NIEUHOFF*S BRAZIL. 88 1 



Dutch durft feldom venture upon them ; the taxes laid upon every thing belonging to 

 the fugar-miUs, and upon the fugar itfelf, being fo great, that little profit was to be 

 reaped from thence, unlefs the fugar fold at a very dear rate ; whereas, on the con- 

 trary, we ought, after the example of the Spaniards, to have endeavoured to draw our 

 fubjeds into Brazil, by the granting of confiderable immunities of honour and other 

 advantages. The military force of the Dutch in Brazil, was likewife not duly regarded ; 

 for whereas according to a juft eftimate made in 1641, by Count Maurice, 7,076 men 

 were abfolutely requifite to maintain the Dutch garrifons there, the States of Hol- 

 land, inftead of following his diredions, did, after the conclufion of the ten years* 

 truce with Portugal, order the great council of the Dutch Brazil to reduce their forces 

 there to eighteen companies of one hundred and fifty men each, and, though feveral 

 remonft ranees were made upon that head to the contrary, the truth of which was veri- 

 fied by the event ; yet the fuccours fent from Holland arrived fo flowly, that after my 

 departure things grew worfe and worfe every day, and the Dutch had loft all their ftrong 

 holds 1054. For the Portuguefe began to blow up the Receif by fea, with fixteen 

 fhips, and to befiege it by land 1653, ^^ December, with fuch fuccefs, that our people 

 being conftrained by hunger, and the garrifon refufmg to fight, were forced to furren- 

 der the place with all its circumjacent forts to the enemy ; fince which time the Portu- 

 guefe have remained in the entire polfeffion of Brazil ; the fame being confirmed to 

 them by the peace made the 6th of Auguft 1660, betwixt Portugal and the States of 

 the United Provinces, in which, among others, thefe following points were agreed 

 upon : — 



That the Crown of Portugal fhall be obliged to pay to the States the fum of eighty 

 tuns of gold, either in ready money or fugar, tobacco, or fait, or elfe affign the faid 

 money upon the Portuguefe cuftoms. 



That the places taken on each fide fhould remain to thofe who were then in poffef- 

 fion of them. 



And that a free trade fhould be allowed to the Dutch in Portugal, Africa, and Bra- 

 zil, without paying any more cuftoms than the native Portuguefe. 



END OF VOL. XiV. 



Strahtn xvd f'refton, 

 Pirintere-Sireet, Lundun. 



