Document: Petition of the burgomasters of New Amsterdam for authority to impose certain duties for purpose of a municipal revenue

To the Honorable, very Esteemed Director-General and Council of New Netherland:Show with all due respect and humility the mayors and schepens of this city of New Amsterdam.Whereas they need some revenue for repairing the fortifications of the city, for paying some debts and for other absolutely necessary expenses, they therefore request that your honors issue an order authorizing them to impose provisionally for the benefit of this city the following duties, namely that there be paid

1.On all incoming or outgoing merchandise two percent of each vessel, whether small or large, ten stivers for each last [1]annually.

BURGHER EXCISE

2 . For each barrel of good beer, twenty stivers. For each barrel of small beer, six stivers. For each anker of brandy, Spanish wine or distilled spirits, one guilder, ten stivers. For French wine and others of the same value, half as much.

SPIRIT EXCISE

3.On merchandise shipped within the jurisdiction of New Netherland: For each anker of wine, six stivers. For each barrel of beer, six stivers. On wines and beers being shipped out of this jurisdiction of New Netherland, the above burghers' excise, smaller and greater quantities in proportion.

4. And so that all this be carried out properly and without fraud, the mayors and schepens request that they be allowed to appoint two sworn beer-porters.[2] In expectation of your honors' certificate of authorization; was written below: and remain, your honors' humble servants; in the margin was written: Done this 19 February 1654 at a meeting in the City Hall of New Amsterdam; and was signed: Arent van Hattem; was written below: By order of the mayors and schepens of New Amsterdam; and was signed: Jacob Kip, secretary.[3]

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 5.