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• The letter mentioned the ship Kroonenburg, which they hoped to send out directly after New Year if favorable winds did not hinder the loading.
• The letter was signed by J. R. van der Burg, F. van Ardenne, J. van Santen, N. Os, A. Lelieveld, M. L. Gaaswijck, A. P. Sulle ke van Hogenhouck, A. Barkeij, and L. R. de Bas.
• The letter was written in Samarang on 22 December 1777.
• It was received on 22 December 1777 according to secretary Markeij.

On 28 December 1777, a report was sent regarding the arrival of eastern ships. The officials stated they would follow orders concerning the validation of spillage (goods allowed to be traded privately by ship officers). Since the petitioner had always given the required satisfaction as bookkeeper, they asked for favorable consideration of both requests.

The ships 't Huijs te Bijweg and Kroonenburg, destined for Banda and Amboina respectively, had arrived at Paccalongang and Samarang. In response to the letter of 10th of the month, the officials reported they would send to Amboina with Kroonenburg the full woolen request, and to Banda 700 coiangs of rice instead of the originally requested 1,000. They would send as many of the other goods as the ships 't Huis te Bijwegen and Oostcapelle could transport. Each of these 3 ships would receive 40,000 pounds of rice and 8,000 cadjang (roofing material) as rations for the crew for the round trip, calculated at 8 months.

In validating spillage for ship officers bringing goods from Batavia, they would follow article 2 of the regulation reprinted on 15 August 1764 (dated 22 December 1777), concerning the writing off of shortages and deficiencies. They would therefore validate only half of the otherwise permitted spillage. They thanked the authorities both for this ruling and for permission to write off war and transport costs in Balemboang and in the expedition against Noessa, which occurred in fiscal year 1776/7, totaling 37,049 guilders, 3 stuivers, and 8 penningen.

The authorities' satisfaction with the favorable state of this coast and the recorded profit of 105,227 guilders and 3 stuivers in fiscal year 1776/7 gave them much satisfaction. The confidence placed in them served as a strong motivation to meet expectations that the profits from prosperous Java at the end of the current fiscal year would exceed those of many previous years by a considerable amount, and that outstanding debts would be reduced.

They respectfully noted the granted permission to the Ternate citizens to call at Java on their journey to Batavia, provided they had proper passes, and to sell their cargo there either wholly or in part.

• Willem van der Beke, chief merchant and Resident of Japaras, for his appointment as second-in-command of Java
• Reverend Johannes Lipsius, for his salary increase
• Captain Commander Francois van Ardenne, for his improvement in position

1. One from junior merchant and Resident at Joana Rutgert Reinier Keijzer, requesting permission to make a trip to Batavia
2. One from citizen of Sourabaija Pieter Loeshouwer, requesting to be taken back into the Company's service in his previous position

• Loeroh from Bali
• Katjong
• Damon from Boegis

• Talatoe from Boegis
• Maliang Tintan
• Tagal Toemat from Batavia
• Baze

• The bazaar in the city
• Various land council fines
• Half of the fine imposed on the Sumanaps Regent

On 22 December 1777, a regulation was sent to all lower-ranking offices with necessary remarks for the leaders themselves. This included a recommendation to encourage the community to be generous toward the poor, but this had little effect so far, as could be seen from earlier church matters that were noted down.

Meanwhile, former estate administrators and administrators of orphan and church deacon funds had investigated and reported back, as requested, about which of the mortgages under their management were sufficient and which debtors had good guarantors or not. On 11 October of the previous year, each administrator was told through a resolution to ensure without delay that money owed on expired or over-valued mortgages would be collected and paid. Where guarantors had died or were insufficient, new ones should be appointed or the capital itself should be demanded. They were to submit a written report by the end of the month so that collected money that was lying idle could be invested more securely. This authority was given by a letter dated 10 June of that year.

The church treasury, which had stood at 1,619 rijksdaalders and 27 stuivers at the end of February 1776, had decreased because regular expenses and repairs to the church and minister's house had exceeded income of only 516 rijksdaalders, 18 stuivers, and 4 penningen by 68 rijksdaalders, 41 stuivers, and 12 penningen. By the end of February 1777, according to the account inserted in the resolution of 21 March, the treasury held only 1,550 rijksdaalders, 33 stuivers, and 4 penningen. By the middle of that month, it had decreased further to only 583 rijksdaalders, 21 stuivers, and 8 penningen.

