Noble, Honorable, Esteemed, Wise, Prudent and very Discreet Lord:
My Lord, I intended to have my last letter of March 18 sent at that time, but since something unexpectedly occurred, it was left behind and soon thereafter the trip was canceled; therefore, it is enclosed here.
Furthermore, I shall be able to reply to your letter of 17 December 1657 received with the galliot. Concerning the merchandise sent from here for payment of provisions and other items: it seems to me that the market there is considerably less than here, and likewise the value of the same goods which you had assessed by impartial parties is somewhat low; however, I do not want to dwell on the linen and other articles, except to say that I leave everything to your discretion and judgment, and whatever has been done in the matter I shall consider well done, since I know and trust that you shall help to direct everything for the welfare of this colony, and that the City's goods will be sold for the highest profit, and the purchase of other necessities shall be made at the lowest possible price. I likewise find that the provisions sent over were obtained for reasonable prices and I have received all of them in good order. I now request that the desired 50 skipples of winter, I mean, summer wheat and 50 skipples of summer barley be sent; likewise some cakes, 3 or 400 pounds; 2000 pounds [ ] meat, if [ ] for reasonable prices...
[ Remaining seven lines of page torn away. ]
...concerning his [ Capt. Kriger's ] discharge, but he could not rest until he had an answer about it, as in shown by the enclosed papers from the request and recommendation. He is now satisfied and I hope that everything will go well and that he may also be content. If it is considered factually and truthfully, they are just so many trivialities and misunderstandings, which he is now asserting again to someone else. But it is not even worth wasting the paper to relate it all and to annoy you by complaining about such things to others. I avoid letting my pen write about it because it is such a long story of little substance. I shall only say briefly that upon my arrival here I found the government to consist of and be administered by the vice-director or commandant, dealing with military offenses according to military laws and with civil cases by civilians, as ordered by you. Upon my arrival I proposed and presented to them the changes which were to be considered in this matter. They understood that they [ ] in practice, as previously mentioned, and that citizens belonged to the civil government, as ordered by the conditions established by the City. I made [ ] the persons etc. appointed by you, not contrary to but in agreement with the City's intentions and directions. Therefore, I have [ ] for the time being, only over minor civil...
[ Remaining nine lines of page torn away. ]
...done and expedited over the sentencing of offenses committed by the soldiers, is understood by them that it only concerns a military council and that it does not concern the commissary. I complied with them, and then the three of us sat as judges on it; but there have been excessive acts of insolence committed by the soldiers who have then been let off with lenient punishments; and concerning the smallest punishments, I am still overruled, which is not proper. I was told that I was a tyrant over the soldiers. When I once told them that the order had to come from a higher authority; I then told the Captain who excused the soldiers. Three or four times I have gone out into the country to supervise the surveying. Because I took along two or three soldiers without the sergeant or corporal telling them to do so, this was considered so bad and outrageous, and exaggerated to the extent that I was actually commanding the soldiers, which cannot be said. Whenever I have them work for me I pay them a daler a day; just as we together decided that the soldiers ought to be paid for their daily salary. Thereafter I never desired to take soldiers along, although I was going to Christina or Tinnekonk. I did it to avoid their discontent...
[ Remaining nine lines of page torn away. ]
...and to deliberate about it, he refused my summons, which in an emergency would have serious consequences since he does not know beforehand what I have to say or what it concerns or what there is to be done. I am in the fort day and night without being able to give any orders to the soldiers (as he asserts, which is beyond reason). For most of the winter, without either my knowledge or that of the lieutenant, he did not post guards on the walls, day or night, which seemed dangerous to me and others. This has now been remedied since his discharge, so that by night there are two soldiers on the walls and by day one standing guard only within the fort. This was not observed by the captain, among many other things. He considered me unworthy to summon him; also, he would not give a straight answer to those whom I sent to him. Likewise, the lieutenant and commissary themselves would attest that I humbled myself to him in matters both large and small; and I proposed, indeed, I begged through them that we might be able to understand one another on an equal basis; he refused them and me. He has even said that if he is discharged, he could easily get a higher salary and office, or that it has been offered, or something of this sort, so that he therefore has little regard for this place either.
