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The document lists various goods and financial matters for the Dutch East India Company's operations. The company needed 131,361 rijksdaalders and 12 stuivers for the year 1772. Available funds included: After accounting for available funds, there was still a shortage of 65,724 rijksdaalders and 12 stuivers. The officials requested 65,000 rijksdaalders, broken down as: The document includes extensive lists of trade goods requested, including: The document noted that regarding white and yellow cloth, previous supplies in blue and mostly red remained in stock. For rose water, 236 bottles remained but were almost without scent, so officials would try to make them usable by distilling them for distribution.
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This document contains copies of letters written by the Political Council in Samarang to Their High Nobilities. The letters were written between 21 March and 11 August in the year 1783. This is document number 15.

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No text was provided to summarize. Please provide the historical Dutch text you would like me to summarize.

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On 22 February 1783, the council discussed the shortage of tar, pitch, and turpentine normally used for maintaining ships. Because of this shortage, lime and castor oil were being used instead in Rembang for preserving and coating vessels. The council decided to order the resident of Tuana to do the same as in Rembang and use lime and castor oil for the ships as long as the Company faced this shortage. He was instructed to purchase these supplies at set prices: The calculation was that 140 kans of castor oil and half a koyang of lime equaled one barrel of pitch and one measure of turpentine. Finally, the council agreed to confirm a letter sent that day to Their High Excellencies about an overland route, and also to confirm the extracted minutes to be used for the monthly report to the subordinate outer offices. This resolution was made at the government office in Samarang on the date mentioned above and was signed by I. Siberg, I. van Santen, L. H. Vermehr, N. A. Lelivelt, I. O. van Ingen, M. L. Gaaswijck, E. A. De Wilde, and A. Barkeij as secretary. Markeij certified the document as secretary.
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On 23 February 1783, a list was made of materials needed for shipbuilding at Joana. The required items included: Since none of these items were available in stock, and it was not advisable to leave the ships that were under construction at Joana unfinished, action needed to be taken. The Governor noted that even if supplies arrived from the Netherlands, the delivery of iron bars and nails would not be large enough to meet the general shortage. Even if adequate supplies did arrive, it was certain that demand from the warehouses would be high. Therefore, it was decided to purchase the needed materials immediately rather than wait. A price comparison showed the difference would only be 90 guilders and 42 cents. The calculations were as follows: The total extra cost for both items was only 90 guilders and 47 cents. This was preferable to letting the ships under construction deteriorate, and it would prevent Batavia from being deprived of these necessary vessels. Therefore, it was decided to authorize the Resident to purchase the following items for the Company: All these items were to be purchased at the regular Company purchase prices on 22 February 1783.
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On 22 February 1783, a resident reported that due to a longer delay in receiving the mentioned materials, the ship was in danger because wind and rain entering through the seams and other openings would cause it to rot. He requested to be provided with the necessary iron and nails, or otherwise to be freed from responsibility for completing that ship. The resident stated that to finish that small vessel, the following was still needed: He urgently requested to be supplied with these materials or, if these items were not available, to receive permission to purchase them privately. The iron would cost 17 guilders and 24 stuivers, and the nails 16 guilders per picol, as he had found an opportunity to obtain a batch in Samarang. However, if the iron was too expensive, he offered to supply it at the last charged price of 14 guilders, 17 stuivers, and 8 penningen, because he preferred to bear the loss on the iron rather than suffer the unpleasant consequences that could arise from a longer delay in completing that ship. To prevent the damage that the Company could suffer if that small vessel remained exposed to wind and rain any longer, it was decided to grant the resident permission to purchase the aforementioned items privately, since they could not assist him due to the existing shortage. The iron was to be purchased at 14 guilders, 17 stuivers, and 8 penningen, and the nails at 16 guilders per picol. He was instructed to hurry with completing that ship so that it could be sent to Batavia soon, together with the 2 shallops requested for Ceylon. Their High Mightinesses were to be informed of everything. Resident Rutgert Reijnier Keijser from Joana, who was also present, reported that due to a lack of iron, nails, and other materials, he was unable to complete the vessels under construction at his trading post. He therefore requested to be supplied for this purpose, or otherwise to be permitted to purchase the following items privately:
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On 22 February 1783, a report was received about a vessel from Riau that had arrived in Gresik via Surabaya. The authorities in Surabaya informed that the owner had not been able to provide the required guarantee for his vessel and the loaded goods as ordered by the High Authorities. Therefore, it was decided to seize the vessel and goods until further instructions were received. The officials at the outposts Menare and Sambilangang had reported problems with the monthly rotation of European and native soldiers. They requested that the rotation be changed from monthly to every 3 or 4 months. The council agreed to this change, provided it would not lead to harmful consequences. The Resident at Surakarta requested permission to appoint Corporal Coenraad Ludolph Lugman as coachman and soldier Jan Cazar Wingeman as trumpeter with the emperor. This was approved, with Lugman receiving a salary of 20 guilders per month and Wingeman receiving 18 guilders per month. The Resident at Yogyakarta requested to hire native citizen Jan Hendrik van der Sluijs as a soldier. This was approved with a salary of 9 guilders per month under a contract of 5 years. The Resident at Rembang, Palm, forwarded a report dated 28 January from shipyard foreman Horning. Horning reported that a small ship, which the High Authorities had ordered to be built according to the model of the Orangeboom in their letter of 12 December 1780, had been on the slipway since March 1781. The ship had been constructed up to the double hull for a year already, but approximately two-thirds of the required iron and nails were still missing, which prevented completion of the work.
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On 22 February 1783, the authorities decided to keep a record of the established order concerning two civilian vessels that were permitted to sail from Ambon and Banda to collect rice.

