PERIOD VOf the information given by the commercial interests of España, in regard to the injuries arising from the Philipinas trade; and orders given by his Majesty in the year 1718 prohibiting the [trade in] the silk fabrics from China.45. As the result of the memorial sent to the king by the consulate and commerce of Nueva España (which his Majesty was pleased to refer to the Council), in which they described the backward condition in which their trade was, and stated the arguments why the trading-fleets annually sent to that kingdom [from España] should not be continued, the Council agreed that the consulate and commerce of Sevilla should give a report upon their opinion of this memorial, calling together for this purpose in a general conference all the shippers and merchants who were in that city; and that their discussions, proposals, and joint opinions should be exactly copied, with the individual opinions which were offered, and the whole sent to the Council.46. The body of traders having assembled in Sevilla on January 27, 1714, in order to comply with the order of the Council, and the importance of this matter having been discussed at length in the conference, it was unanimously agreed that the injury arising from the notable, frequent, and large importation of foreign goods which had been made throughout America had been very pernicious to the commerce of Sevilla; and that it was impossible that that commerce should return to its former condition if those importations were not checked—which they had entreated his Majesty to do in repeated remonstrances,which they now made again, trusting that the earnest and truthful utterances of vassals so faithful as they could not be displeasing to the royal ears.47. [They further declared] that the injury caused by the large amount of freight which was earned into Nueva España by the ships from China, rivaled, if it did not exceed, that from the other importations. For, although the merchants of Mexico did not touch on this point in their memorial, the silence in which they kept back this subject (although it was a more odious source of damage) readily explained what interests were concerned in tolerating and continuing those ships, at the same time when the latter had so injured and driven out the commerce of España that no words were sufficient to explain the grief and resentment [of the Sevillans] over the great losses which had been caused to it. For although the ships which were bringing in the cloth and other goods (a matter to which the consulate of Mexico attached much weight) were ruining the commerce of España, in those important lines of linen goods, and others which they were bringing in, [nevertheless] the knowledge, suspicion, or information of what they were could perhaps make the [resultant] damage to the Spanish commerce less serious, such knowledge causing the refusal to injure that commerce; but that could not be guarded against in the ships from China, for their cargo was composed of all the silks and other goods generally which could be traded in by the merchants of España, of those which are manufactured in these kingdoms; and, whatever might be lost in that region on the part of the commerce of España by reason of foreign importations, it lost everything through those from China.48. That, his Majesty having granted to the island of Luzòn (in which was located the city of Manila) and to the other islands around it only this, that every year there should go to the port of Acapulco one ship to obtain the situado for the maintenance of the fortified posts, conveying only what pertained to white and colored cotton stuffs, pepper, porcelain, raw silk, and other similar commodities which are produced by the islands which obey [the king of España], and with the prohibition of every kind of woven silk stuffs as contraband—for which reason the latter have always been burned on account of the notion of their being made in China and Japòn (which are countries governed by idolaters, Mahometans, and heretics, who are not under the dominion of this crown)—the abuse of this permission had reached such a state that the ship came with a lading of eleven or twelve thousand bales from China and Japòn, so dexterously packed by those infidels that the largest bale which the commerce of España was shipping to the Indias did not include the volume or the value that was enclosed in a bale of those silks, which was less than a vara deep. Moreover, they put therein imitations of all the satins, velvets, ribbons, mantles, hose, and every kind of silks, which were manufactured in España; [and these were] so showy and beautiful that, not only for this reason but on account of the very moderate prices at which they were sold throughout Nueva España, no other kind of silks were used than those of China. The result of this was that all the silk factories in España (which were paying so enormous duties to the royal treasury) had been broken up and destroyed; and the fortunes of those who were trading in the Indias were ruined by the great losses which they had encountered, sincethe Spanish commerce was deprived of a line of goods so important and rich as is that of the silk, in all its kinds of fabrics.49. That this loss had passed over to the woolen goods, such as picotes, barracans,10and others which were shipped in the trading-fleets; for those who had clothed themselves with these throughout Nueva España were now despising them, observing that for half of what a woolen garment cost them they could procure another of China silk—being apparently as well clothed, although in the quality of the goods they had been deceived. In this manner the Chinese goods carried out of the country three or four millions of pesos in each ship, which was but little less wealth than that carried by a regular trading-fleet.50. That the damage which this illegal trade occasioned to the royal treasury and to the Spanish trade enabled one to judge of the great amount of property which those ships transported, of the treasures which they carried, of the loss which they caused to the commerce of España, and of the amount which they did not contribute [to the royal revenues]—augmenting by this means the power and wealth of those infidels, who are enemies to the Christian faith and to the crown. For this reason, and because the consulate and commerce of Sevilla firmly believed that this was the greatest loss and the greatest source and cause of the ruin of the trading-fleets, and that which most urgently called for relief with the most prompt and energetic measures: they concluded by entreating his Majesty that he would deign to giveorders that the permission given to Philipinas be strictly observed, under the most severe penalties,commanding that its limits be restricted within the limits of its first concession, for this purpose despatching the most rigorous orders; and that the trading-fleets should go punctually and frequently, each year. On this point they expatiated at length, and it is omitted because it does not belong to this subject.51. In view of this information and of the proceedings in the Council (of which there is no account in theExpediente) it is found that by decree of January 8, 1718, his Majesty stated to the Council that, having been informed of the quantity of stuffs, silken fabrics, and other merchandise which the ship from Philipinas brought, by which the greater part of the silver of Nueva España was carried out of that country, he had decided to prohibit absolutely the trade in the aforesaid commodities. He declared that the only trade which could be carried on was in linen goods, porcelain, wax, cinnamon, cloves, and other products which are not carried from España, to such an amount of these kinds of goods as the Marqués de Valero should notify to the governor of Philipinas, which must be transported by one of the ships which for the last five years had arrived at Acapulco [from the islands]. His Majesty furnished with this a copy of the order to this purpose which he had given to the Marqués de Valero, the tenor of which is as follows: [Here follows a copy of the decree, dated at Madrid on January 8, 1718.]53. By another decree of June 20, in the same year, 1718, his Majesty sent to the Council, for its information and guidance in the matters which belonged to it, a copy of another decree (which wasissued to the Council of Castilla), prohibiting the importation and use of the fabrics from China and other parts of Assia, since this was to the injury of the manufactures and commerce of España; its tenor is as follows: [A copy of this decree is also given].
