[E.B. O'Callaghan (ed.) (1856)] All those who were indebted to the Company were notified to pay up the debts left uncollected by the late Willem Kieft, and as some could, and others could not pay, no one was constrained to liquidate their account; but this debt, amounting to about fl.30,000, rendered many who were disinclined to pay, insolent and illdisposed, especially as the Company had, now, nothing to sell in that country on credit, and it appeared that some endeavored to pay, Brazil fashion. The petitioners requested that the Commonalty should not be oppressed. This has never been done; but they would gladly see the Company dunning or suing nobody, and yet paying its creditors. The Company's books will show that the debts were not contracted during, but long before the war. Those who were poor and burdened with wives and children, have been assisted by the Company with clothing, houses, cattle and land, &c., which were, from time to time, carried to account against them, in the hope that payment would be made sometime or other. If the New England taxes, already mentioned, be compared with those of New Netherland, 'twill be found that the people of the former country are more heavily taxed than ours. The taxes in New Netherland are : An excise on wine of one stiver per can, first imposed in the year 1647. An excise on beer of three guilders per tun, laid on by Kieft in the year 1644, Which excise is paid by the Tapster and not by the Burgher.