Page:Augustine Herrman, beginner of the Virginia tobacco trade, merchant of New Amsterdam and first lord of Bohemia manor in Maryland (1941).djvu/61

 deciding to take no cognizance of it, did not stop at the Amsterdam offices of the great trading company. When the Amsterdam officials of the Dutch West India Company learned of Van der Donck’s action, they were highly indignant that he should have the presumption to pass over their heads. To Van Tienhoven’s delight, they told him that the signers of the Remonstrance were “silly persons who had been imposed upon by a few worthless persons,” probably referring to Van der Donck. On the other hand, however, the document was not dismissed in such cavalier fashion at The Hague; for when the States-General had read the Remonstrance, they saw at once that it was a sincere portrayal of conditions of New Netherland. Realizing the gravity of the situation, they dismissed the delegation, promising that their wishes would be attended to; that they would receive more colonists; that a court of justice would be set up in the province; and that the boundaries would be determined. In fact, the States-General promised to look after all the important points recommended in the Remonstrance, going so far as to rebuke Stuyvesant for his arbitrary rule and promising to force a speedy reform in the administration of New Netherland. The delegation was jubilant over the outcome of their mission, not yet aware of the fact that Van Tienhoven was in Holland doing all he could to undo their good work. Van Couwenhoven and Bout, after obtaining letters from the States-General forbidding Stuyvesant to molest them, prepared to depart for home; while Van der Donck decided to remain in Holland for a while. Meantime, Van Tienhoven was active, determined to make another serious effort to ruin the efforts of the delegation. Remaining in the Netherlands during the winter of 1649–50, he worked so subtly and craftily that he was nearly successful in accomplishing his purposes; and he may have succeeded had it not