Concerning the parcelling out of lots: first of all, I have found any space for the people so that I had to take those [ lots ], as is related in the enclosed report on the request of Jacob Eldersz. Afterwards I granted the parcelling out of lots to Hudde, who is an amateur surveyor, together with Fabryk Spelt, since deceased, who also first did it by drawing lots; also, for the farms which were laid out, he finally presented an urgent request which was considered, decided upon and expedited with the lieutenant and commissary, as appears in the same. He thanked us through A. Hudde who delivered it to him. I [ ] close so as not to trouble you too much [ ] such coarse matters...
[ Remaining seven lines of page torn away. ]
...shall be of another opinion concerning the value of any necessary provisions that are not in the magazine; it is still very hard to place a certain and civil value on them and it shall be easier as we increase somewhat in space and stock which are still very modest. Besides, there has also been, to my great displeasure, much loss caused by death among the cattle.
I have communicated the ordinances and other things, which have been sent over, to the lieutenant and commissary and have done what is required with them, except for the notice.[1] Enclosed is a document pertaining to this which is to notify everyone there who holds a mortgage on or conveyance for any lot, plot, house or farm located here that they are to present such papers to the secretary here within the period of three months. I have delivered the barrel of bacon, which was requisitioned for the garrison in Altena, to the Commissary Bekker as you ordered. It weighed 180 lbs. net. The desired linen, which was to be delivered to Hen[ drick ] Huygen, I offered to him but he did not need it, which is why it was left behind.
The ship, de Goude Sonne, arrived here safely, praise be to God, [ ] Wednesday the 27th of last month; it is a fly-boat with [ ] merchandise...
[ Remaining eleven lines of page torn away. ]
...I respectfully request that you be so kind as to pay Jannis de Peyster the two pieces of red duffel for which he contracted with you. I would likewise appreciate it if you would make some settlement with the skipper, Jacob Jansz Huys, from whom I bought some Fort Orange planks in the fort, because the beaver trade has not begun here yet and I would not like to give anyone cause to complain that they did not receive prompt payment; it is unavoidable for this reason and because it is also minimal during the trading season.
I also have to pay the attorney, Schelluyn, for his salary earned in the case against Dirk Cornelisz Heunich, skipper on the ship Prins Maurits, but it seems to me that it would be proper to pay the expenses out of the money which was deposited from the proceeds of the sale of the goods, unless you should think that it would not be considered proper. My superiors have also written to me that the aforesaid deposited or secured money may be released to the aforesaid Dirk Cornelisz Heunich or on his order, which serves as instructions to me, and of which you are hereby notified, as I myself have been ordered to do. But deducting that which has been paid on account to the aforesaid attorney by the honorable mayor [ ]d Anthoni.[2]
[ ] from your letter dated 28 January which came [ j Allerton's Ketch, with regard to sending the galliot [ ] to which I had been very much in favor and...
[ Remaining nine lines of page torn away. ]
...have to haul to and from Manhattan in order to serve the settlers of this colony thereby, so that now after consulting with the council I find that I cannot consent to let the galliot make a voyage to Curacao. The prescribed day of fasting, prayer and thanksgiving was observed here on the 13th of March and also on the next day by the minister, Weelius, who was asked by the commissary at Altena to preach a sermon there for the same purpose, which was done.
I still fear a scarcity of provisions; therefore, please purchase 100 skipples of white peas and 100 skipples of gray peas as soon as possible, so that I shall receive them from time to time as space permits in the galliot, without any delay. Likewise, one or two barrels of flour and 2 or 300 pounds of butter. Please compensate the honorable mayor, Olof Stevensz, with barley or wheat for the mill which I received on loan from him.
Also loaded in the galliot are [ blank ] pieces of black walnut which were cut and are being cut by the commissary of the garrison at Fort Altena. If you should desire anything else in the future, the galliot, when it sails in your direction, usually has sufficient space for your disposal.
Herewith concluding, I pray to God, after respectful and cordial greetings, that He keep you in continuous health. In New Amstel, [ ] March 1658.
[ P.S.: ] Also on board [ ] weight of [ ] and received [ ] and meat by the [ ] add in this [ ] 5 barrels of fresh meat and 6 barrels of pork, with another 2 barrels of meat which were transferred from a ketch without being weighed; also a letter from the commissioners and directors. If a ship is about to depart please [ ].
[ Addressed: ] Noble, Honorable, Esteemed, Wise and very Prudent Lord. My Lord Petrus Stuyvesant Director-General of New Netherland, Curacao, Bonaire, Aruba, etc. Residing in New Netherland, i.e. at Manhattan in New Amsterdam.
By [ ] protect.
Alrichs