PERIOD VOf the information given by the commercial interests of España, in regard to the injuries arising from the Philipinas trade; and orders given by his Majesty in the year 1718 prohibiting the [trade in] the silk fabrics from China.45. As the result of the memorial sent to the king by the consulate and commerce of Nueva España (which his Majesty was pleased to refer to the Council), in which they described the backward condition in which their trade was, and stated the arguments why the trading-fleets annually sent to that kingdom [from España] should not be continued, the Council agreed that the consulate and commerce of Sevilla should give a report upon their opinion of this memorial, calling together for this purpose in a general conference all the shippers and merchants who were in that city; and that their discussions, proposals, and joint opinions should be exactly copied, with the individual opinions which were offered, and the whole sent to the Council.46. The body of traders having assembled in Sevilla on January 27, 1714, in order to comply with the order of the Council, and the importance of this matter having been discussed at length in the conference, it was unanimously agreed that the injury arising from the notable, frequent, and large importation of foreign goods which had been made throughout America had been very pernicious to the commerce of Sevilla; and that it was impossible that that commerce should return to its former condition if those importations were not checked—which they had entreated his Majesty to do in repeated remonstrances,which they now made again, trusting that the earnest and truthful utterances of vassals so faithful as they could not be displeasing to the royal ears.47. [They further declared] that the injury caused by the large amount of freight which was earned into Nueva España by the ships from China, rivaled, if it did not exceed, that from the other importations. For, although the merchants of Mexico did not touch on this point in their memorial, the silence in which they kept back this subject (although it was a more odious source of damage) readily explained what interests were concerned in tolerating and continuing those ships, at the same time when the latter had so injured and driven out the commerce of España that no words were sufficient to explain the grief and resentment [of the Sevillans] over the great losses which had been caused to it. For although the ships which were bringing in the cloth and other goods (a matter to which the consulate of Mexico attached much weight) were ruining the commerce of España, in those important lines of linen goods, and others which they were bringing in, [nevertheless] the knowledge, suspicion, or information of what they were could perhaps make the [resultant] damage to the Spanish commerce less serious, such knowledge causing the refusal to injure that commerce; but that could not be guarded against in the ships from China, for their cargo was composed of all the silks and other goods generally which could be traded in by the merchants of España, of those which are manufactured in these kingdoms; and, whatever might be lost in that region on the part of the commerce of España by reason of foreign importations, it lost everything through those from China.48. That, his Majesty having granted to the island of Luzòn (in which was located the city of Manila) and to the other islands around it only this, that every year there should go to the port of Acapulco one ship to obtain the situado for the maintenance of the fortified posts, conveying only what pertained to white and colored cotton stuffs, pepper, porcelain, raw silk, and other similar commodities which are produced by the islands which obey [the king of España], and with the prohibition of every kind of woven silk stuffs as contraband—for which reason the latter have always been burned on account of the notion of their being made in China and Japòn (which are countries governed by idolaters, Mahometans, and heretics, who are not under the dominion of this crown)—the abuse of this permission had reached such a state that the ship came with a lading of eleven or twelve thousand bales from China and Japòn, so dexterously packed by those infidels that the largest bale which the commerce of España was shipping to the Indias did not include the volume or the value that was enclosed in a bale of those silks, which was less than a vara deep. Moreover, they put therein imitations of all the satins, velvets, ribbons, mantles, hose, and every kind of silks, which were manufactured in España; [and these were] so showy and beautiful that, not only for this reason but on account of the very moderate prices at which they were sold throughout Nueva España, no other kind of silks were used than those of China. The result of this was that all the silk factories in España (which were paying so enormous duties to the royal treasury) had been broken up and destroyed; and the fortunes of those who were trading in the Indias were ruined by the great losses which they had encountered, sincethe Spanish commerce was deprived of a line of goods so important and rich as is that of the silk, in all its kinds of fabrics.49. That this loss had passed over to the woolen goods, such as picotes, barracans,10and others which were shipped in the trading-fleets; for those who had clothed themselves with these throughout Nueva España were now despising them, observing that for half of what a woolen garment cost them they could procure another of China silk—being apparently as well clothed, although in the quality of the goods they had been deceived. In this manner the Chinese goods carried out of the country three or four millions of pesos in each ship, which was but little less wealth than that carried by a regular trading-fleet.50. That the damage which this illegal trade occasioned to the royal treasury and to the Spanish trade enabled one to judge of the great amount of property which those ships transported, of the treasures which they carried, of the loss which they caused to the commerce of España, and of the amount which they did not contribute [to the royal revenues]—augmenting by this means the power and wealth of those infidels, who are enemies to the Christian faith and to the crown. For this reason, and because the consulate and commerce of Sevilla firmly believed that this was the greatest loss and the greatest source and cause of the ruin of the trading-fleets, and that which most urgently called for relief with the most prompt and energetic measures: they concluded by entreating his Majesty that he would deign to giveorders that the permission given to Philipinas be strictly observed, under the most severe penalties,commanding that its limits be restricted within the limits of its first concession, for this purpose despatching the most rigorous orders; and that the trading-fleets should go punctually and frequently, each year. On this point they expatiated at length, and it is omitted because it does not belong to this subject.51. In view of this information and of the proceedings in the Council (of which there is no account in theExpediente) it is found that by decree of January 8, 1718, his Majesty stated to the Council that, having been informed of the quantity of stuffs, silken fabrics, and other merchandise which the ship from Philipinas brought, by which the greater part of the silver of Nueva España was carried out of that country, he had decided to prohibit absolutely the trade in the aforesaid commodities. He declared that the only trade which could be carried on was in linen goods, porcelain, wax, cinnamon, cloves, and other products which are not carried from España, to such an amount of these kinds of goods as the Marqués de Valero should notify to the governor of Philipinas, which must be transported by one of the ships which for the last five years had arrived at Acapulco [from the islands]. His Majesty furnished with this a copy of the order to this purpose which he had given to the Marqués de Valero, the tenor of which is as follows: [Here follows a copy of the decree, dated at Madrid on January 8, 1718.]53. By another decree of June 20, in the same year, 1718, his Majesty sent to the Council, for its information and guidance in the matters which belonged to it, a copy of another decree (which wasissued to the Council of Castilla), prohibiting the importation and use of the fabrics from China and other parts of Assia, since this was to the injury of the manufactures and commerce of España; its tenor is as follows: [A copy of this decree is also given].
