I could make reference to a large number of other matters, but it would be tedious to read and remember them all. I will therefore now leave in Your Honours' care the government of a Commandement from which much profit may be derived for the Company, and where the inhabitants, though deceitful, cunning, and difficult to rule, yet obey through fear; as they are cowardly, and will do what is right more from fear of punishment than from love of righteousness. I hope that Your Honours may have a more peaceful time than I had, for you are well aware how many difficulties, persecutions, and public slights I have had to contend with, and how difficult my government was through these causes, and through continual indisposition, especially of late. However, Jaffnapatam has been blessed by God during that period, as may be seen from what has been stated in this Memoir. I hope that Your Honours' dilligence and experience may supplement the defects in this Memoir, and, above all, that you will try to live and work together in harmony, for in that way the Company will be served best. There are people who will purposely cause dissension among the members of the Council, with a view to further their own ends or that of some other party, much to the injury of the person who permits them to do so.[74] The Political Council consists at present of the following members:-- Ryklof de Bitter, Dessave, Opperkoopman. Jan van der Bruggen, Captain. Abraham M. Biermans, Administrateur. Claas Isaacsz, Lieutenant. Pieter Boscho, Onderkoopman, Store- and Thombo-keeper. Johannes van Groenevelde, Fiscaal. Pieter Bout, Cashier and Secretary. With a view to enable His Excellency the Governor and the Council to alter or amplify this Memoir in compliance with the orders from Their Excellencies at Batavia, cited at the commencement of this document, I have purposely written on half of the pages only, so that final instructions might be added, as mine are only provisional. In case Your Honours should require any of the documents cited which are not kept here at the Secretariate, they may be applied for from His Excellency the Governor and the Council of Colombo. Wishing Your Honours God's blessing, and all prosperity in the administration of this extensive Commandement, I remain, Sirs, Yours faithfully, H. ZWAARDECROON. Jaffnapatam, January 1, 1697. APPENDIX.