Relates the plan presented by the deputies of Philipinas for
regulating the commerce of that country, in the year 1724; and
its results, up to that of 1730.
112-113. [On September 28, 1724, the deputies from Philipinas
presented to the Council another printed memorial, in which they
proposed a plan for preventing the abuses of the Manila-Acapulco
trade. This document contains ninety-four paragraphs; it enumerates
the provisions of the decree of 1720, the objections made thereto
at Manila, the difficulties of navigation on the Pacific, and the
reasons why one large galleon is better for that commerce than two
small ones; describes the frauds and injustice practiced in the
lading of the galleon, for which the responsibility rests mainly on
the governors of the islands, who use their great power for their
own personal advantage, regardless of the rights of the citizens;
and opposes the requirements that each shipper must swear that the
goods he sends are his own, that no one to whom space is allotted may
sell or transfer it to another person, that the valuations of goods
must be made by samples, and some other restrictions which seriously
embarrass the citizens who have but little wealth to invest. It is
represented that the seamen are allowed to carry each 30 pesos' worth
of goods as a private investment, in order to encourage Spaniards to
enter the marine service; but this ought to be increased to 300 pesos
(the allowance made to the men on the fleets that go to the Indias),
for more Spaniards are needed on the Acapulco trade-route--hardly
one-third of the men on a galleon being of Spanish birth, the rest
being Indians and on the rivera of Cavite. The citizens of Manila
ought to be allowed to carry back all the produce of their shipments,
since but few of the products of Nueva España are adapted to their
needs in the altogether different climate and other conditions of the
islands. They also ask that they be allowed to compound the payment of
dues at 100,000 pesos each voyage, or less pro rata if the amount of
goods shipped fall below the 300,000 pesos allowed for the trade. The
transgressions of law connected with the Acapulco commerce have been
mainly committed by high officials, but have not been so great,
or so injurious to Spanish trade, as Sevilla and Cadiz represent;
the deputies assert that "these abuses cannot be checked, or most of
them even ascertained, so long as the terms of the concession are in
pesos," and that it ought to prescribe a definite number of piezas, of
specified measures and weight. They therefore propose a new ordinance
for regulating the traffic, which embodies the above suggestions and
requests, with some additional points. They ask for a permission of
4,000 piezas, of which 500 shall be half-chests filled with silks and
very fine cotton goods, "which do not admit the use of the press;" the
size and weight of the piezas is fully described. They ask permission
to ship pepper and storax besides the amount of the permission,
without restriction of quantity. The galleon for carrying these
goods should be of dimensions here specified--the keel sixty codos
[or cubits] long, the breadth of the vessel twenty codos, and the
inside depth of the hold ten codos--and its crew should contain 250
men, besides the officers. The governor should not be allowed to act
on the committee for distributing the allotments of lading-space; in
his place is proposed the archbishop, the other members to represent
the Audiencia, the municipality, and the merchants. The amount of
merchandise which may be sent by the governor and all other royal
officials ought to be limited to one hundred piezas, and this should
go outside of the permitted amount. A share in the lading is asked
for the ecclesiastical cabildo of Manila, on account of their poverty
and their high dignity and character; also for the officers on the
galleons, and for the widows of merchants and military officers. An
allotment of space should be made transferable; and permission should
be given to send some packages of goods intended as gifts to friends,
affidavit being made that these are not intended for sale. The governor
and officials of the port of Acapulco should not be allowed to exercise
any authority or pressure over the Manila traders, beyond the proper
inspection of the vessels and lading and the collection of duties;
and the traders should be allowed to sell their goods as they please,
either in or out of the fair there, or transport them to Mexico,
if they prefer. They should not be expected to pay alcabala on the
first sale at Acapulco, or any extraordinary imposts. The memorial
specifies the provisions to be made for the lading and inspection of
goods at both Manila and Acapulco, the functions of certain officials,
the penalties for transgression of the regulations, and the customs
duties to be paid on each kind of goods; and offers certain payments
to be made by the Manila merchants, which will add much to the royal
revenues. It states the present number of "citizens and traders"
in Manila as 868.]