PERIOD VOf the information given by the commercial interests of España, in regard to the injuries arising from the Philipinas trade; and orders given by his Majesty in the year 1718 prohibiting the [trade in] the silk fabrics from China.45. As the result of the memorial sent to the king by the consulate and commerce of Nueva España (which his Majesty was pleased to refer to the Council), in which they described the backward condition in which their trade was, and stated the arguments why the trading-fleets annually sent to that kingdom [from España] should not be continued, the Council agreed that the consulate and commerce of Sevilla should give a report upon their opinion of this memorial, calling together for this purpose in a general conference all the shippers and merchants who were in that city; and that their discussions, proposals, and joint opinions should be exactly copied, with the individual opinions which were offered, and the whole sent to the Council.46. The body of traders having assembled in Sevilla on January 27, 1714, in order to comply with the order of the Council, and the importance of this matter having been discussed at length in the conference, it was unanimously agreed that the injury arising from the notable, frequent, and large importation of foreign goods which had been made throughout America had been very pernicious to the commerce of Sevilla; and that it was impossible that that commerce should return to its former condition if those importations were not checked—which they had entreated his Majesty to do in repeated remonstrances,which they now made again, trusting that the earnest and truthful utterances of vassals so faithful as they could not be displeasing to the royal ears.47. [They further declared] that the injury caused by the large amount of freight which was earned into Nueva España by the ships from China, rivaled, if it did not exceed, that from the other importations. For, although the merchants of Mexico did not touch on this point in their memorial, the silence in which they kept back this subject (although it was a more odious source of damage) readily explained what interests were concerned in tolerating and continuing those ships, at the same time when the latter had so injured and driven out the commerce of España that no words were sufficient to explain the grief and resentment [of the Sevillans] over the great losses which had been caused to it. For although the ships which were bringing in the cloth and other goods (a matter to which the consulate of Mexico attached much weight) were ruining the commerce of España, in those important lines of linen goods, and others which they were bringing in, [nevertheless] the knowledge, suspicion, or information of what they were could perhaps make the [resultant] damage to the Spanish commerce less serious, such knowledge causing the refusal to injure that commerce; but that could not be guarded against in the ships from China, for their cargo was composed of all the silks and other goods generally which could be traded in by the merchants of España, of those which are manufactured in these kingdoms; and, whatever might be lost in that region on the part of the commerce of España by reason of foreign importations, it lost everything through those from China.48. That, his Majesty having granted to the island of Luzòn (in which was located the city of Manila) and to the other islands around it only this, that every year there should go to the port of Acapulco one ship to obtain the situado for the maintenance of the fortified posts, conveying only what pertained to white and colored cotton stuffs, pepper, porcelain, raw silk, and other similar commodities which are produced by the islands which obey [the king of España], and with the prohibition of every kind of woven silk stuffs as contraband—for which reason the latter have always been burned on account of the notion of their being made in China and Japòn (which are countries governed by idolaters, Mahometans, and heretics, who are not under the dominion of this crown)—the abuse of this permission had reached such a state that the ship came with a lading of eleven or twelve thousand bales from China and Japòn, so dexterously packed by those infidels that the largest bale which the commerce of España was shipping to the Indias did not include the volume or the value that was enclosed in a bale of those silks, which was less than a vara deep. Moreover, they put therein imitations of all the satins, velvets, ribbons, mantles, hose, and every kind of silks, which were manufactured in España; [and these were] so showy and beautiful that, not only for this reason but on account of the very moderate prices at which they were sold throughout Nueva España, no other kind of silks were used than those of China. The result of this was that all the silk factories in España (which were paying so enormous duties to the royal treasury) had been broken up and destroyed; and the fortunes of those who were trading in the Indias were ruined by the great losses which they had encountered, sincethe Spanish commerce was deprived of a line of goods so important and rich as is that of the silk, in all its kinds of fabrics.49. That this loss had passed over to the woolen goods, such as picotes, barracans,10and others which were shipped in the trading-fleets; for those who had clothed themselves with these throughout Nueva España were now despising them, observing that for half of what a woolen garment cost them they could procure another of China silk—being apparently as well clothed, although in the quality of the goods they had been deceived. In this manner the Chinese goods carried out of the country three or four millions of pesos in each ship, which was but little less wealth than that carried by a regular trading-fleet.50. That the damage which this illegal trade occasioned to the royal treasury and to the Spanish trade enabled one to judge of the great amount of property which those ships transported, of the treasures which they carried, of the loss which they caused to the commerce of España, and of the amount which they did not contribute [to the royal revenues]—augmenting by this means the power and wealth of those infidels, who are enemies to the Christian faith and to the crown. For this reason, and because the consulate and commerce of Sevilla firmly believed that this was the greatest loss and the greatest source and cause of the ruin of the trading-fleets, and that which most urgently called for relief with the most prompt and energetic measures: they concluded by entreating his Majesty that he would deign to