[several lines lost] against illegal trading [ ] unloading and loading in front of this city [ ] necessary regulations, (as appears from the [ ] times are published, renewed, [ ] never by the fiscal, who really [ was concerned with ] the execution, nor properly executed, to considerable blame and [ shame ], if not ridicule, of the director general and councilors. The renewal thereof, however, will tend toward more blame and ridicule of the official proclamations, if before, and also afterwards, by negligence, connivance, or settlement [ ], the confiscation and the bringing of charges to the director general and councilors are not complied with,[i] and the execution thereof by the fiscal, schout, or other officials is not actively and immediately put into practice. For this to be more effective, and to further encourage the fiscal and other Company officials to pay attention, confiscate, and bring charges, it would, in my opinion, be useful and necessary.
1.
First, to add to the renewed edicts and those still to be renewed, that the officer, fiscal, schout, or any other Company official, who would find and report illegal trade or any other offense against any enacted order, reasonably would enjoy the just third part of the fine, the other two-thirds to the judgment of the director general and councilors; and if any high or low officers, schout, or other officials are found to connive, or come to an agreement about it with any offender, for the first time to forfeit a double fine, for the second time to be removed from his office and position.
2.
Second. As long as the ships and yachts load and unload everywhere within the gates and walls of this city without bringing their goods, both the arriving and those to be brought away, into one or another common warehouse of the Company, and as long as ships and yachts going to Fort Orange, the South River, and elsewhere without or within the district of New Netherland, are only inspected once they are fully loaded, when good and right inspection is impossible and therefore useless, it is difficult to resolve the smuggling of both contraband and pelts in importing and exporting.
Therefore, in my opinion, it would be necessary and, consequently, also profitable for the Company, although somewhat difficult and costly at first, to [ set ] off both rivers with a double row of upright palisades, and to leave no more than two openings, or three at most, that could be closed at night, through which the boat would come in and out in order to unload and load, as [ that happened ] in Brazil as soon as the [ commerce ] [several lines lost] [ ] but more in order to [ prevent ] illegal trade [ ] otherwise it is almost impossible, it is geloo [ ] once [ it is ] done well and maintained, the [ profit ] of just [ a ] year of beavers smuggled by night and by day, transported across Long Island and on the water, brought to the North without declaring them, or paying any recognition fees on them. Not only would it greatly fortify and protect this place in times of necessary defense, either against a malicious neighbor or Indian, but the expenses of that necessary work would lead to more profit. The costs would be less and the necessary work would be realized sooner if we would diligently apply ourselves to this with all of the Company’s Negroes, and continued it, while meanwhile we would have the stone for the fort broken by others.
3.
Thirdly, concerning the 2nd item in the aforesaid second main point, in which it is instructed that the inspection of ships and yachts when they are fully loaded is impossible and consequently useless. Therefore, in my opinion, it would be necessary that all goods and merchandise, either tobacco, pelts, or otherwise, those that may be transported or exported to the fatherland, as well as those to go elsewhere within or without the district of N: Netherland, first be brought into the Company’s warehouse; namely, the goods to be transported to the fatherland in the general Company’s [ warehouse ], where, until now the goods to be transported within the district to Fort Orange or the South River were ordered [ to be brought ]; those to go outside [ the district ], to Virginia or to the north, be brought to another warehouse built for that purpose when the opportunity presents itself; and meanwhile rent a [ free ] neighboring [ warehouse ] most fitting thereto, in order [ for goods brought there ] to be [ inspected ] and marked before they are brought aboard.
4.
Fourthly, in order to better discover and prevent the frauds and illegal trading of both contraband and pelts that can be found mainly among the sailors and crews of the yachts and the English ketches—in addition to taking care diligently here on land, that by night, no boat, sloop, or little boats sail from or to the ship— it would, in my opinion, be necessary to keep the honorable Company’s yacht on open water among and between the ships and yachts [ and ] to change it every night with 6 or 8 soldiers in order to help prevent this on-and-off sailing, and consequently, the smuggling, with the encouragement as before of enjoying one-third share of what they seized, without which [ conditions ] [several lines lost]
5.
Fifthly, and [ lastly ] discovering and preventing of [ ] serious recommendations and written orders [ of the lords ] directors, is necessary, and should be practiced
[ ], as reflecting to [ ] and the country’s general benefit and profit. There are, for example, also various [ and ] previously issued and repeatedly renewed orders and regulations that, no less than the aforesaid, need to be practiced and carried out, and tending to God’s honor, such as, among others, the desecration of the Sabbath by drinking drunk and performing prohibited exercises on that day, the blaspheming and swearing of his Holy Name, sacraments, wounds, and death. Maintaining the only true and pure religion, which as others, concerns the tranquility, peace, and justice of the inhabitants by preventing and hindering the sale of strong drink to the wilden, a case of more dangerous consequence than selling any contraband to them, of which no small evidences were found, and about which is complained daily. The well-meant order against it is too lax, or is being checked upon and executed too negligently. To continue here with all orders and regulations would take too long, and the lords councilors would tire of it; neither do they occupy all my thoughts. Therefore, we ordered our secretary to draw a short excerpt from at least the most necessary ones, and to recommend the needed renovation to the judgment of the lords councilors, and a better execution to the fiscal. Done at Fort Amsterdam in New Netherland, the 9th of April 1658.
