[E.B. O'Callaghan (ed.) (1856)] We learn from a reliable source, that by your High Mightinesses' order, the Amsterdam Chamber of the West India Company is authorized to lay on a ship for Brazil; and we have lying at Amsterdam a lot of forty barrels of beef, each weighing 500"", well packed in iron bound barrels, which through want of opportunity cannot be cleared nor conveyed to Brazil, and even did occasion present, no one would be willing to receive the aforesaid beef unless the freight were previously paid, which it is impossible for us to do. And considering that provisions will be in the greatest demand in Brazil, we request your High Mightinesses to be pleased to order that the aforesaid forty barrels be shipped in this vessel now put on, and be therein conveyed to Brazil. Further, we duly received your High Mightinesses' letter of the 12"" instant slilo loci, that we should confer at the Hague with your High Mightinesses' Committee on the 26"" March, on the subject of the resort to New Netherland and of its trade, upon certain information transmitted by the Amsterdam Directors to your High Mightinesses' Committee for the afiairs of the West India Company, we would not willingly fail to depute thither some one of our Chamber, but inasmuch as we possess very little knowledge thereof, having never traded to that place; and as in these ham times every e.xpense must be avoided, we therefore request your High Mightinesses will be pleased to excuse us in this instance.