giveorders that the permission given to Philipinas be strictly observed, under the most severe penalties,commanding that its limits be restricted within the limits of its first concession, for this purpose despatching the most rigorous orders; and that the trading-fleets should go punctually and frequently, each year. On this point they expatiated at length, and it is omitted because it does not belong to this subject.51. In view of this information and of the proceedings in the Council (of which there is no account in theExpediente) it is found that by decree of January 8, 1718, his Majesty stated to the Council that, having been informed of the quantity of stuffs, silken fabrics, and other merchandise which the ship from Philipinas brought, by which the greater part of the silver of Nueva España was carried out of that country, he had decided to prohibit absolutely the trade in the aforesaid commodities. He declared that the only trade which could be carried on was in linen goods, porcelain, wax, cinnamon, cloves, and other products which are not carried from España, to such an amount of these kinds of goods as the Marqués de Valero should notify to the governor of Philipinas, which must be transported by one of the ships which for the last five years had arrived at Acapulco [from the islands]. His Majesty furnished with this a copy of the order to this purpose which he had given to the Marqués de Valero, the tenor of which is as follows: [Here follows a copy of the decree, dated at Madrid on January 8, 1718.]53. By another decree of June 20, in the same year, 1718, his Majesty sent to the Council, for its information and guidance in the matters which belonged to it, a copy of another decree (which wasissued to the Council of Castilla), prohibiting the importation and use of the fabrics from China and other parts of Assia, since this was to the injury of the manufactures and commerce of España; its tenor is as follows: [A copy of this decree is also given].
PERIOD VOf the information given by the commercial interests of España, in regard to the injuries arising from the Philipinas trade; and orders given by his Majesty in the year 1718 prohibiting the [trade in] the silk fabrics from China.45. As the result of the memorial sent to the king by the consulate and commerce of Nueva España (which his Majesty was pleased to refer to the Council), in which they described the backward condition in which their trade was, and stated the arguments why the trading-fleets annually sent to that kingdom [from España] should not be continued, the Council agreed that the consulate and commerce of Sevilla should give a report upon their opinion of this memorial, calling together for this purpose in a general conference all the shippers and merchants who were in that city; and that their discussions, proposals, and joint opinions should be exactly copied, with the individual opinions which were offered, and the whole sent to the Council.46. The body of traders having assembled in Sevilla on January 27, 1714, in order to comply with the order of the Council, and the importance of this matter having been discussed at length in the conference, it was unanimously agreed that the injury arising from the notable, frequent, and large importation of foreign goods which had been made throughout America had been very pernicious to the commerce of Sevilla; and that it was impossible that that commerce should return to its former condition if those importations were not checked—which they had entreated his Majesty to do in repeated remonstrances,which they now made again, trusting that the earnest and truthful utterances of vassals so faithful as they could not be displeasing to the royal ears.47. [They further declared] that the injury caused by the large amount of freight which was earned into Nueva España by the ships from China, rivaled, if it did not exceed, that from the other importations. For, although the merchants of Mexico did not touch on this point in their memorial, the silence in which they kept back this subject (although it was a more odious source of damage) readily explained what interests were concerned in tolerating and continuing those ships, at the same time when the latter had so injured and driven out the commerce of España that no words were sufficient to explain the grief and resentment [of the Sevillans] over the great losses which had been caused to it. For although the ships which were bringing in the cloth and other goods (a matter to which the consulate of Mexico attached much weight) were ruining the commerce of España, in those important lines of linen goods, and others which they were bringing in, [nevertheless] the knowledge, suspicion, or information of what they were could perhaps make the [resultant] damage to the Spanish commerce less serious, such knowledge causing the refusal to injure that commerce; but that could not be guarded against in the ships from China, for their cargo was composed of all the silks and other goods generally which could be traded in by the merchants of España, of those which are manufactured in these kingdoms; and, whatever might be lost in that region on the part of the commerce of España by reason of foreign importations, it lost everything through those from China.48. That, his Majesty having granted to the island of Luzòn (in which was located the city of Manila) and to the other islands around it only this, that every year there should go to the port of Acapulco one ship to obtain the situado for the maintenance of the fortified posts, conveying only what pertained to white and colored cotton stuffs, pepper, porcelain, raw silk, and other similar commodities which are produced by the islands which obey [the king of España], and with the prohibition of every kind of woven silk stuffs as contraband—for which reason the latter have always been burned on account of the notion of their being made in China and Japòn (which are countries governed by idolaters, Mahometans, and heretics, who are not under the dominion of this crown)—the abuse of this permission had reached such a state that the ship came with a lading of eleven or twelve thousand bales from China and Japòn, so dexterously packed by those infidels that the largest bale which the commerce of España was shipping to the Indias did not include the volume or the value that was enclosed in a bale of those silks, which was less than a vara deep. Moreover, they put therein imitations of all the satins, velvets, ribbons, mantles, hose, and every kind of silks, which were manufactured in España; [and these were] so showy and beautiful that, not only for this