[E.B. O'Callaghan (ed.) (1856)] I"'^^ petition presented to their High Mightinesses in the name and on the cm't'rand''comen" behalf of Jochcm Pietersen Cuyter and Cornelis Melyn, inhabitants of New "°'^°" Netherland is, after consideration, placed, with the papers thereunto anne.xed, in the hands of the Mess" van der Capellen tho Ryssel and others their High Mightinesses' deputies in the matters concerning the Redress of the decline of the West India Company, for inspection and examination, to look into what has been done thereupon, to hear the Directors of the aforesaid Company, and to make a report of the whole. PAPERS RELATING TO THE CONDITION OF NEW NETHERLAND, And, the -proceedings against Cornelius MJyn and his adherents; marked from letter A. to letter R., 1643—1647. [ From.the anlhenticatcd Copy in the Eoyal Archives at the Hague; Loketkas of the States General; Division Wea IndUche Compagnie, No. 25. ] Excise Law of 1644. A. Whereas, the General war which we have been forced to wage against the surrounding Savages hath obliged us, in order to preserve the country, to employ an