Memorandum on Dutch trade in the West Indies

Scope and Content

Manuscript volume, 1608, containing a memorandum outlining reasons why the States General (the Dutch National Assembly) should not abandon trade with the West Indies, entitled 'Memoire des très prégnantes raisons qui doisvent esmouvoir Messigneurs les Estats Généreaux des Provinces Unies pour n'abandonner le trafficq des Indes'.

Administrative / Biographical History

This manuscript appears to be a translation of a very rare tract published in 1608 entitled Waerschouving van de ghewichtige redenen die Heeren Staten General behooren de beweghen, om gheensins te wijcken van de handelinghe en de vaert van Indien , possibly by William Usselincx, of which a translation into French by Jean François Le Petit entitled Sommaire recueil des raisons plus importantes, qui doivent mouvoir Messieurs des Etats des Provinces unies du Pays bas de ne quitter point les Indes was made, also in 1608. Asher attributes this tract to William Usselinex, but J. F. Jameson is of the opinion that he was not the author ( William Usselinex , New York, 1887).

Arrangement

Single item.

Access Information

Access to this collection is unrestricted for the purpose of private study and personal research within the supervised environment and restrictions of the Library's Palaeography Room. Uncatalogued material may not be seen. Please contact the University Archivist for details.

Acquisition Information

Part of the Goldsmith's Library of Economic Literature, initially collected by Herbert Somerton Foxwell and presented by the Goldsmith's Company to the University of London in 1903.

Other Finding Aids

Collection level description.

Physical Characteristics and/or Technical Requirements

Manuscript folio. Bound in quarter-morocco.

Archivist's Note

Compiled by Sarah Smith as part of the RSLP AIM25 Project.

Conditions Governing Use

Copies may be made, subject to the condition of the original. Copying must be undertaken by the Palaeography Room staff, who will need a minimum of 24 hours to process requests.

Location of Originals

The British Library, London, holds several editions of the original Dutch tract [by William Usselincx].

Bibliography

The original Dutch tract from which this copy was made is discussed in G M Asher A bibliographical and historical essay on the Dutch books and pamphlets relating to New Netherland and to the Dutch West India Company (Amsterdam, 1854-1867) and J F Jameson William Usselincx (New York and London, 1887).