[MANUSCRIPT] A Journal Or Narrative Of The Proceedings Betweene The Commissioners Appointed By His Majestie, And The Commissioners Deputed By The States Generall, Pursuant To The Treaty Of Peace Made At Westminster 9/19 Ffebruary 1673/4 Concerning A Treaty Marine To Be Observed Throughout All The World. And Also An Article Particularly Relateing To The English And Dutch East India Companyes Concluded In The Yeare 1674. -

[London, 1674-75]. Folio (300 x 200 mm), old mottled calf gilt, spine with raised bands, gilt ornament, and contrasting title labels lettered in gilt; all edges gilt; manuscript written in English, Latin, Dutch and French in several contemporary secretarial hands; ff 269; clean and fresh throughout. An important contemporary manuscript record of the Mixed Commission established to draw up a Treaty Marine and numerous other trade agreements between the English and Dutch in the wake of the Second Peace of Westminster at the conclusion of the Third Anglo-Dutch War.  The Treaty of Westminster was signed by the United Provinces (Netherlands) and England in February 1674. It was of immense importance in shaping the history of North America, as it renewed the Treaty of Breda (1667), which had originally confirmed the conquest of New Netherland by the English, and produced the Colonies of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware. The 1674 Treaty provided for a number of territorial exchanges, including the return to England of New Netherland (it had been briefly re-occupied by the Dutch during the war) and the colony of Suriname to the Dutch. It also provided for a Mixed Commission, comprised of delegates appointed by King Charles II and the States General of the United Provinces, to legislate the regulation of commerce conducted around the globe by both maritime powers. The war had not been profitable for England, and overall the Treaty and trade agreements favoured the Dutch. In particular, these agreements pertain to trade conducted in the East Indies. We can trace only two other contemporary copies of this manuscript: Coxe, Henry Octavius. Catalogue of Manuscripts in the Library of All Souls College (Oxford : T. Combe, 1842, CCLXV); and Thomas, F.S. A History of the State Paper Office, with a view of the documents therein deposited (London : John Petheram, 1849, the manuscript being number 117 in the Sir J. Williamson Collection). The present copy was sold by Maggs Bros. in 1919 (Catalogue 384) for £31.10s; this is the only sale record we can locate for any copy of the manuscript. 'This manuscript is of great interest and importance for the History of the East India Trade, as at this time the Dutch maritime power was supreme, and they owned a great number of islands and ports in the East Indies. The Journal starts with a copy of the Royal appointment of the Commissioners by King Charles II to meet with the Commissioners deputed by the States General of the United Provinces, to draw up the terms of a new Marine Treaty, including trade with the East Indies. Full particulars are given with the Minutes of the Meetings of the Commissioners at Fishmonger's Hall, London, between July, 1674, and February, 1675. At the first meeting of the Commissioners it was decided that they should first proceed upon the Treaty Marine and then upon the business of the East Indies ... Following these preliminary instructions is a letter from the King appointing Mr. Bedford to be Secretary, and giving a brief outline of what is desired of the Commissioners; after which is a copy of the preliminary terms in Dutch and English, with each article separately discussed.' (Maggs Bros.)