The High Authorities had approved that the Atchinese vessel that had been held under arrest was released again. In a letter dated 14 January 1783, they informed that they had granted permission for 2 civilian vessels from Ambon and Banda per year to sail directly from those governments to Samarang and Sourabaya to purchase rice and Javanese products. The High Authorities ordered that these vessels be carefully inspected to prevent any abuse of this permission.

It was decided to:

The officials at Sourabaya were ordered to inspect the mentioned vessels very carefully upon their arrival. The inspection had to be carried out by 2 qualified Company servants in the presence of the clerk at Sourabaya. They had to provide a written report to the Commander and Council so that proper records could be kept in their resolutions. If spices or any other forbidden goods were discovered, these had to be dealt with according to orders and notice had to be sent.

The High Authorities also reported that they had reopened the permitted free sailing and trade to and among the 4 eastern governments. The civilian traders from Ambon and Banda who had appeared at Batavia in 1782 were also permitted to return via Macassar if they wished. It was decided to send circular notices about this as well.

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On 22 February 1783, various matters were discussed and decided upon:
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On 22 February 1783, officials discussed rice transport to Batavia and a proposal for constructing buildings urgently needed for the Artillery. They decided to send the report and plans to the High and Mighty Lords (the governing authorities) to request permission to build the necessary Artillery buildings. These buildings would include: The calculated costs were 15,389 guilders and 23 cents. The costs for both the buildings and the required embankment around the moat were considered moderate, not too high. The Governor then presented documents including 2 extracts from a separate letter from the High and Mighty Lords dated 14 January of that year. This letter expressed their satisfaction with the previous year's diligent and successful rice deliveries to the main settlement. The authorities trusted that the same care would continue, especially during this time when Ceylon and allies needed extraordinary provisions and assistance. Significant quantities of rice had already been sent to Batavia this year for storage. The High and Mighty Lords confirmed their earlier orders, specifically those from 19 February and 6 August 1782. They would soon provide specific information about the quantity needed, though they indicated it would not be as large as the previous year because substantial stocks remained in Batavia. Therefore, until further notice, all further rice purchases should stop. Officials noted that orders to halt further rice purchases for the Company had already been sent by circular letter to subordinate offices. Regarding timber rafts, since the trial shipment of a timber raft from the residency of Chief Resident Fockens to Batavia had been fairly successful, the High and Mighty Lords expected this to be resumed when the monsoon season permitted, provided it did not burden the native population too much. The documents about the timber transported should be sent in duplicate. Officials decided to inform the Surabaya staff of these instructions.
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On 22 February 1783, it was reported that the air vents of both gunpowder houses had no movement at all. The one at the point of Amsterdam was well positioned, but the one at the Artillery was very unfavorably located, being in the middle of the city. Furthermore, each of these buildings could store no more than 20,000 pounds at most if the barrels were stacked 9 to 10 high, which made the work very difficult.

Since their High Honors intended to set up a gunpowder mill and to have a considerable quantity of gunpowder on hand, and the 2 mentioned storehouses were not sufficient for storage, it was decided to ask their High Honors for permission to demolish the 2 old and defective gunpowder houses. In their place, 2 new ones would be built: one at the point of Amsterdam and one at the sea point, according to the plan designed by Captain Engineer Jan Baptist Tilon, at a calculated cost of 3,826 rijksdaalders, 5 stuivers, and 8 penningen for each one.

