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Documents Relative to the Colonial History of New York, Vol. I — Passage 255 (part 3)

E.B. O'Callaghan (ed.) (1856) 250 words View original →

[E.B. O'Callaghan (ed.) (1856)] Stuyvesant's duty to construct, caulk and repair the Company's property. He will answer for the profit or loss the Company has in consequence incurred. The burghers on the Island of Manhatans and thereabouts ought to know, that no one comes or is admitted into New Netherland (it being a conquest), except on this condition — not that he shall have anything to say, but — that he shall acknowledge the sovereignty of their High Mightinesses the States General, the Directors as his Lords and Patroons, and obey the Director and Council for the time being, as a good subject is bound to do. Those who complain of Stuyvesant's haughtiness are, such I think, as wish to live without government or order. The complaint that no regulation has been made concerning wampum, is unfounded. In Director Kieft's time, good Wampum passed for four, and loose beads at six, for a stiver. The reason for not prohibiting unstringed wampum was, because no money was in circulation, and mechanics, farmers and the rest of the Commonalty, having no other currency, would suffer serious loss; and had it been cried down, doubtless the Remonstrants would have booked the circumstance among the rest of their grievances. No one will prove that Directoror Stuyvesant hath berated as rascals, or made use of foul language to, any persons of respectability, who treated him courteously. If the Director hath made use of any harsh language, it must be that some profligate hath provoked him to it. Vol. I.