ut will pass away and come to an end of itself
without benefiting thereby the Honorable Company, so that it would be
better and more profitable for them, and better for the country, that
they should divest themselves of it and transfer their interests.

To speak specifically. Provision ought to be made for public buildings,
as well ecclesiastical as civil, which, in beginnings, can be ill
dispensed with. It is doubtful whether divine worship will not have to
cease altogether in consequence of the departure of the minister, and
the inability of the Company. There should be a public school, provided
with at least two good masters, so that first of all in so wild a
country, where there are many loose people, the youth be well taught and
brought up, not only in reading and writing, but also in the knowledge
and fear of the Lord. As it is now, the school is kept very irregularly,
one and another keeping it according to his pleasure and as long as he
thinks proper. There ought also to be an almshouse and an orphan asylum,
and other similar institutions. The minister who now goes home,(1)
should be able to give a much fuller explanation thereof. The country
must also be provided with godly, honorable and intelligent rulers who
are not too indigent, or indeed are not too covetous. A covetous chief
makes poor subjects. The manner the country is now governed falls
severely upon it, and is intolerable, for nobody is unmolested or secure
in his property longer than the Director pleases, who is generally
strongly inclined to confiscating; and although one does well, and gives
the Heer what is due to him, one must still study always to please him
if he would have quiet. A large population would be the consequence of
a good government, as we have shown according to our knowledge in our
petition; and although to give free passage and equip ships, if it be
necessary, would be expensive at first, yet if the result be considered,
it would be an exceedingly wise measure, if by that means farmers and
laborers together with other needy people were brought into the country,
with the little property which they have; as also the Fatherland
has enough of such people to spare. We hope it would then prosper,
especially as good privileges and exemptions, which we regard as the
mother of population, would encourage the inhabitants to carry on
commerce and lawful trade. Every one would be allured hither by the
pleasantness, situation, salubrity and fr