[E.B. O'Callaghan (ed.) (1856)] the advice of the Eight men chosen by the Commonalty, no better nor more suitable means can be found in the premises, than to impose some duties on those articles from which the good inhabitants will experience least inconvenience, as the scarcity of money is sufficiently general. We have, therefore, enacted and ordained, and do hereby enact and ordain, that there shall be paid on each half barrel of beer tapt by the tavern keepers, two guilders, one-half payable by the brewer and one half by the tapster; the burgher who does not retail it, to pay half as much; on each quart of Spanish wine and brandy, four stivers; French wine, two stivers, to be paid by the tapsters. On each merchantable beaver purchased within our limits and brought here to the fort, one guilder; the three-quarters and halves in proportion. All on pain of forfeiture of the goods, to be prosecuted by the officer or the collector, to be thereunto appointed; one-third for the informer, one-third for the officer, and the remainder for the Hon"' Company. All this provisionally, until the good God grant us peace, or we receive sufficient succor from Holland. Ady 21 June. A» 1644, in New Netherland. The above copy written by the Director, is collated and found to agree with the original. Done, Manahatas, this 2S"' June, A" 1644. Copy.