tinued with us, both on account of his diligence and success in
preaching and catechizing, and of his humble and edifying life. By this
he has attracted a great many people, and even some of the negroes, so
that many are sorry for his departure. But considering the fact that
he owes filial obedience to his aged parents, it is God's will that he
should leave us. We must be resigned, therefore, while we commit him to
God and the word of His grace.

Concerning the places in which he has preached, especially the village
called Breuckelen, and the Bouwerie, nothing has been decided yet; but
I think that the son of Domine Megapolensis, who has recently come over,
will take charge of them, as he has not been sent by the Directors to
any particular place.

The French on Staten Island would also like to have a preacher, but as
they number only a few families, are very poor, and cannot contribute
much to a preacher's salary, and as our support here is slow and
small, there is not much hope, that they will receive the light. In the
meantime, that they may not be wholly destitute, Director Stuyvesant
has, at their request, allowed me to go over there every two months, to
preach and administer the Lord's Supper. This I have now done for about
a year. In the winter this is very difficult, for it is a long stretch
of water, and it is sometimes windy, with a heavy sea. We have,
according to the decision of the Classis, admitted the Mennonist, who
is quite unknown to us, to the communion, without rebaptism;(1) but
last week he and his wife removed to Curacao in the West Indies, to live
there. The preacher, sent to New Amstel on the South River, died on the
way, as we are told. Ziperius left for Virginia long ago.(2) He behaved
most shamefully here, drinking, cheating and forging other people's
writings, so that he was forbidden not only to preach, but even to keep
school. Closing herewith I commend the Rev. Brethren to God's protection
and blessing in their work. This is the prayer of

Your Reverences' dutiful friend in Christ,

SAMUEL DRISIUS.

New Amsterdam, August 5, Anno 1664.

(1) In a letter of October 4, 1660, Drisius had consulted
the classis on the question whether a well-behaved young man
residing in New Amsterdam, formerly one of the Mennonites
and baptized by them, might be admitted to the Lord's Supper
without rebaptism. The classis, by letter of December 16,
1661, ruled that according