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CEYLOJf BRANCH 



also to the XVII Representatives, in order that these may 

 issue salutary orders accordingly ; that however neither to the 

 classes nor to any private individuals, but only to the Company, 

 should anything be mentioned in writing touching the position, 

 condition or concerns of political, military or commercial 

 affairs in India ; as contrary, thirdly, to the 39th article of 

 the Batavian Ecclesiastical orders sanctioned and issued by 

 General Van Diemen and the Council of India in 1643, which 

 says : Inasmuch as no one may divulge any letters of the con- 

 sistory, it is herebv forbidden, for the sake of preventing any 

 mistakes, to the ordinary or extraordinary Scriba to take with 

 him out of the consistory either to his dwelling or elsewhere, 

 the resolution book, the letter book, or any other letters and 

 papers belonging to the secretaryship of the Church, except 

 alone the Register of Baptisms and Marriages ; but all letters, 

 resolutions, &c, shall be written and answered in the meeting. 

 The consistory further explain, that their letters were for- 

 warded to the Governor for transmission under cover of official 

 despatches, for the sake of security, and that they were drawn 

 up and sealed in the meeting always in the presence of the 

 Commissary Politic, who&s the organ of the Government, had 

 sufficient cognizance of all transactions. It was moreover the 

 practice on such occasions, to dopute two members to the Go- 

 vernor to inform him by word of mouth of the communications 

 made to the home authorities. The result was, that the Go- 

 vernor declined urging the matter, intimating his intention to 

 submit it to the Company, and leaving it to the consistory to 

 make their own representation to the classes. The classes 

 adjusted the matter with the Representatives, who did not wish 

 to restrict the consistory in freely and directly corresponding 

 with them and the classes on their business, and sealing; such 

 letters in their meeting, that there might be no clashing 



