s, it was premature.

Trade, without which, when it is legitimate, no country is prosperous,
is by their acts so decayed, that it amounts to nothing. It is more
suited for slaves than freemen, in consequence of the restrictions
upon it and the annoyances which accompany the exercise of the right
of inspection. We approve of inspection, however, so far as relates to
contraband.

This contraband trade has ruined the country, and contraband goods are
now sent to every part of it by orders given by the Managers to their
officers. These orders should be executed without partiality, which is
not always the case. The Recognition(1) runs high, and of inspection
and confiscation there is no lack; hence legitimate trade is entirely
diverted, except a little, which exists pro forma, as a cloak for
carrying on illicit trading. In the mean time the Christians are treated
almost like Indians, in the purchase of the necessaries with which they
cannot dispense. This causes great complaint, distress and poverty: as,
for example, the merchants sell those goods which are liable to little
depreciation at a hundred per cent. and more profit, when there is
particular demand or scarcity of them. And the traders who come with
small cargoes, and others engaged in the business, buy them up from the
merchants and sell them again to the common man, who cannot do without
them, oftentimes at a hundred per cent. advance, or higher and lower
according to the demand. Upon liquors, which are liable to much leakage,
they take more, and those who buy from them retail them in the same
manner, as we have described in regard to dry wares, and generally even
more cunningly, so that the goods are sold through first, second and
sometimes third hands, at one and two hundred per cent. advance. We are
not able to think of all the practices which are contrived for advancing
individual and private gain. Little attention is given to populating
the land. The people, moreover, have been driven away by harsh and
unreasonable proceedings, for which their Honors gave the orders; for
the Managers wrote to Director Kieft to prosecute when there was no
offence, and to consider a partial offence an entire one, and so forth.
It has also been seen how the letters of the Eight Men were treated, and
what followed thereupon;(2) besides there were many ruinous orders and
instructions which are not known to us. But leaving this at present,
with now and then a word, at a convenient