The trade is by the royal edifts limited to a certain value, which
the annual cargoe ought not to exceed. Some Spanijh manu-
fcnpts, I have feen, mention this limitation to be 600,000 dollars ;
but the annual cargoe does certainly furpafs this fum ; and though
it may be difficult to fix its exad value, yet from many compari-
fons I conclude, that the return cannot be much fhort of three
millions o f dollars.
As it is fufficiently obvious, that the greateft fhare of the treafure
returned from Acapulco to Manila, does not remain in that place,
but is again difperfed into different parts of India-, and as all European
Nations have generally efteemed it good policy to keep their
American fettlements in an immediate dependance on their mother
country, without permitting them to carry on direftly any
gainful traffick with other powers; thefe confiderations have occa-
fioned many remonftrances to be prefented to the Court of Spain-
againft this Indian trade, allowed to the Kingdom of Mexico. It
has been urged, that the filk manufaftures of Valencia and other
parts of Spain are hereby greatly prejudiced, and the linens carried
from Cadiz much injured in their fale : Since the Chinefe filks
coming almoft diredlly to Acapulco, can be afforded confiderablv
cheaper there than any European manufadures o f equal goodnefs;
and the cottons from the Coromandel coaft, make the European linens
nearly ufelefs. So that the Manila trade renders both Mexico
and Peru lefs dependant upon Spain for a fupply o f their neceffities
than they ought to be; and exhaufts thofe countries of a confider-
able quantity of filver, the greateft part of which, were this trade
prohibited, would center in Spaint either in payment for Spanifh
commodities, or in gains to the Spanijh Merchant: Whereas now
the only advantage which arifes from it is, the enriching the Jefuits
and a few particular perfons befides, at the other extremity of the
world. Thefe arguments did fo far influence Don Jofeph Pat 'inho
who was formerly prime Minifter, and an enemy to the Jefuits, that
about the year 1725, he had refolved to abolifh this trade, and to
have permitted no Indian commodities to be introduced into any o f
the
the Spanijh ports in the Weft-Indies, except fuch as- were brought
thither by the regifter fhips from Europe. But the powerful intrigues
of the Jefuits prevented this regulation from taking place.
This trade from Manila to Acapulco and back again, is ufually
carried on in one or at moft two annual fhips, which fet fail from
Manila about July, and arrive at Acapulco in the December, January,
or February following ; and having there difpofed of their
effedts, return for Manila fome time in March, where they generally
arrive in Jun e; fo that the whole voyage takes up very near
an entire year. For this reafon, though there is often no more
than one (hip freighted at a time, yet there is always one ready for
the fea when the other arrives; and therefore the commerce at
Manila is provided with three or four flout fhips, that, in cafe of
any accident, the trade may not be fufpended. The largeft of thefe
fhips, whofe name I have not learnt, is defcribed as little lefs than
one of our firft rate men of war, and indeed (he muft be of an
enormous fize ; as it is known, that when fhe was employed with
other (hips from the fame port to cruize for our China trade, fhe
had no lefs than twelve hundred men on board. Their other fhips,
tho’ far inferior, in bulk to this, are yet flout large veflels, o f the
burthen of twelve hundred ton and upwards, and ufually carry
from three hundred and fifty to fix hundred hands, paflengers included,
with fifty odd guns. As thefe are all King’s fhips, com-
miffioned and paid by him, there is ufually one amongft the Captains,
ftiled the General, and he carries the royal ftandard of Spain
at the main-top gallant maft-head, as we (hall more particularly
obferve hereafter.
And now having defcribed the city and port of Manila, and the
(hipping employed by its inhabitants, it is neceflary to give a more
circumftantial detail of the navigation from thence to Acapulco.
The fhip having received her cargoe on board, and being fitted
for the fea, generally weighs from the mole of Cabite about the
middle of July, taking the advantage of the wefterly monfoon,
which then fets in. It appears by the chart already inferred, that
the