This was because payment had been made for repair, improvement, and enlargement of the organ. A committee consisting of merchant Nicolaas Alexander Leliveld and junior merchant Martinus Leonardus Gaaswijck had inspected the organ and carefully examined everything. In their report they confirmed that the 1,116 rijksdaalders charged by the maker were well deserved. At the meeting on 11 November, senior merchant and chief administrator Johan Michiel van Panhuis, serving as church warden, was authorized to pay that amount.

• In Semarang alone: 2,099 reichsdalers, 9 stuivers were collected
• At all other offices and posts: only 1,346 reichsdalers, 30 stuivers
• Total collected: 3,445 reichsdalers, 39 stuivers
• Spent on maintenance of orphans and other needy people: 5,402 reichsdalers, 24 stuivers
• Amount overspent: 1,956 reichsdalers, 32 stuivers

• On 22 December 1777, several church visits were carried out by appointed visitors.
• According to engineer Sustenam, a building needed to be demolished and rebuilt because the old one had become too small.
• The new building would be enlarged as much as the land within the Lodge allowed, to a length of 6 rods and 5 feet, and a width of 2 rods and 8 feet.
• They requested approval for the calculated sum of 2,783 riksdaalders and 24 stuivers, not including the heavy timber work, which the administrators of Paccalongang, Batang, and Wieradessa had already agreed to supply.
• Regarding church matters this year, the church visit in the upper lands was carried out by preacher Johannes Lipsius, and in the west in Paccalongang and Tagal by preacher Hermanus Wachter on his return journey to Batavia.
• In Sourabaija, the sacrament of baptism was administered by preacher Wolter Hendrik Tenking, who was there with the ship Westfriesland.
• The trading posts Grissee, Passourouang, Banjoewangie, Paccalongang, and Joana had no visitor for the sick, which meant public worship had stopped and the youth missed necessary education and grew up in ignorance.
• They therefore felt obliged to respectfully request that they be provided with at least 5 visitors for the sick, who should be sober and capable persons.
• The careful observation of the gift collection for the poor had led to the conclusion that public worship was not being properly maintained at the trading posts and the poor were being neglected.
• On 16 September, they decided, and by circular letter of 25 September, they ordered everywhere not only to attend public worship regularly, but to maintain it on all Sundays and feast days at the usual times and places.
• If public worship was neglected or suspended without lawful reason, the heads of the respective trading posts would have to pay a fine of 10 silver carved ducatons for the poor for each instance.
• The church council was also authorized to inform the visitors for the sick at all trading posts of this and to instruct them to report every 6 months, or whenever the poor boxes were opened and the money sent, how many times and when they were allowed to conduct worship services, with the reasons why services might have been postponed.

On 22 December 1777, Sustman would have buildings completed in Cheribon. The construction of the lodges at the Courts was progressing.

Rice amounts were recorded from several places:

• From Joana: 504.5 koyangs
• From Japara: 630 koyangs
• From Tagal: 330.5 koyangs
• From Paccalongang: 649 koyangs
• Total: 4092.25 koyangs

This did not include rice transported on the Company's ships for permitted loads of the authorities or other purposes, nor a large quantity of other local crops that this coast exported. They trusted that Batavia would be sufficiently supplied with Javanese products and that Your High Honors would be satisfied.

Lieutenant Engineer Fredrik Sustman would be provided with further requirements when he returned from the island of Noessa and from the eastern corner. They would answer Your High Honors' further inquiries about the fort and the buildings in Cheribon.

Two reports from the Residents at Souracarta and Djokjocarta were offered, showing how far the lodges being built by the susuhunan and the Sultan respectively at their Courts had progressed.

Building work completed on the coastal trading posts included:

• At Samarang: only ordinary repairs were done during this year to maintain the buildings in good condition, including work on the rice warehouse which was still ongoing
• At Sourabaija: Fort Belvidera was renewed, the fortification wall and revetment were improved, the navigation lodge was rebuilt, and work was currently underway on the trade and pay office, the prison, and the jailer's residence
• At Grissee and Rembang: the lodge, buildings, and warehouses received the agreed repairs and improvements
• At Ioana: the flagpole was renewed and the platform in front of the lodge was repaired and enlarged, costing 247 guilders, 2 stuivers, and 8 penningen according to the specification
• At Japara: the powder house was repaired for the agreed sum of 144 guilders and 16 stuivers according to the specification
• At Paccalongang: the rice warehouse was now in such a state that nothing more could be done to keep it standing, as it threatened to collapse at any moment according to the Lieutenant's report

They hoped for approval for writing off both repair amounts in the account books of those trading posts.