114-121. [The above document was handed to the fiscal, who advised
the Council not to make the concessions therein asked, as they would
destroy the entire system on which that commerce had thus far been
conducted, and abrogate the provisions of the decree but recently
granted for the benefit of Manila, which gave that city sufficient
advantage. On January 12, 1725, the Council requested one of the
ministers, Don Antonio de la Pedrosa, to examine the scheme proposed
by Manila, and render an opinion thereon. He was willing to grant a
number of the concessions requested, but would insist that the total
of the permitted trade be restricted to 300,000 pesos, and the returns
to 600,000 pesos, as before; and he proposed even harsher penalties
for the transgression of the laws governing the trade. The Manila
deputies, on learning of the opinions of the aforesaid royal officials,
desisted from their efforts to obtain further concessions from the
Council, but appealed to the king, who sent to the Council a decree
(dated July 22, 1726) permitting the scheme of Manila to be tested
(although with some restrictions), for two years.]
122-127. [The deputies of Manila were not satisfied that this
concession should be limited to a term of two years, and again
petitioned the king, asking that the trial be made for two or three
five-year terms, on account of the many difficulties which that
commerce must encounter. The king consented (October 21, 1726)
to extend the term to five years, and a despatch of September 15
prescribes the conditions and regulations under which the trial of the
new plan should be made--for a term of two years, extended to five by
another decree of October 31. The annual galleon shall carry no more
than 4,000 piezas, 500 of these being half-chests [medios caxones]
containing the silken fabrics and the finer ones of cotton; the rest
shall be half-bales [medios fardillos] bags [churlas] of cinnamon,
cases of porcelain, and cakes of wax. The size or weight respectively
of these packages is prescribed: the half-chests and half-bales
shall be each 1 1/4 vara long, 2/3 vara wide, and 1/3 vara deep, [92]
an allowance of two dedos on each measure being made for the outside
cover or packing of the half-chest and for the compression used on the
half-bale. The bag of cinnamon shall weigh 150 libras gross (that is,
including all packing and covers), but at Acapulco it may be allowed
four or five libras more of weight, the difference between the weight
of Manila and that of Nueva España. The case [balsa] of porcelain
must be one vara high and 2 1/4 varas in circumference at the mouth,
no allowance being made. The cakes of wax must weigh twelve arrobas
at Manila, four or five libras being allowed at Acapulco for the
difference in standards of weight. Besides the 4,000 piezas, unlimited
pepper and storax may be shipped; and Chinese cabinets and screens
[biombos] may go in larger boxes than the regulation size, provided
that the capacity of these be figured in terms of piezas. Passengers
on the galleons are allowed each two chests containing their personal
property, without any articles of merchandise. The dimensions and
crew of the galleon shall be as stated by the Manila deputies. The
committee for allotting lading-space shall be as suggested by them,
save that the governor shall be included therein. Space is allowed to
the extent of 100 piezas to the governor and other royal officials
for their personal shipments, but these must come out of the 4,000
piezas. A limited amount of space is allotted to the ecclesiastical
cabildo and to the officers on the galleons; also to the widows of
traders and military officers. Allotments of space may be transferred
to other persons who are approved by the committee. Due provision is
made for the valuation, registration, and lading of goods at Manila,
and the inspection and sale at Acapulco; for the allowance of small
quantities of merchandise to the Spanish seamen and artillerists;
for the shipment of the returns from the investments, whether in
money or goods; and for penalties against transgressors. The Manila
merchants are to pay alcabala on any sales outside of Acapulco;
25,000 pesos annually on each galleon which shall arrive at Acapulco
(afterward changed to 20,000 pesos a year during the five years'
term), as a contribution to the royal service; duties of five per
cent at Acapulco "for the embarkation of the entire product from
the aforesaid 4,000 piezas, and the pepper and storax, which is the
same that the traders of España pay at Cadiz;" and the following
specific duties: for each half-chest, 45 pesos; each half-bale, 30
pesos; each bag of cinnamon, 25 pesos; each cake of wax, 18 pesos;
each case of porcelain, 12 pesos; each chest of cabinets or screens,
18 pesos for each of the piezas to which the chest is equivalent;
and each arroba of pepper or storax, 12 silver reals.]
(To be concluded.)