In October 1684 the assembly of seventeen appointed a commission of three members to examine into the affairs of their possessions in Hindostan and Ceylon, and at its head they placed an officer with very extensive powers. His name was Hendrik Adriaan van Rheede, but he was commonly known by his title of lord of Mydrecht. He had previously served the Company in various capacities, and had only recently filled the post of councillor of India. In the administration of affairs in Hindostan and Ceylon various abuses had crept in, which the directors considered could only be rectified by some one on the spot possessing unbounded authority and without any interests to serve other than those of duty. The high commissioner had power given to him to appoint or displace governors and admirals as well as officers of lower rank, to proclaim new laws, to issue new regulations concerning trade, to create new offices and to abolish old ones, to enter into treaties with native rulers, in short, to do anything he might think advisable in the Company's interests.

Before leaving Europe he was instructed to rectify anything he might find amiss at the Cape, where also he was to exercise supreme power as representing the assembly of seventeen. Some of the changes which he effected here as well as elsewhere were afterwards found not to be improvements, but at the time he made them the Netherlands were only beginning to acquire experience in the government of colonies.