Dissertation_A Bick_May 25 - DataSpace at Princeton University
Dissertation_A Bick_May 25 - DataSpace at Princeton University Dissertation_A Bick_May 25 - DataSpace at Princeton University
Chapter Six Imaginary Economies: Lobbying and the Rhetoric of Numbers 1. Introduction The fall meeting of the Heren XIX came to a close on October 16, 1645. After agreeing to an extraordinary payment to the scribe and signing the official minutes, the delegates returned to their homes and prepared to debrief their respective chambers. 1 A great deal had been accomplished over the preceding five weeks: the board had dispatched initial relief to Brazil and set into motion negotiations within the States General and provincial assemblies to support a more robust military response to the revolt. They had selected Wolter Schonenborch to serve as President of the High Council in Recife, a decision that (it was hoped) would bring greater authority and coherence to the colony's management. And they had resolved to keep the slave trade a company monopoly and approved Pieter Stuyvesant’s plans to jointly administer New Netherland and Curaçao. 2 But their work was hardly done. Schonenborch and his colleagues were still in the Netherlands and discussions within the States General over money and men for Brazil were stalled. 3 Equally troubling, the WIC’s charter, which had expired earlier in the year, 1 NA 1.01.07, inv.nr. 12564.17, fol. 53. The representatives of the States General—Johan van der Camer, Jacob Veth, and Wolter Schonenborch—reported back to the committee on the WIC in the States General on October 28. NA.1.01.03, inv.nr. 4845, entry for October 28, 1645. 2 See Jacobs, Petrus Stuyvesant, 43–48. 3 NA 1.01.04, inv.nr. 5758; NA 1.05.01.01, inv.nr. 2*. Notulen van de Beoignes in den Hage van Prima December 1645 tot 4 May 1646; Haecxs, “Het Dagboek van Hendrik Haecxs, Lid van den Hoogen Raad van Brazilië (1645- 1654).” 223
had not yet been renewed. 4 As the delegates departed Middelburg the company faced very real existential threats both abroad and at home. These threats could only be addressed by the States General, in what would amount to a substantial public bail out. The situation only worsened over the following weeks. On October 25, the company submitted separate memoranda to the States General and the States of Holland, indicating frustration that consensus had not yet been reached on the subsidy of 700,000 guilders the company had requested in mid-September. 5 Although the Amsterdam chamber had already rented and begun to outfit four ships to send to Brazil, it was unable to meet even the basic expenses to cover sailors’ wages. The directors accused the States of Holland of abandoning them and “hazard[ing] us to the enemy, despite the courage with which you and the other provinces helped to build the company, at such expense in money and blood.” 6 Even this produced no firm commitment, though, and when several directors appeared in person in the States of Holland a month later, on November 25, the news they bore was even more grim. Johannes de Laet, who addressed the assembly, reported that Fort St. Augustyn had been lost and Dutch settlers had been forced to abandon their lands in the interior of Pernambuco for the safety of the coast. 7 The company could hold on to the colony for perhaps a few more months, but not longer. Without immediate assistance to Brazil, De Laet warned, the Dutch Republic stood to lose more than 30 million guilders—a staggering figure that must have included not only the company’s investment, but also the investments of private traders, Amsterdam sugar refiners, and others involved in financing and supplying the colony. 8 4 Den Heijer, “Plannen voor Samenvoeging van VOC en WIC.” 5 NA 1.01.04, inv.nr. 5758. Remonstrantie from the Delegated Directors of the West India Company to the States General, exhibited in the States General on October 25, 1645. 6 Ibid. “ 7 Staten van Holland and Westvriesland, Gedrukt Resoluties, entry for November 25, 1645. 8 Ibid. I have not been able to corroborate this figure in any other source. De Laet had every reason to inflate potential losses, but he also was known and respected for the accuracy of his claims. Whether he believed this figure 224
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had not yet been renewed. 4 As the deleg<strong>at</strong>es departed Middelburg the company faced very real<br />
existential thre<strong>at</strong>s both abroad and <strong>at</strong> home. These thre<strong>at</strong>s could only be addressed by the St<strong>at</strong>es<br />
General, in wh<strong>at</strong> would amount to a substantial public bail out.<br />
The situ<strong>at</strong>ion only worsened over the following weeks. On October <strong>25</strong>, the company<br />
submitted separ<strong>at</strong>e memoranda to the St<strong>at</strong>es General and the St<strong>at</strong>es of Holland, indic<strong>at</strong>ing<br />
frustr<strong>at</strong>ion th<strong>at</strong> consensus had not yet been reached on the subsidy of 700,000 guilders the<br />
company had requested in mid-September. 5 Although the Amsterdam chamber had already<br />
rented and begun to outfit four ships to send to Brazil, it was unable to meet even the basic<br />
expenses to cover sailors’ wages. The directors accused the St<strong>at</strong>es of Holland of abandoning<br />
them and “hazard[ing] us to the enemy, despite the courage with which you and the other<br />
provinces helped to build the company, <strong>at</strong> such expense in money and blood.” 6 Even this<br />
produced no firm commitment, though, and when several directors appeared in person in the<br />
St<strong>at</strong>es of Holland a month l<strong>at</strong>er, on November <strong>25</strong>, the news they bore was even more grim.<br />
Johannes de Laet, who addressed the assembly, reported th<strong>at</strong> Fort St. Augustyn had been lost and<br />
Dutch settlers had been forced to abandon their lands in the interior of Pernambuco for the safety<br />
of the coast. 7 The company could hold on to the colony for perhaps a few more months, but not<br />
longer. Without immedi<strong>at</strong>e assistance to Brazil, De Laet warned, the Dutch Republic stood to<br />
lose more than 30 million guilders—a staggering figure th<strong>at</strong> must have included not only the<br />
company’s investment, but also the investments of priv<strong>at</strong>e traders, Amsterdam sugar refiners,<br />
and others involved in financing and supplying the colony. 8<br />
<br />
4 Den Heijer, “Plannen voor Samenvoeging van VOC en WIC.”<br />
5 NA 1.01.04, inv.nr. 5758. Remonstrantie from the Deleg<strong>at</strong>ed Directors of the West India Company to the St<strong>at</strong>es<br />
General, exhibited in the St<strong>at</strong>es General on October <strong>25</strong>, 1645.<br />
6 Ibid. “<br />
7 St<strong>at</strong>en van Holland and Westvriesland, Gedrukt Resoluties, entry for November <strong>25</strong>, 1645.<br />
8 Ibid. I have not been able to corrobor<strong>at</strong>e this figure in any other source. De Laet had every reason to infl<strong>at</strong>e<br />
potential losses, but he also was known and respected for the accuracy of his claims. Whether he believed this figure<br />
224
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