ittle
more than they can eat up in a day, they wish to be released from the
authority of their benefactors, and without paying if they could; a sign
of gross ingratitude.

Hitherto the country has been nothing but expense to the Company, and
now when it can provide for itself and yield for the future some profit
to the Company, these people are not willing to pay the tenth which they
are in duty bound to pay after the expiration of the ten years, pursuant
to the Exemptions to which they are making an appeal.

Upon the second point they say that provision should be made for
ecclesiastical and municipal property, church services, an orphan asylum
and an almshouse. If they are such philanthropists as they appear, let
them lead the way in generous contributions for such laudable objects,
and not complain when the Directors have endeavored to make collections
for the building of the church and school. What complaints would have
been made if the Director had undertaken to make collections for an
almshouse and an orphan asylum! The service of the church will not be
suspended, although Domine Johannes Backerus has departed, who was there
only twenty-Seven months. His place is supplied by a learned and godly
Minister who has no interpreter when he defends the Reformed Religion
against any minister of our neighbors, the English Brownists.(1)

(1) Referring to Reverend Johannes Megapolensis, who had
been persuaded to remain in New Netherland and assume
pastoral care of Manhattan.

The foregoing are the points which really require any answer. We
will only add some description of the persons who have signed the
remonstrance and who are the following:

Adrian van der Donk has been about eight years in New Netherland.
He went there in the service of the proprietors of the colony of
Renselaerswyck as an officer, but did not long continue such, though he
lived in that colony till 1646.

Arnoldus van Hardenburgh accompanied Hay Jansen to New Netherland,
in the year 1644, with a cargo for his brother. He has never to our
knowledge suffered any loss or damage in New Netherland, but has known
how to charge the commonalty well for his goods.

Augustyn Heermans came on board the Maecht van Enkhuysen,(1) being then
as he still is, the agent of Gabrie(2) in trading business.

(1) "Maid of Enkhuizen."

(2) Peter Gabry and Sons, a noted firm of Amsterdam.

Jacob van Couwenhoven came to the country with his fat