• To Samarang: 135 arrived, 166 departed
• To Sourabaija: 51 arrived, 181 departed
• Total: 253 arrived, 498 departed

• 797.5 coyangs to Batavia
• 830 coyangs to Malacca
• 594 coyangs to Palembang
• 785 coyangs to Johor
• 619 coyangs to Trangano
• 27 coyangs to Riouw
• 12 coyangs to Camper
• 24.5 coyangs to Indragirie
• 93 coyangs to Bliton
• 15.5 coyangs to Manpauwa
• 46 coyangs to Cotte
• 43 coyangs to Passier
• 30 coyangs to Banjermassing
• 110 coyangs to Siac
• 14 coyangs to Balij
• 15 coyangs to Bima
• 18 coyangs to Pontianak
• 18 coyangs to Sambas

• From Samarang: 1,785.25 coyangs
• From Rembang: 19 coyangs
• From Sourabaija: 117 coyangs
• From Grissee: 57 coyangs

• 2 metal cannons of ½ pound
• 4 iron cannons of ½ pound
• 6 metal swivel guns
• 2 copper blunderbusses
• 4 iron blunderbusses
• 16 rifles of various sorts
• 3 Balinese rifles

The executors were ordered to carry out the orders. Nothing further needed to be noted about pirates, except what had already been mentioned. The profits from goods recovered from a certain shipwreck were distributed according to the orders on 22 December 1777, which gave great satisfaction, and proper thanks were expressed. The Surabaya officials were informed about matters concerning Surabaya, and they were ordered to carry out the orders. The originally agreed lease period for that district was to remain in effect for the benefit of the Company. The regent named Sumanap was ordered not only to make the tenant pay back the income that he had wrongfully taken, but also to pay a fine of 1,000 Spanish reals for the benefit of the Deacons' Poor Relief and the Almshouse.

During this year, no foreign Europeans were reported along Java except for the English two-masted bark The Naneij at Japara, which had been mentioned in the submission of 3 June. Regarding pirates and raids, nothing more needed to be said beyond what had been noted earlier in response to the letter extract from Patria dated 30 October 1776. Concerning the salvaged goods from the vessel or wreck that ran aground between Touban and Passum, which was believed to have belonged to pirates (last mentioned in the submission of the end of August), it was reported that after the Council of Justice declared the goods forfeited, the net proceeds (after deducting all costs) amounted to 1,946 rixdollars and 24 stuivers. Following the instructions given in the letter of 10 June, the money was divided as follows: one-third to the finder, one-third to the prosecutor, and one-third transferred to the Company's treasury in favor of the account for patrol vessels. However, this was all done with the condition that restitution would be made if rightful owners ever appeared. They hoped this would be approved.

The goods captured during the conquest of the island of Noessa and sent by the Surabaya officials consisted of:

• 1 iron cannon of 8 pounds
• 4 metal cannons of ½ pound
• 2 metal cannons of ½ pound
• 16 metal swivel guns, of which 10 were unusable
• 3 iron small mortars, unusable
• 3 cannonballs of various types
• 30 round shot of various types
• 3 copper blunderbusses, of which 1 was unusable
• 5 pieces (text incomplete)

• On 22 December 1777, certain goods were to be returned in Batavia.
• Writings about goods from privateering vessels were received and approved.
• The spent gunpowder amounted to 46 guilders 9 stuivers 8 penningen. The rest from the estate of the curator of that tax, totaling 105 guilders, was charged to the main office for collection by the guardians there, who administered the estate of the deceased commander Pieter Luzac.
• Various items from previous books were written off, and the authorities were asked to allow new privateering activities.
• Ammunition, weapons, equipment and other goods from Semarang were consumed, wasted, lost or damaged by privateers fighting pirates along the coast from Lossarie to Touban, as shown by various declarations and an attached statement from the business transferor Ambrosius Pieter Tulleken van Hogenhouck.
• The total amount in money was 1,250 guilders 10 stuivers 8 penningen.
• Regarding domains, leases and tolls, the revenues from Madura, the recognition payments from Oeloedjami, Panaroekan and Besoekie, the tjatjas and calangers money, and the lease payments up to the end of Grissee and elsewhere had all been received and properly accounted for.
• Ian Tjingko was appointed as head of the Chinese at Grissee and was left in that position until the end of the current lease period, holding both the harbor offices at Grissee and the rice lease there and at Sidaijoe, which his deceased predecessor had held.
• The circular order of 1 July last stated that double toll had to be charged and paid on Chinese goods not brought from Batavia. This order was sent everywhere and recommended to the lease holders at all offices for their observance.
• The tax collector was also instructed to ensure that bird's nests delivered for recognition income were drier than those recently brought to Batavia on the ship Beemstervaart.
• The regent of Sumanap, Pangerang Notto Coessomo, was corrected for his disobedient behavior regarding the recommended transfer of the salt village Pinger-pappas to the captain of the Chinese at Sourabaija, Hang Boeijko, on 22 December 1787.