reason but on account of the very moderate prices at which they were sold throughout Nueva España, no other kind of silks were used than those of China. The result of this was that all the silk factories in España (which were paying so enormous duties to the royal treasury) had been broken up and destroyed; and the fortunes of those who were trading in the Indias were ruined by the great losses which they had encountered, sincethe Spanish commerce was deprived of a line of goods so important and rich as is that of the silk, in all its kinds of fabrics.49. That this loss had passed over to the woolen goods, such as picotes, barracans,10and others which were shipped in the trading-fleets; for those who had clothed themselves with these throughout Nueva España were now despising them, observing that for half of what a woolen garment cost them they could procure another of China silk—being apparently as well clothed, although in the quality of the goods they had been deceived. In this manner the Chinese goods carried out of the country three or four millions of pesos in each ship, which was but little less wealth than that carried by a regular trading-fleet.50. That the damage which this illegal trade occasioned to the royal treasury and to the Spanish trade enabled one to judge of the great amount of property which those ships transported, of the treasures which they carried, of the loss which they caused to the commerce of España, and of the amount which they did not contribute [to the royal revenues]—augmenting by this means the power and wealth of those infidels, who are enemies to the Christian faith and to the crown. For this reason, and because the consulate and commerce of Sevilla firmly believed that this was the greatest loss and the greatest source and cause of the ruin of the trading-fleets, and that which most urgently called for relief with the most prompt and energetic measures: they concluded by entreating his Majesty that he would deign to giveorders that the permission given to Philipinas be strictly observed, under the most severe penalties,commanding that its limits be restricted within the limits of its first concession, for this purpose despatching the most rigorous orders; and that the trading-fleets should go punctually and frequently, each year. On this point they expatiated at length, and it is omitted because it does not belong to this subject.51. In view of this information and of the proceedings in the Council (of which there is no account in theExpediente) it is found that by decree of January 8, 1718, his Majesty stated to the Council that, having been informed of the quantity of stuffs, silken fabrics, and other merchandise which the ship from Philipinas brought, by which the greater part of the silver of Nueva España was carried out of that country, he had decided to prohibit absolutely the trade in the aforesaid commodities. He declared that the only trade which could be carried on was in linen goods, porcelain, wax, cinnamon, cloves, and other products which are not carried from España, to such an amount of these kinds of goods as the Marqués de Valero should notify to the governor of Philipinas, which must be transported by one of the ships which for the last five years had arrived at Acapulco [from the islands]. His Majesty furnished with this a copy of the order to this purpose which he had given to the Marqués de Valero, the tenor of which is as follows: [Here follows a copy of the decree, dated at Madrid on January 8, 1718.]53. By another decree of June 20, in the same year, 1718, his Majesty sent to the Council, for its information and guidance in the matters which belonged to it, a copy of another decree (which wasissued to the Council of Castilla), prohibiting the importation and use of the fabrics from China and other parts of Assia, since this was to the injury of the manufactures and commerce of España; its tenor is as follows: [A copy of this decree is also given].
PERIOD VOf the information given by the commercial interests of España, in regard to the injuries arising from the Philipinas trade; and orders given by his Majesty in the year 1718 prohibiting the [trade in] the silk fabrics from China.45. As the result of the memorial sent to the king by the consulate and commerce of Nueva España (which his Majesty was pleased to refer to the Council), in which they described the backward condition in which their trade was, and stated the arguments why the trading-fleets annually sent to that kingdom [from España] should not be continued, the Council agreed that the consulate and commerce of Sevilla should give a report upon their opinion of this memorial, calling together for this purpose in a general conference all the shippers and merchants who were in that city; and that their discussions, proposals, and joint opinions should be exactly copied, with the individual opinions which were offered, and the whole sent to the Council.46. The body of traders having assembled in Sevilla on January 27, 1714, in order to comply with the order of the Council, and the importance of this matter having been discussed at length in the conference, it was unanimously agreed that the injury arising from the notable, frequent, and large importation of foreign goods which had been made throughout America had been very pernicious to the commerce of Sevilla; and that it was impossible that that commerce should return to its former condition if those importations were not checked—which they had entreated his Majesty to do in repeated remonstrances,which they now made again, trusting that the earnest and truthful utterances of vassals so faithful as they could not be displeasing to the royal ears.47. [They further declared] that the injury caused by the large amount of freight which was earned into Nueva España by the ships from China, rivaled, if it did not exceed, that from the other importations. For, although the merchants of Mexico did not touch on this point in their memorial, the silence in which they kept back this subject (although it was a more odious source of damage) readily explained what interests were concerned in tolerating and continuing those ships, at the same time when the latter had so injured and driven out the commerce of España that no words were sufficient to explain the grief and resentment [of the Sevillans] over the great losses which had been caused to it. For although the ships which were bringing in the cloth and other goods (a matter to which the consulate of Mexico attached much weight) were ruining the commerce of España, in those important lines of linen goods, and others which they were bringing