, and military officers that the remaining, in a reasonable way, can be maintained from the recognition fee whose income is uncertain, and from the tappers’ excise, extending about 5 months for this year. Whereupon I then request your honors’ written recommendations in order to be able to make a better and more lucid report to the lords superiors with the departure of the ship N. Amsterdam.
With regard to the subject of the account, I cannot, in my own defense, let it pass here without reminding your honors of your own knowledge and awareness of how we, upon the earnest and repeated communications of the lords superiors, have admonished, indeed, amicably and firmly urged, and threatened the commissary and bookkeeper Carel van Bruggen, both privately and in your honors’ presence, to carry out his duties in [ ]
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[ ] accounts as is appropriate [ ] until certain promises from [ ] delayed from one ship to the other and [ ] finally frustrated, and whereas the aforesaid ship N. Amsterdam, mostly loaded, has been seized in order to depart within 14 days, it is my request, with your honors’ recommendation, that the aforesaid commissary be detained at the office in the store, and to hold him until the books and accounts, as is proper, are complete and closed, and failing this, before the ship departs, to send him over with the aforesaid ship to the lords superiors. Whereupon I await your honors’ recommendation and resolution.
Finally, I want to recommend to your honors most urgently to share your thoughts with us concerning the present situation with the natives, and concerning the earnest encouragement of consolidation of settlement in order, in the following [ days ] if God may extend a deliverance therein for the present time, as I hope and trust, not to enter into sudden and damaging encounters with them. Whereby the speedy consolidation and settling together shall be all the more helpful, the Christians more secure, the barbarians more fearful, if the settlements are palisaded and provided with a wooden stronghold for refuge. Requesting thereon your honors’ serious and written recommendation. Done in our office at Fort Amsterdam. Ady ut supra. (Was signed:) P. Stuyvesant.
