Dissertation_A Bick_May 25 - DataSpace at Princeton University

the area north of the Amazon River. 4 “The general belief,” he wrote, “is that the greatest riches
from the Indies are derived from Gold and Silver,” but in fact,
This is a great misunderstanding: because the greatest riches lie in the diverse fruits that can be
found there, such as Sugar, Ginger, Indigo, Cochineal, Sasparilla, and dry goods such as diverse
sorts of Wood, Skins, Pearls, and Stones: and then again in the diverse Manufactures, Wares, and
Trade Goods that the Spanish send there, whereby the Merchants, Officials, Sailors, Inhabitants,
and all the others live. 5
Settlement and trade, in other words, were the twin foundations for success in the New World.
Usselincx advocated peaceful relations with the Indians and opposed slavery, not only because it
was contrary to Christian morals, but because it would prohibit the development of a free
population with the means necessary to consume Dutch manufactures. 6 Over the next two
decades Usselincx repeated these themes in literally dozens of pamphlets and proposals meant to
persuade the States General, city councils, and provincial assemblies of the benefits of erecting a
West India Company. 7
But the company’s birth did not come about as Usselincx envisioned. During the final set
of negotiations, his carefully conceived draft for the company's new charter was set aside in
favor of a rival draft generated by a committee within the States of Holland, and by the time the
charter was approved Usselinx found himself marginalized. In place of his plans to promote
4 Willem Usselincx, Vertoogh, hoe Nootwendich, Nut ende Profytelick het sy voor de Vereenighde Nederlanden te
Behouden de Vryheyt van te Handelen op Westindien, 1608. Knuttel 1442.
5 Cited in Rees, Geschiedenis der Staathuishoudkunde in Nederland tot het Einde der Achttiende Eeuw, 90. “Het
ghemeen ghevoelen hiervan is, dat den meesten Rijckfom van dyen handel soude ghelegen zijn inde rijcke Goudt
ende Silvere Mijnen die Indien heeft. Dan t’selve is een groot misverstant: want den meesten Rijckdom bestaet inde
verscheyden vruchten ende ghewassen die in die Landen van Indien vallen, als daer zijn Suycker, Gember, Indigo,
Cochenille, Salsaperille, ende ander Drogheryen: als mede diversche soorten van Houdt, Huyden, Peerlen ende
gesteenten: ende wederom inde verscheyden manufacturen, Waren ende Coopmanschappen, die van Spaengien
derwaerts ghevoert werden, waer by den Coopman, Ambachtsman, Schippers, Landtlieden, ende meest alle de
ghemeenten leven.”
6 Ernst van den Boogaart and Pieter C. Emmer, “Dutch Participation in the Atlantic Slave Trade, 1596-1650,” in The
Uncommon Market: Essays in the Economic History of the Atlantic Slave Trade, ed. Henry A. Gemery and Jan S.
Hogendorn (New York: Academic Press, 1979), 355.
7 Ligtenberg, Willem Usselinx.
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