Document: Petition of Hendrick Huygen requesting to be informed what amount of duty he has to pay on the cargo of the ship Mercury

Copy.26

Honorable, very esteemed lords director general and councilors of New Netherland.

Hendrick Huygen shows herewith with due reverence that [he has come here before this city with the ship Mercurius] with the promise and permission of the honorable general and his deputies, having been promised a civil treatment in regard to the duties of the West India Company, as having [ arrived ] here by accident and against intention: the petitioner therefore requests to be informed what amount of duties your esteemed honors demanded, so that he may arrange his affairs accordingly, awaiting your honors’ decision in the margin. (was signed) Hendrick Huygen.

The foregoing petition having been received and read, upon deliberation, the following decision was made thereon: The petitioner is to pay as duty for the goods brought here 10 percent, but whereas he remonstrates and complains that some of the goods have been spoiled, we consent and allow him to pay in full as duty for the goods that he has shown by the manifest to have been brought over in the ship the Mercurius, and which amount to the sum of ƒ9709 10st., the sum of seven hundred and fifty guilders. Done at Fort Amsterdam in New Netherland, dated as above.

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.