[E.B. O'Callaghan (ed.) (1856)] shall esteem as valid as if it were personal, leaving copy hereof and of your service for the behoof of the respondents, reporting to us at the day aforesaid, what you have done in the premises. Given at the Hague, under our seal, paraph, and signature of our Secretary, on the tenth April, XVI' three and fifty. Chamber at Amsterdam to the States General. [ From the Original in the Eoyal ArchiTes at the Hague; File, West Indie. ] High and Mighty Lords. Adriaen van der Donck, having heretofore resided in New Netherland, a place situated within the Company's Charter, hath submitted to us a certain little Book, entitled : Beschryvinge van Nieu-Nederlant, begrJJpende de Nature, Aerl, gelegentheyt en vruchlbaerheyt van het selve Lant; mitsgaders de proffijlelljcke ende gewenste toevallen, die aldaer tot '' s-menschen onderhoul, soo uyt haer selven ah van huyten ingebracht, gevmiden werden. And the same being examined by us, we have judged it by no means out of the way, in regard to the conveniency of the place. And as he intends to apply to your High Mightinesses for a copyright therefor, and hath requested us to furnish him a letter to your High Mightinesses in regard to the communication made to us; we are unwilling to refuse, but have willingly granted it to him, in order that it may avail him according as your High Mightinesses, in your profound wisdom may think proper. Herewith, High and Mighty Lords, we shall pray God Almighty for the lasting welfare of