Edmund Bailey O'Callaghan

“ The Director General and Council of New Netherland having remarked the scarcity of the crops of the past year, and also that there is great complaint among the good Inhabitants that there is already scarcely enough of Bread to be had of the Bakers for themselves and their children, and it is to be feared, if there be not a seasonable interposition, that there will be a further deficiency of Breadcorn and a greater advance in price. ”

“ And in order that neither the good Inhabitants nor the Natives be herein incommoded by over and short weight, the aforesaid Director and Council Ordain, that the Bakers who henceforth make a business of baking Bread for sale, shall manufacture it either of pure Wheat or of pure Eye, as these come from the Mill, in loaves of eight, four and two pounds weight, at such price as shall be fixed by their Honors of the Court from time to time, according to the value and rate of purchase of the grain. ”

“ Your complaint of the heavy Tax on Tobacco grown in the country there induces us, in the hope of encouraging the People to cultivate it, hereby to consent, that the Tobacco produced in our conquests there, shall pay no more than the Tobacco coming from the Carribean islands to wit, 45 stivers ~ hundred, whence you can well conclude that our object is to benefit those our possessions beyond all ether places, especially as this Tobacco is much better than any ether product coming from the Islands. ”