The directors handled the appointment of personnel to the higher ranks on board East Indiamen in accordance with a set procedure. Commanders, ship’s officers and petty officers were usually appointed during a meeting set for a specific date. Announcements were posted on placards stating that candidates for specific positions on certain ships could apply. The privilege of applying was not restricted to commanders and senior ship’s officers. Even third mates were given the opportunity to ‘give a presentation’ of their qualifications in person during the meeting. The same procedure applied to a number of other functions, such as those of senior and junior surgeon. To give one example, on 21 June 1784 the Rotterdam Chamber decided to post (affigeren) an announcement stating that ‘on the 5th July next, Monday afternoon at 4 o’clock’ candidates could give personal presentations. Sometimes this sort of announcement was made at even shorter notice. When they were on shore, potential applicants were apparently supposed to make sure they did not stray too far from the neighbourhood of their Chamber.

By Rotation and Drawing Lots

In the eighteenth century, in any administrative system it was usual for directors to take turns in nominating their own chosen candidates for vacant positions. This was a system known as gifting places (ambtenvergeving), the rules of which were often set down in secret contracts. The system used by the VOC was no different from that which operated at the Admiralty Boards or in town councils. Each of the four smaller VOC Chambers had seven directors, the Zealand Chamber had twelve and the Amsterdam Chamber twenty. All of the Chambers used what was more or less the same form of presentation of qualifications (dienstpresentatiën) at the interviews of applicants. At first glance, the whole system seems to have been open and above board, and, indeed, a number of candidates were allowed the opportunity to offer their services. Applicants attended the meeting of the directors at the agreed time. They gave accounts of their previous appointments and their voyages. For each of the ships in question, various points were noted for the benefit of the directors. Several of the directors preserved their papers related to these presentations plus lists of names and positions so that they could use the information in making a decision at a later meeting.