in, [nevertheless] the knowledge, suspicion, or information of what they were could perhaps make the [resultant] damage to the Spanish commerce less serious, such knowledge causing the refusal to injure that commerce; but that could not be guarded against in the ships from China, for their cargo was composed of all the silks and other goods generally which could be traded in by the merchants of España, of those which are manufactured in these kingdoms; and, whatever might be lost in that region on the part of the commerce of España by reason of foreign importations, it lost everything through those from China.48. That, his Majesty having granted to the island of Luzòn (in which was located the city of Manila) and to the other islands around it only this, that every year there should go to the port of Acapulco one ship to obtain the situado for the maintenance of the fortified posts, conveying only what pertained to white and colored cotton stuffs, pepper, porcelain, raw silk, and other similar commodities which are produced by the islands which obey [the king of España], and with the prohibition of every kind of woven silk stuffs as contraband—for which reason the latter have always been burned on account of the notion of their being made in China and Japòn (which are countries governed by idolaters, Mahometans, and heretics, who are not under the dominion of this crown)—the abuse of this permission had reached such a state that the ship came with a lading of eleven or twelve thousand bales from China and Japòn, so dexterously packed by those infidels that the largest bale which the commerce of España was shipping to the Indias did not include the volume or the value that was enclosed in a bale of those silks, which was less than a vara deep. Moreover, they put therein imitations of all the satins, velvets, ribbons, mantles, hose, and every kind of silks, which were manufactured in España; [and these were] so showy and beautiful that, not only for this reason but on account of the very moderate prices at which they were sold throughout Nueva España, no other kind of silks were used than those of China. The result of this was that all the silk factories in España (which were paying so enormous duties to the royal treasury) had been broken up and destroyed; and the fortunes of those who were trading in the Indias were ruined by the great losses which they had encountered, sincethe Spanish commerce was deprived of a line of goods so important and rich as is that of the silk, in all its kinds of fabrics.49. That this loss had passed over to the woolen goods, such as picotes, barracans,10and others which were shipped in the trading-fleets; for those who had clothed themselves with these throughout Nueva España were now despising them, observing that for half of what a woolen garment cost them they could procure another of China silk—being apparently as well clothed, although in the quality of the goods they had been deceived. In this manner the Chinese goods carried out of the country three or four millions of pesos in each ship, which was but little less wealth than that carried by a regular trading-fleet.50. That the damage which this illegal trade occasioned to the royal treasury and to the Spanish trade enabled one to judge of the great amount of property which those ships transported, of the treasures which they carried, of the loss which they caused to the commerce of España, and of the amount which they did not contribute [to the royal revenues]—augmenting by this means the power and wealth of those infidels, who are enemies to the Christian faith and to the crown. For this reason, and because the consulate and commerce of Sevilla firmly believed that this was the greatest loss and the greatest source and cause of the ruin of the trading-fleets, and that which most urgently called for relief with the most prompt and energetic measures: they concluded by entreating his Majesty that he would deign to giveorders that the permission given to Philipinas be strictly observed, under the most severe penalties,commanding that its limits be restricted within the limits of its first concession, for this purpose despatching the most rigorous orders; and that the trading-fleets should go punctually and frequently, each year. On this point they expatiated at length, and it is omitted because it does not belong to this subject.51. In view of this information and of the proceedings in the Council (of which there is no account in theExpediente) it is found that by decree of January 8, 1718, his Majesty stated to the Council that, having been informed of the quantity of stuffs, silken fabrics, and other merchandise which the ship from Philipinas brought, by which the greater part of the silver of Nueva España was carried out of that country, he had decided to prohibit absolutely the trade in the aforesaid commodities. He declared that the only trade which could be carried on was in linen goods, porcelain, wax, cinnamon, cloves, and other products which are not carried from España, to such an amount of these kinds of goods as the Marqués de Valero should notify to the governor of Philipinas, which must be transported by one of the ships which for the last five years had arrived at Acapulco [from the islands]. His Majesty furnished with this a copy of the order to this purpose which he had given to the Marqués de Valero, the tenor of which is as follows: [Here follows a copy of the decree, dated at Madrid on January 8, 1718.]53. By another decree of June 20, in the same year, 1718, his Majesty sent to the Council, for its information and guidance in the matters which belonged to it, a copy of another decree (which wasissued to the Council of Castilla), prohibiting the importation and use of the fabrics from China and other parts of Assia, since this was to the injury of the manufactures and commerce of España; its tenor is as follows: [A copy of this decree is also given].
PERIOD VOf the information given by the commercial interests of España, in regard to the injuries arising from the Philipinas trade; and orders given by his Majesty in the year 1718 prohibiting the [trade in] the silk fabrics from China.
Of the information given by the commercial interests of España, in regard to the injuries arising from the Philipinas trade; and orders given by his Majesty in the year 1718 prohibiting the [trade in] the silk fabrics from China.
Of the information given by the commercial interests of España, in regard to the injuries arising from the Philipinas trade; and orders given by his Majesty in the year 1718 prohibiting the [trade in] the silk fabrics from China.
