Document: Petition of the fiscal for leave to sell some smuggled tobacco belonging to Abraham Frost and N. Taelman

[several lines lost] My lords [ ] and the keeper of justice [ ] last, that one Abram [ Frost and N. Taelman ] together in company a few days [ ago ] untimely brought [ ] spun tobacco past this city [ to the ] ship Sphaera Mundij in order to trade that [ there ], passing by the weighhouse, as well as [ not ] properly reporting the quality and quantity, which is downright smuggling. For that reason [ it was ] forfeited according to the edict of June 13, 1657 as well as the ordinance of the weighhouse. Therefore, your honors will please to declare the seized tobacco confiscated, and allow him to publicly sell the tobacco to the highest bidder, since the ordinances and edicts enacted and published thereon gave sufficient warning hereof. Doing this, etc.

Done in Amsterdam the 2nd of July 1658 in N: Netherland (was signed) Nicasius de Sille.

After deliberation it is resolved: fiat quod petitur, provided the money be properly applied and distributed. Dated as above.

The tobacco mentioned in the above petition was sold publicly on the 29th of July, and, as appears at the register of auctions, rendered ƒ118–10–, which shall be applied 1/3 for the lord fiscal, the remainder for the benefit of the Company. Dated 15 August, 1658.

P. Stuyvesant P Tonnemans J de Deckere

Rights: This translation is provided for education and research purposes, courtesy of the  New York State Library Manuscripts and Special Collections, Mutual Cultural Heritage Project. Rights may be reserved. Responsibility for securing permissions to distribute, publish, reproduce or other use rest with the user. For additional information see our Copyright and Use Statement Source: New York State Archives. New Netherland. Council. Dutch colonial council minutes, 1638-1665. Series A1809. Volume 8.