Document: Advice of Fiscal Van Tienhoven on propositions submitted to the council by director Stuyvesant

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[ ] lord director general dated 22 [ ] of the Company’s uncertain income [ ] may extend, after reaching the [ ] to do in the maintenance of the soldiers, forts and [ ] necessary expenses. Therefore, [ ] feasible and tolerable at this time. Some [ ] of the commonalty find that the subsidies [ J resolution of the lords superiors has not been put into practise; that has happened with the communications of the director general and councilors regarding the English troubles, when it was decided dangerous to introduce land and horn fees, it is my opinion no less dangerous before this time, because the people are busy strengthening the community, and consequently did not plant as much as before, and therefore all the more importent before this time to be able to give something from the aforesaid. Also little or nothing would come of it in one or the first year, before it was put into practise. Therefore, it would be my recommendation to consider easy subsidies that can be put into effect soon after publication thereof, leaving the subsidies from land and horn fees until a better opportunity and time; that the settlements be made, and the people better be protected against attack from the barbarians.

With regard to the accounts of the commissary: it is true that he had promised to complete the accounts in a year and a day. It would be my recommendation to instruct him to have his books ready by the departure of the ships, but with time enough to copy them, and to have made a proper calculation and balance, so that the director general and council here, and the honorable superiors may perfectly see the state of one thing and the other, and to command the commissary firmly to be ready on pain of dismissal and forfeiture of his wages, so that the honorable superiors may be satisfied.

Concerning the Indians: whereas the Indians are not to be trusted at all, as has been demonstrated not only here but also in Virginia and New England [ ]

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have come [ ] places [ ] hundreds suddenly massacred [ ] that the communities and [ ] Christians shall be allowed to lodge in the villages and especially not to come here to spend the night, but that a place shall be designated for them where they shall be allowed to rent for their needs, whereby attacks by the same, and the bad trade in brandy that is pursued by bad people, and the many misfortunes arising therefrom, shall be deterred and prevented.

The small ship Abrahams Offrande having been sold last November, to be paid for in foodstuffs, not yet having been paid according to the contract, and it now being here, it is my opinion that payment should be demanded or the remainder thereof. Dated 25 February 1656.

Cor. van Tienhoven