The buildings needed for the Artillery were also to be constructed according to the plans and calculations made on 22 February 1783.

The situation with the Artillery buildings in Semarang was very cramped and inadequate. Due to the current increase in Artillery personnel, it had been necessary to rent housing for them outside the city. Captain Engineer Jan Baptist Tilon, at the request of the Governor, submitted a report and plan about the condition of the current Artillery buildings. The report stated and showed that:

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22 February 1783: A petitioner who had previously held rights to collect bird nests from certain cliffs requested to give up this contract. He explained that the cliffs, which belonged under the territory of the regents of Oosten and Westbalemboangang, were better positioned for those regents to guard. The petitioner asked that he be compensated for his losses and damages by receiving the annual fee of 500 reichsdaler that the regents normally received from the lease payment. In return, the petitioner agreed to pay the Company 1,900 reichsdaler for the remaining 2 years of the lease until the end of December 1784. He noted this would still result in a loss for him, but a smaller one than continuing the lease would cause, especially since the Governor had waived the 8 percent due to him from the lease payment. By paying the 1,900 reichsdaler plus the 500 reichsdaler fee to the regents, the petitioner calculated he would save approximately 1,000 realen per year compared to the 2,892 Spanish realen the lease had previously cost him. Since this request did not harm the Company's interests and the regents of Oosten and Westbalemboangang wished to have control over the bird nest collection again, the request was forwarded to Their High Mightinesses for approval.

22 February 1783: Captains de Chasteauvieur and Hoffman reported on the condition of 2 gunpowder houses located within the city, as commissioned by the Governor. They found that the one at Amsterdam Point was badly damaged, with several of the attic beams more than half eaten through by white ants, and the door frames also damaged. The building was too small to properly work with the gunpowder barrels inside. The gunpowder house at the artillery post was also too small and suffered from being so damp that keeping the gunpowder dry required great effort.

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Jan Lecko, a Chinese man, asked to be released from his lease of the bird's nest cliffs in eastern and western Balemboangang. The authorities decided to present this matter to higher officials.

Since certain wooden planks and barrels from Batavia had been charged back according to an invoice from 25 October 1782, it was decided to put these costs on the salary accounts of quartermaster Anthonij Olivier (charged ƒ236:2:—) and sailor Lucas Sijbrands (charged ƒ374:5:—), who had transported these rafts as commanders with 2 captains in advance.

Because the loss was not caused by neglect of duty or dishonest behavior, but only by sea disasters, and because this was hard on these men to be held responsible for, it was decided to ask the high authorities to release the mentioned commanders Olivier and Sijbrands from this charge. Sijbrands had returned from Batavia seriously ill and had since died.

On 22 February 1783, a request was read that had been submitted by the Chinese captain on behalf of Jan Lecka. In this request, Lecka explained the annual losses he suffered from his leased bird's nest cliffs in eastern and western Balemboangang. These losses were caused by frequent robberies by thieves who regularly went to the cliffs and took possession of the bird's nests. It appeared that some inhabitants of Balemboangang secretly helped with this, and it was impossible to prevent this despite all the efforts the petitioner had made.

The annual costs for Lecka were:

In the past year of 1782, only 30 chests of bird's nests had been collected, worth 10 rixdollars per chest, totaling 300 rixdollars. This meant an annual loss of 2,592 rixdollars.

The petitioner therefore requested to be released from the lease of these cliffs, since there was no prospect of reducing the robberies and the bird's nest business would completely fail under his management. He asked that the cliffs be returned to the regents of eastern and western Balemboangang.

