Document: Resolution of the director and council to resume the tavern excise of the city of New Amsterdam

The director-general and high council have examined the accounts submitted by the mayors and schepens concerning the excise on beers and wines, which had been granted to them provisionally on the condition that the ecclesiastical personnel should be paid from it. The mayors and schepens did not only fail to comply with this condition but they also have entered several items in this account which are not acceptable; for instance, a certain amount of money paid by them to Francois Le Bleu and several payments on his behalf made to Abram La Noys and several others, which for decency's sake the director-general and council pass over in silence. Induced by these and other reasons the director-general and council have resolved to farm out the excise on beers and wines consumed within this city to the highest bidder, according to the customs of our fatherland, and they have further resolved that the same be farmed out by the 25th of this coming November. Thus done at the session of the director-general and high council held in New Amsterdam, 13 August 1654; and was signed: P. Stuyvesant, Nicasius de Sille, C. van Werckhooven, La Montangne.