XVII. Swellengrebel to J.J. le Sueur,
17.9.1780.
After the meeting of the XVII this autumn the only news I have heard of the Cape representatives, is that Artoys is studying in Leiden. In the matter of Buytendagh my sympathies are on their side as the most important requisite of freedom is the right to be allowed a fair trial by a competent judge. That was one of the main issues in our revolt against Philip II. I have been told that Buytendagh was a very bad chracter, but in that case there was all the more reason to have him judged by the Council of Justice. I have been told that the Governor-General in Batavia was of the same opinion. The XVII gave instructions to such effect on 30th November 1681, 15th July 1718 and the 4th October 1732. It makes no difference that Buytendagh was first taken into the service of the Company. To do this against his will was itself a despotic act. I know that the Company reserves this right, but it should never be exercised as a punishment, but only in times of real need.
Moreover he was a born burgher, not a former Company's servant. Regarding landholding by officials, a good friend has told me that only two officials have, at great expense, laid out extensive pleasure gardens. This may be true of the higher officials, but have not lesser officials, like Kruywagen, large country estates? Orders against farming are very positive. Even as early as 1668 officials were forbidden to have gardens, except for the use of their own family.
I have not heard complaints about the share of the fiscal from products sold by our own ships' companies; but that those of other nations also have to give the fiscal his share, seems to be beyond dispute. Regarding the demand that foreigners be not allowed to auction their cargoes, the above mentioned friend says that he knows of only one such public auction of goods, which resulted from the shipwreck of a French vessel; but another reliable person told me that, merely as one example, he had witnessed a public auction of all sorts of English manufactures, brought by English sailors, and conducted by Geron. They may not have been sold in the name of the English, but there was a large quantity, and they were sold by retail, to the detriment of the burgher traders. The Company's trade monopoly runs greater risks from unauthorised competition from its own servants than from free burghers.
The request of the burgher-councillors for a higher rank has little substance, but I do not see why the number of burgher-councillors should not be increased. The burghers in Batavia and in our West-Indian colonies have a greater share in the government, and I cannot see why this should
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