Noble, Honorable, Esteemed, Wise and very Prudent Lord:
I have learned so suddenly and unexpectedly that the bearer of this intends to leave overland for your place that there is insufficient time to answer your letters which, I received by the galliot and Mr. Allerton's ketch. You shail receive replies by the galliot which only three or four days ago was able to come out of the stream where it had passed the winter. It is now at Fort Altena taking on the nut-wood which you ordered to be cut there. It will then go to Tinnekonk to pick up some rye- straw (which they previously were not able to thrash) for use by the cattle here. When it returns here I shall have it sent at once to Manhattan in order to bring back from there some summer wheat and barley for seed grain. I need a good 40 or 50 skipples of each, as well as a last of rye or wheat flour. If a ship should come here from the fatherland, then I would cancel the flour since payment is mostly desired in beavers which are very hard to come by here. For this reason I fear that I shall be at a loss and receive none or few for trading.
Concerning the goods that I [ ] there with the galliot...
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...also some to skipper Jacob Jansz Huys, master on the galliot, New Amstel, for about 300 Fort Orange planks which are urgently needed here for the storage area in the magazine and quarters for the commissary, as well as for the house in the fort where I reside. A third of it has been raised which could not have been accomplished without the planks, which would have caused us great inconvenience. I also had to build a new guardhouse out of necessity since the old one could not be used at all and was in total disrepair. In summary, the winter was spent building, with difficulty; without having yet done the most urgently needed -things because of a lack of carpenters, which the city neither hired nor sent over. Private carpenters are busy with their own work besides being employed by one person after the other, with which I dare not interfere too much.
When the galliot returned, by which the lieutenant also arrived. Captain Kryger once again requested discharge from his service. I replied that since I had informed you of it, it would be best if the captain await his dismissal from the father- land and I hoped that he would be pleased to acquiesce in the matter...
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...about sending the galliot to Curacao and many other things. However, he made excuses for it and would not talk about it. I would have gladly delayed his dismissal until notification from the fatherland by the lords-mayors, but he kept after me constantly through the minister as well as his lieutenant, and even through the schepens, Elmerhuysen and Rademan, so that I was compelled to make a decision. Copies of the petition and related papers are herewith sent over to you. Time does not allow me to relate in more detail the circumstances in the matter and it would only be troublesome to you to be bothered with it.
I shall quickly report about the English fugitives from Virginia who were previously stranded near Cape Hinlopen and about whom the governor sent an envoy to you; consequently, you recommended that I look into the matter and take them into custody. I have done my best to recover them from the Indians: ransoming them, feeding, clothing and providing them with everything. Among others there were also a certain David Ludekus and his wife. Since they were naked and destitute, I loaned them some money and helped with clothing. Afterwards they quietly ran away from here without paying for anything. He has written me a letter from Manhattan...
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...in the interest of the City I request that he be apprehended immediately and sent at the first opportunity to the governor of Virginia in order to satisfy him. This has been promised and I am relying on it.
I have heard that three ships from the fatherland have arrived there; if there is any news, please inform me at once by land or sea, and also whether anything has been heard of the City's ships or whether they set sail with the others. In conclusion I hereby, after cordial greetings from me and my wife, commend you and your loved ones to God's protection, and remain
J. Alrichs