• 22 December 1770: The officials renewed orders through a circular letter dated 1 December and recommended their execution in the same way as was introduced and done in Semarang. To achieve this, they sent model copies of accounts and journal entries from the books of this main office.
• For the eastern corner (Oosthoek), they added specially designed models showing how the regents, who were required to deliver products for free, should be charged in the books annually in January and then relieved month by month for what they delivered. This way, they could always see in the books what each regent had fulfilled of his obligation and what he still owed. This applied not only to the monthly remaining balance records.
• The pay books from the eastern corner for the year 1770/1771, which had been missing from their earlier submission of 3 November and therefore not sent to the main office, were later received in Semarang. These would follow at the first opportunity in the coming spring.
• In the meantime, these books and those from other offices were reviewed by commissioners: merchant and fiscal Nicolaas Alexander van Leliveld and junior merchant and second warehouse master Androsius Pieter Tulleken van Hogenhouck.
• 22 December 1777: When the books were reviewed and compared against the trade books, no errors of importance were found. However, in the eastern corner, the pay books showed 1,447 rijksdaalders and 5 stuivers more charged than what was written off in the trade books for pay.
• Although this difference favored the Company, they did not want to burden needy servants with unjust charges. Therefore, they ordered the officials in Surabaya to investigate and provide clarification about where this difference came from and whether it was their fault.
• They awaited with humble request the findings of the trade books from this coast for 1774/1775 and following book years.
• Regarding the findings from 1772/1773, they mentioned a compensation that had been approved in the margin notes for what was written off at the Company's expense in Surabaya for fireworks on the occasion of the first birthday of the illustrious hereditary prince and stadtholder.

• Regarding Japara: clarification was needed about the accounts of the Regents who, according to the books as of the end of August, still owed ƒ2,272:18:8 each, or ƒ4,545:17:- total, for rice deliveries. However, Resident Willem van der Beke reported in his monthly outstanding accounts that they had already fulfilled their rice quota before the books closed and owed nothing more.
• Regarding Rembang: the current Resident Willem Adriaan Palm was authorized to settle 1,225 beams in the current books as previous year's income. The forest chiefs appeared to owe these 1,225 beams more in the books as of the end of August than they actually did according to the outstanding accounts. The previous Resident Willem van Hogendorp had explained in writing before leaving for Batavia that the forest people had indeed delivered these 1,225 beams and they had been used for ships under construction and on the building slips, but they were incorrectly not credited to them nor recorded as ship expenses.

• On 22 December 1777, the authorities continued discussing matters related to wood and forest management.
• The Regent of Coedus had successfully encouraged a man to take up timber cutting work, which was unusual and difficult for the local people. The authorities believed this proved that local inhabitants could be persuaded to do many things when treated with kindness and gentle guidance.
• Following the plan for forest conservation made according to the resolution of 14 April, arrangements had been made for the supply of wood.
• From the local council treasury, 30 pairs of buffaloes were purchased for the Regents of Samarang, Caliwoengo, and Candal together, and 50 pairs of buffaloes for the Regent of Coedus.
• The Regent Radeen Tommongong wirja Diningrat showed great willingness and agreed to supply 500 timber beams per year from the forests of Japara and Joana near his regency.
• He also promised to deliver 12 picols of cotton yarn per year, in addition to his existing obligation of 10 picols of his best indigo, or as much as the crop and production of this dye in the villages specifically designated for this purpose would yield.
• He signed a formal contract for these obligations, and a copy was offered to the High Authorities.
• The Regent of Toubang, Tommongong Pourbo Nagara, made a reasonable request for a reduction in his rice quota. He explained that because 13 forests with their villages in his district had been set aside exclusively for the Company, he would lose the rice that the inhabitants would have supplied.
• It was becoming increasingly difficult for him to meet his quota of 100 koyangs of rice each year, as little rice was grown in Toubang itself and the supply from Djiepang and other lands of the princes was now less than in previous times.
• He was often forced to buy rice in the eastern region and elsewhere to meet his obligations, as had happened that year.
• The authorities suggested that his rice quota could be reduced from 100 to 60 or 70 koyangs, subject to approval by the High Authorities.
• According to the resolution of 14 April, the forest heads of Rembang would be released from delivering 300 to 400 timber beams, provided they returned the buffalo payments they had already received.