Honorable, [ very worshipful, ] highly esteemed lord [ general ] and the lords councilors of New Netherland.
My lords,
Pursuant to my instructions I was to unload the cargo of goods and put ashore some families and colonists in New Sweden near and in Fort Christina, however, upon coming into the river, contrary to expectations, I learned that everything that should be called Swedish, troops, forts, muntions, yachts, boats, livestock, and other moveable property present, had been been seized by the officers of the West India Company or by the lord general, according to the capitulation made between the lord general and the commander Johan Rijsingh.[1]
This unexpected change made me resolve to ascertain the facts of the matter. Therefore I went to Fort Casamier and having been informed of what had occurred (although I was required to acknowledge no one other than our superiors in the river), I requested a friendly meeting with the commander Jacquet, wishing to be allowed to pass unhindered to our destination in order to execute what has been stated above. He answered me that he had no orders to allow such from the director general. When I desired to be informed of the lord general’s intention in writing concerning the matter, he held me in the meantime in confinement for the duration, contrary to all reason, in my opinion, except to demonstrate that he considered me as a traitor and enemy of their state, even though I came to visit him in good faith in order to avoid all further offense. After all this took place, I received an answer from the lord general, who denied me all means to carry out my instructions. Then his honor offered, if I wished to come to New Amsterdam in New Netherland, that I would be allowed to unload and load there; also, to reprovision and trade, and whatever else to expedite the return voyage to patria. Whereas the honorable lord general also wished that the colonists be transported back, I therefore decided to make this trip overland; and therefore I now respectfully request that the honorable lord general and councilors be pleased to take into consideration how they were sent over here as population for New Sweden and no other jurisdiction or nation, in addition to the great expenses that not only distress the good people but also parents being deprived of their children, even husbands of their wives, and all of them of their religion, and living under a foreign nation whose language and customs are unfamiliar to them; also, that I and the families and colonists may be allowed to settle with the accompanying cargo at some of the places abandoned by us if they are still unoccupied, or wherever it appears best to me under present circumstances, until further orders and instructions from patria, leaving what has taken place to remain as I found it until the superiors dispose otherwise therein; except that the people arrived with me may remain in their state and I may deal with them and do business according to the orders of my superiors. If this shall now be granted to me, I would request what the lord general has offered; namely, that the ship may be favored with a safe conduct to provision itself here at this place. I shall also pledge myself, while living on the river, to maintain all due proper friendship and association, and assist in defending against any disturbances by both Indians and Christians, for the mutual security of both subjects, leaving what further concerns this matters to be straightened out by our respective superiors, whose decision I await with patience and in good faith. Dated New Amsterdam, 11 April 1656. (Was signed:) Hendrick Huygen.
