The Philippine Islands, 1493-1803; explorations by early navigators, descriptions of the islands and their peoples, their history and records of the Catholic missions, as related in contemporaneous books and manuscripts, showing the political, economic, commericial and religious conditions of those islands from their earliest relations with European nations to the beginning of the nineteenth century; [Vol. 1, no. 12]

1601-1604]

PREFACE

I3

country. At present the conditions and results of
this trade are ruinous. Loyola advocates the establishment at Manila of a " consulate" of trade, like
that at Mexico; strict prohibition of Mexican participation in the China trade; and its monopoly by
the inhabitants of the Philippines. Letters from the
viceroy of Mexico state that the merchants of Peru
who trade with Spain are being ruined, on account of
the long time during which they must wait for returns on their money, and the excessive duties charged
on their goods. As a result, they are sending their
goods to Mexico; and they demand permission to
trade direct with China. Monterey recommends
that this be allowed to a limited extent, and that no
restrictions be placed on the use of Chinese goods in
Nueva Espana. He has used severe measures in regard to infringements of the ordinances regarding
commerce, but there is evidently remissness in the
customs inspection at Manila. Another paper gives
an abstract of certain points in a petition sent from
the Philippines. It is requested that the officers of
vessels trading with Nueva Espafia be inhabitants of the islands; that no space in the
ships be sold; that Peruvian merchants be not
allowed to go to the Philippines; that the troops
be paid from a special and separate account;
and that the lading of the trading ships be placed in
charge of the Manila cabildo. All these points are
commented upon by certain bishops whose advice is
apparently requested by the Council of the Indias.
Various memoranda follow, on the trade between the
Philippines and Nueva Espafia; these include recommendations for a commercial consulate at Manila, diminished coinage of money, allowance of a limited