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 fruitfulness of the country, if protection were secured
within the already established boundaries. It would all, with
God's assistance, then, according to human judgment, go well,
and New Netherland would in a few years be a worthy place and