[E.B. O'Callaghan (ed.) (1856)] Independent of the petitioners and their constituents being public, and for the country's interests, sworn individuals, who therefore in such case deserve full credit, their proofs are as palpable as the sun at clear noon, inasmuch as they have asserted, that disorder and an insufferable government, with their consequences, in conjunction with the covetousness of some individuals, are the sole cause and parent of all that ruin and mischief, as the injurious fruits thereof amply testify, because Heaven has not visited New Netherland with any extraordinary, unavoidable calamities, except such as have originated with the Company and its agents. Again, that country is more favored, and better situated than New England; the Dutch also commenced planting their respective lands many years before the English, yet, notwithstanding, New England is populous, rich, prosperous, driving an immense trade and HOLLAND DOCUMENTS : V. 347 commerce almost with the entire universe; yea, is flourishing, whilst New Netherland, on the contrary, is a desert, usurped on the east side by the English, and on the southwest side by the Swedes, despite of first possession taken by this State; and is, moreover, impoverished, harassed and afflicted; yea, reduced to utter ruin by the aforesaid bad government. Pending the war, remonstrances and complaints against it were addressed, in abundance, both verbally and in writing to the Amsterdam Chamber of the XIX.