Document: Letter from Jacob Alrichs to director Stuyvesant

Noble, Honorable, Esteemed, Wise, Prudent and very Discrete Lord:

My Lord, I was very pleased to hear of your successful settlement of affairs at the Esopus and your return home in good disposition; but afterwards I was unhappy to learn that you had been stricken with a very bad fever. I hope that God may release you from it and restore your former health and strength of which I shall be pleased to hear at the first opportunity.

I further understand that you mention that the grain there cannot be paid for in goods but at least half must be paid in beavers. I request and trust that you shall be able to remedy this matter concerning payment in beavers, and accommodate me and the city in this matter because there are so few beavers here or none at all to trade, as is sufficiently known to everyone. I shall rely upon your discretion in this matter.

The arrival of Skipper Jacob with the galliot is anxiously awaited since he has had good and favorable winds at various times. We hope that he will arrive any hour now since we are badly in need of bread-grain or flour because the horsemill is not finished on account of the death of Christian Barents. We likewise hope that the ship, de Vergulde Meulen, has arrived safely.

The cattle arrived here on the 2nd of this month [ ] by J[ ] Eenloos on behalf of this colony, after a [ ] journey [ ] that some of the animals [ ] lame. [ ] Brantie, the soldier, has also...

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A serious general sickness has been raging here again for some time among many of the settlers. May the Lord please take us into his merciful protection and deliver the many feeble people from it. I have been in poor health myself for some days but am now, thank God, somewhat better.

I hereby commend you, the Noble, Honorable, Wise and Prudent Lord, and your family to God's protection, together with cordial greetings.

J. Alrichs
Jacobs