45. As the result of the memorial sent to the king by the consulate and commerce of Nueva España (which his Majesty was pleased to refer to the Council), in which they described the backward condition in which their trade was, and stated the arguments why the trading-fleets annually sent to that kingdom [from España] should not be continued, the Council agreed that the consulate and commerce of Sevilla should give a report upon their opinion of this memorial, calling together for this purpose in a general conference all the shippers and merchants who were in that city; and that their discussions, proposals, and joint opinions should be exactly copied, with the individual opinions which were offered, and the whole sent to the Council.46. The body of traders having assembled in Sevilla on January 27, 1714, in order to comply with the order of the Council, and the importance of this matter having been discussed at length in the conference, it was unanimously agreed that the injury arising from the notable, frequent, and large importation of foreign goods which had been made throughout America had been very pernicious to the commerce of Sevilla; and that it was impossible that that commerce should return to its former condition if those importations were not checked—which they had entreated his Majesty to do in repeated remonstrances,which they now made again, trusting that the earnest and truthful utterances of vassals so faithful as they could not be displeasing to the royal ears.47. [They further declared] that the injury caused by the large amount of freight which was earned into Nueva España by the ships from China, rivaled, if it did not exceed, that from the other importations. For, although the merchants of Mexico did not touch on this point in their memorial, the silence in which they kept back this subject (although it was a more odious source of damage) readily explained what interests were concerned in tolerating and continuing those ships, at the same time when the latter had so injured and driven out the commerce of España that no words were sufficient to explain the grief and resentment [of the Sevillans] over the great losses which had been caused to it. For although the ships which were bringing in the cloth and other goods (a matter to which the consulate of Mexico attached much weight) were ruining the commerce of España, in those important lines of linen goods, and others which they were bringing in, [nevertheless] the knowledge, suspicion, or information of what they were could perhaps make the [resultant] damage to the Spanish commerce less serious, such knowledge causing the refusal to injure that commerce; but that could not be guarded against in the ships from China, for their cargo was composed of all the silks and other goods generally which could be traded in by the merchants of España, of those which are manufactured in these kingdoms; and, whatever might be lost in that region on the part of the commerce of España by reason of foreign importations, it lost everything through those from China.48. That, his Majesty having granted to the island of Luzòn (in which was located the city of Manila) and to the other islands around it only this, that every year there should go to the port of Acapulco one ship to obtain the situado for the maintenance of the fortified posts, conveying only what pertained to white and colored cotton stuffs, pepper, porcelain, raw silk, and other similar commodities which are produced by the islands which obey [the king of España], and with the prohibition of every kind of woven silk stuffs as contraband—for which reason the latter have always been burned on account of the notion of their being made in China and Japòn (which are countries governed by idolaters, Mahometans, and heretics, who are not under the dominion of this crown)—the abuse of this permission had reached such a state that the ship came with a lading of eleven or twelve thousand bales from China and Japòn, so dexterously packed by those infidels that the largest bale which the commerce of España was shipping to the Indias did not include the volume or the value that was enclosed in a bale of those silks, which was less than a vara deep. Moreover, they put therein imitations of all the satins, velvets, ribbons, mantles, hose, and every kind of silks, which were manufactured in España; [and these were] so showy and beautiful that, not only for this reason but on account of the very moderate prices at which they were sold throughout Nueva España, no other kind of silks were used than those of China. The result of this was that all the silk factories in España (which were paying so enormous duties to the royal treasury) had been broken up and destroyed; and the fortunes of those who were trading in the Indias were ruined by the great losses which they had encountered, sincethe Spanish commerce was deprived of a line of goods so important and rich as is that of the silk, in all its kinds of fabrics.49. That this loss had passed over to the woolen goods, such as picotes, barracans,10and others which were shipped in the trading-fleets; for those who had clothed themselves with these throughout Nueva España were now despising them, observing that for half of what a woolen garment cost them they could procure another of China silk—being apparently as well clothed, although in the quality of the goods they had been deceived. In this manner the Chinese goods carried out of the country three or four millions of pesos in each ship, which was but little less wealth than that carried by a regular trading-fleet.50. That the damage which this illegal trade occasioned to the royal treasury and to the Spanish trade enabled one to judge of the great amount of property which those ships transported, of the treasures which they carried, of the loss which they caused to the commerce of España, and of the amount which they did not contribute [to the royal revenues]—augmenting by this means the power and wealth of those infidels, who are enemies to the Christian faith and to the crown. For this reason, and because the consulate and commerce of Sevilla firmly believed that this was the greatest loss and the greatest source and cause of the ruin of the trading-fleets, and that which most urgently called for relief with the most prompt and energetic measures: they concluded by entreating his Majesty that he would deign to giveorders that the permission given to Philipinas be strictly observed, under the most severe penalties,commanding that its limits be restricted within the limits of its first concession, for this purpose despatching the most rigorous orders; and that the trading-fleets should go punctually and frequently, each year. On this point they expatiated at length, and it is omitted because it does not belong to this subject.51. In view of this information and of the proceedings in the Council (of which there is no account in theExpediente) it is found that by decree of January 8, 1718, his Majesty stated to the Council that, having been informed of the quantity of stuffs, silken fabrics, and other merchandise which the ship from Philipinas brought, by which the greater part of the silver of Nueva España was carried out of that country, he had decided to prohibit absolutely the trade in the aforesaid commodities. He declared that the only trade which could be carried on was in linen goods, porcelain, wax, cinnamon, cloves, and other products which are not carried from España, to such an amount of these kinds of goods as the Marqués de Valero should notify to the governor of Philipinas, which must be transported by one of the ships which for the last five years had arrived at Acapulco [from the islands]. His Majesty furnished with this a copy of the order to this purpose which he had given to the Marqués de Valero, the tenor of which is as follows: [Here follows a copy of the decree, dated at Madrid on January 8, 1718.]53. By another decree of June 20, in the same year, 1718, his Majesty sent to the Council, for its information and guidance in the matters which belonged to it, a copy of another decree (which wasissued to the Council of Castilla), prohibiting the importation and use of the fabrics from China and other parts of Assia, since this was to the injury of the manufactures and commerce of España; its tenor is as follows: [A copy of this decree is also given].
45. As the result of the memorial sent to the king by the consulate and commerce of Nueva España (which his Majesty was pleased to refer to the Council), in which they described the backward condition in which their trade was, and stated the arguments why the trading-fleets annually sent to that kingdom [from España] should not be continued, the Council agreed that the consulate and commerce of Sevilla should give a report upon their opinion of this memorial, calling together for this purpose in a general conference all the shippers and merchants who were in that city; and that their discussions, proposals, and joint opinions should be exactly copied, with the individual opinions which were offered, and the whole sent to the Council.
