We have seen that no ship was dispatched to New Sweden after 1649, although Printz had written several times, implor ing for aid. The letters to Brahe and Oxenstierna of April 26, 16 53, stating that new supplies were absolutely necessary in the colony, arrived at Stockholm in the late summer. These seem to have impressed the authorities with the fact that the settle ment could no longer be neglected and there were at last signs of awakened interest in the same and renewed activities in its behalf at the capital. The company was discussed in the Coun cil of State and the Queen once more instructed the Commercial College to take over its management. Eric Oxenstiema, who in August, 16 5 2, had been made General Director of the col lege, returned to Sweden in the summer of 16 53 and new life was put into that body.1 He was also greatly interested in the colonial work and to him was largely due the efiorts that were soon made to send out a new expedition.