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On 22 February 1783, the council noted that following their decision of 21 January, the secret letter books that had previously been in use from December 1721 until the end of November (inclusive) had been destroyed and burned. These books had been kept at the political secretary's office in the custody of secretary Anthonij Barkeij. The letters had served both the main office in Samarang and the subordinate offices and posts along Java, as well as correspondence with Company ships. The original letter that had served as a draft was stored in the secret cabinet. Chief Administrator Jacobus van Santen reported about a Company gun that needed to be written off. When the house of the local citizen Louis Alexander was destroyed by fire in October, a Company gun that had been there for daily exercise was also burned. The gun's barrel was found to be unusable. Van Santen requested that the damaged barrel be exchanged for a good gun and that the one destroyed by fire be written off. The council agreed to this request. On 22 February 1783, the administrators of the deacons' charity funds, Nicolaas Alexander Lelivelt and Hendrik Razoux, reported that they had inspected the mortgages linked to the deacons' charity funds through bonds. They found all mortgages to be sufficient and properly secured with guarantors. The council noted this and recorded that the capital outstanding on mortgages with the Company amounted to 27,000 rijksdaalders. Two declarations were received and read that had been given to the political authorities at the secretary's office. These were from sailors Francisco Astanjol, Laurens Zonstrom, Jacobus de Meij, and Matthijs Kleijn. They explained the loss of 39 mill planks and 630 barrel planks. These planks were lost from the Samarang and Japara timber rafts numbers 1 and 4 that had arrived in Batavia in September of the previous year. During their journey, they encountered severe wind and high seas. This caused the rafts to partially break apart, and some timber drifted away and was lost.
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On Saturday the 22nd of February 1783, a meeting took place. The merchant and second warehouse master Jan Boers was absent due to illness. After reading an extract from the proceedings of the church council dated 10 February, the following appointments were approved: The church council was to be notified of these appointments by extract. Military appointments were made: Following a request by military captain Christoffel Hofman, 6 sepoy soldiers were hired: the Moors Miralie from Hindustan, Gassiedian from Surat, Harria from Surat, Sekraffiek from Bengal, Sekraneijan and Kalloedian from Surat. They received the ordinary salary of 4¾ rix-dollars and 40 pounds of rice and 3 cans of arrack as rations each month, under a 3-year contract following the conditions of the agreement made with Company sepoys in Batavia on 26 August 1780. A report was received from specially appointed commissioners, merchant Martinus Leonardus Gaaswijk and merchant and paymaster Egbert Arend de Wilde, dated 22 February 1783.
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On 21 January 1783, several reports were read and decisions were made about lost cargo and equipment. First, a statement was read that had been given before the office clerk Gerhardus Aoghe by witnesses. The quartermaster Jacob Grijsen and sailors Frans van Emmerik, Benjamin Huijsman, Matthijs Klein, and Adriaan Sweeris declared the following: Since it was clear the accident could not have been prevented, it was decided to write off 120 sacks of rice, which weighed 4 Cooijangs and 1,720 pounds, from the main account. The small boat or sail was also removed from the records of coconut oil delivered on 21 January 1783 and declared lost. Another statement was read that had been made before the same office clerk. Sailors Andries Jurgen Blom and Claas Zoeten, who were stationed on the Pantjallang de Uitkijk (a lookout vessel), declared: It was decided to also write off this small boat or sail. Finally, a report was reviewed from ordinary commissioners, together with an attached finding by the Chief Administrator Jacobus van Santen. This concerned 4,000 cans of coconut oil that had been brought to Amboina from Prissee for the Government by cruiser vessels under the supervision of quartermaster Pieter de Haan.
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Borhuijsen, a sailor, was appointed as quartermaster on 21 January 1783.

Following a request from the Commander, several young men were hired as soldiers for 5 years at 8 guilders per month, according to regulations:

After Michiel Moralje died, sailor Leendert Boshuijsen from 's Hagen was appointed as quartermaster at 16 guilders per month under a new 5-year contract. He was to serve as commander on the ship Anna Maria belonging to Oosthoek at Pantjallang.

Blacksmith Francois Andre from Wesoul had worked as supervisor in the blacksmith workshop for a long time and gave satisfaction. He was therefore appointed as master of that workshop at 30 guilders per month under a new 5-year contract starting that day.

Notice was given to fireworks maker Strik about the transport of artillery goods, for which he had to provide the necessary security bond on 21 January 1783.

A report arrived from special commissioners Captain of Dragoons De Chasteavieur and Military Lieutenant De Haase about their inventory of all artillery goods made in late November in the presence of guardian Egbert Arend de Wil. These goods had been under the supervision and responsibility of the late Lieutenant of Artillery Samuel Forsman. It was decided that all these goods were placed under the administration and responsibility of the current ordinary fireworks maker Thomas Magnus Strik. The list of shortages reported by the commissioners was to be given to the trading officials to check against the books to see if everything matched or not, and if shortages were found, a proper report should be made. It was also decided that Strik would provide the necessary security bond for the administration of the artillery.

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The document contains copies of resolutions that were made by the Council of Police in the government of Samarang during the period from September 1782 to February 1783. These resolutions were intended for the Netherlands and were marked with reference number 15.

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The document appears to contain only the number 2, which provides insufficient content to create a meaningful historical summary.

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