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Dissertation_A Bick_May 25 - DataSpace at Princeton University

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Cornelis Melijn, of a p<strong>at</strong>roonschap on St<strong>at</strong>en Island. 84 In between he developed a solid working<br />

knowledge of the company's business and a keen interest in m<strong>at</strong>ters of war, law, and colonial<br />

government. His brother's subsequent comments about the free traders and their pernicious effect<br />

on the company suggests th<strong>at</strong> Hendrik may already have viewed them with suspicion in 1636. 85<br />

This committee's report, submitted by Van der Capellen in l<strong>at</strong>e February, shows its<br />

authors’ <strong>at</strong>titude towards the company and their vision for ensuring the success of the Brazil<br />

colony. 86 The report began by reviewing the central points of the submissions provided by<br />

Amsterdam and Zeeland. Amsterdam maintained, in effect, th<strong>at</strong> the company didn't have the<br />

resources or credit to drive the trade to Brazil, and th<strong>at</strong> the important goal of settling the colony<br />

was possible only if traders could conduct their business freely. In addition, they argued th<strong>at</strong> the<br />

company and the St<strong>at</strong>es General were oblig<strong>at</strong>ed to uphold their agreements with Portuguese<br />

planters; only by tre<strong>at</strong>ing them with respect, as the King of Portugal had done, could the<br />

company hope to bring them over to its side. Finally, Amsterdam calcul<strong>at</strong>ed th<strong>at</strong> the income<br />

from recognition fees, which in 1635 and 1636 had been worth between 500,000-600,000<br />

guilders, could be expected to rise to 2.5 million guilders if the trade was left open. 87<br />

Zeeland, by contrast, argued th<strong>at</strong> closing the trade was consistent with the WIC's charter,<br />

whereas Amsterdam's position was not, and th<strong>at</strong> only the company could ensure th<strong>at</strong> the public<br />

interest was protected. This included ensuring th<strong>at</strong> Brazil was adequ<strong>at</strong>ely popul<strong>at</strong>ed and<br />

cultiv<strong>at</strong>ed, aims th<strong>at</strong> priv<strong>at</strong>e traders had no incentive to share. And Zeeland <strong>at</strong>tacked<br />

Amsterdam's financial calcul<strong>at</strong>ions by pointing out th<strong>at</strong> the company had spent nearly 6 million<br />

























































<br />

84<br />

Jacobs, The Colony of New Netherland, 73.<br />

85<br />

See Chapter Four.<br />

86<br />

NA 1.01.04, inv.nr. 5754, fols. 379-383. Rapport van den heere Vander Capellen toe Ryssel en andere haer<br />

hoochmog Gecommitteerde over die Communic<strong>at</strong>ie gehouden met die Gedeputierde der Negentien van die<br />

respective Westindische Cameren van Amsterdam, Zeelant, Mase, Norderquartier, St<strong>at</strong> Groningen en omlanden.<br />

Exhibitum <strong>25</strong> February 1637.<br />

87<br />

Ibid., fol. 379.<br />


 196

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