46. The body of traders having assembled in Sevilla on January 27, 1714, in order to comply with the order of the Council, and the importance of this matter having been discussed at length in the conference, it was unanimously agreed that the injury arising from the notable, frequent, and large importation of foreign goods which had been made throughout America had been very pernicious to the commerce of Sevilla; and that it was impossible that that commerce should return to its former condition if those importations were not checked—which they had entreated his Majesty to do in repeated remonstrances,which they now made again, trusting that the earnest and truthful utterances of vassals so faithful as they could not be displeasing to the royal ears.
47. [They further declared] that the injury caused by the large amount of freight which was earned into Nueva España by the ships from China, rivaled, if it did not exceed, that from the other importations. For, although the merchants of Mexico did not touch on this point in their memorial, the silence in which they kept back this subject (although it was a more odious source of damage) readily explained what interests were concerned in tolerating and continuing those ships, at the same time when the latter had so injured and driven out the commerce of España that no words were sufficient to explain the grief and resentment [of the Sevillans] over the great losses which had been caused to it. For although the ships which were bringing in the cloth and other goods (a matter to which the consulate of Mexico attached much weight) were ruining the commerce of España, in those important lines of linen goods, and others which they were bringing in, [nevertheless] the knowledge, suspicion, or information of what they were could perhaps make the [resultant] damage to the Spanish commerce less serious, such knowledge causing the refusal to injure that commerce; but that could not be guarded against in the ships from China, for their cargo was composed of all the silks and other goods generally which could be traded in by the merchants of España, of those which are manufactured in these kingdoms; and, whatever might be lost in that region on the part of the commerce of España by reason of foreign importations, it lost everything through those from China.
48. That, his Majesty having granted to the island of Luzòn (in which was located the city of Manila) and to the other islands around it only this, that every year there should go to the port of Acapulco one ship to obtain the situado for the maintenance of the fortified posts, conveying only what pertained to white and colored cotton stuffs, pepper, porcelain, raw silk, and other similar commodities which are produced by the islands which obey [the king of España], and with the prohibition of every kind of woven silk stuffs as contraband—for which reason the latter have always been burned on account of the notion of their being made in China and Japòn (which are countries governed by idolaters, Mahometans, and heretics, who are not under the dominion of this crown)—the abuse of this permission had reached such a state that the ship came with a lading of eleven or twelve thousand bales from China and Japòn, so dexterously packed by those infidels that the largest bale which the commerce of España was shipping to the Indias did not include the volume or the value that was enclosed in a bale of those silks, which was less than a vara deep. Moreover, they put therein imitations of all the satins, velvets, ribbons, mantles, hose, and every kind of silks, which were manufactured in España; [and these were] so showy and beautiful that, not only for this reason but on account of the very moderate prices at which they were sold throughout Nueva España, no other kind of silks were used than those of China. The result of this was that all the silk factories in España (which were paying so enormous duties to the royal treasury) had been broken up and destroyed; and the fortunes of those who were trading in the Indias were ruined by the great losses which they had encountered, sincethe Spanish commerce was deprived of a line of goods so important and rich as is that of the silk, in all its kinds of fabrics.
49. That this loss had passed over to the woolen goods, such as picotes, barracans,10and others which were shipped in the trading-fleets; for those who had clothed themselves with these throughout Nueva España were now despising them, observing that for half of what a woolen garment cost them they could procure another of China silk—being apparently as well clothed, although in the quality of the goods they had been deceived. In this manner the Chinese goods carried out of the country three or four millions of pesos in each ship, which was but little less wealth than that carried by a regular trading-fleet.
50. That the damage which this illegal trade occasioned to the royal treasury and to the Spanish trade enabled one to judge of the great amount of property which those ships transported, of the treasures which they carried, of the loss which they caused to the commerce of España, and of the amount which they did not contribute [to the royal revenues]—augmenting by this means the power and wealth of those infidels, who are enemies to the Christian faith and to the crown. For this reason, and because the consulate and commerce of Sevilla firmly believed that this was the greatest loss and the greatest source and cause of the ruin of the trading-fleets, and that which most urgently called for relief with the most prompt and energetic measures: they concluded by entreating his Majesty that he would deign to giveorders that the permission given to Philipinas be strictly observed, under the most severe penalties,commanding that its limits be restricted within the limits of its first concession, for this purpose despatching the most rigorous orders; and that the trading-fleets should go punctually and frequently, each year. On this point they expatiated at length, and it is omitted because it does not belong to this subject.
51. In view of this information and of the proceedings in the Council (of which there is no account in theExpediente) it is found that by decree of January 8, 1718, his Majesty stated to the Council that, having been informed of the quantity of stuffs, silken fabrics, and other merchandise which the ship from Philipinas brought, by which the greater part of the silver of Nueva España was carried out of that country, he had decided to prohibit absolutely the trade in the aforesaid commodities. He declared that the only trade which could be carried on was in linen goods, porcelain, wax, cinnamon, cloves, and other products which are not carried from España, to such an amount of these kinds of goods as the Marqués de Valero should notify to the governor of Philipinas, which must be transported by one of the ships which for the last five years had arrived at Acapulco [from the islands]. His Majesty furnished with this a copy of the order to this purpose which he had given to the Marqués de Valero, the tenor of which is as follows: [Here follows a copy of the decree, dated at Madrid on January 8, 1718.]
53. By another decree of June 20, in the same year, 1718, his Majesty sent to the Council, for its information and guidance in the matters which belonged to it, a copy of another decree (which wasissued to the Council of Castilla), prohibiting the importation and use of the fabrics from China and other parts of Assia, since this was to the injury of the manufactures and commerce of España; its tenor is as follows: [A copy of this decree is also given].