Note 12 — COMMERCE OF THE PHILIPPINES WITH NUEVA ESPAÑA

63. In consequence of this order of his Majesty there were sent to the consulate of Cadiz copies of the decrees of the year 1718 and of the letters of the Marqués de Valero which have been noted, in order that the consulate might report in regard to its opinions, fully and clearly stating the inconveniences, or the advantages, which might follow the prohibition of the stuffs, silken fabrics, and other merchandise from China. They answered this in a letter of July 16, declaring that on this subject they had made on different occasions the representations which were contained in two official documents which accompanied, and that nothing occurred to them to be added to these (which are the ones noted in nos. 46 and the following, “Period v”).12 Orders were given that the fiscal should examine the whole matter anew; and he in his reply of September 11, in the same year, 1720, taking into consideration what he had stated in another of January 10 preceding (which is the reply that is indicated in no. 56), added, that the consulate only complained in its memorial and in the remonstrances of its merchants of the illegal manner in which the commerce of Philipinas was carried on; and the fiscal asked that this be restricted within the limits of the permitted amount.