ly came,
nor with so great an amount of goods during these first years,
yet with the few that do come with valuable goods, and with those
which can come from the island of Hermosa, and the wax which is
obtained in these islands, there will be enough goods to complete
the two hundred and fifty thousand pesos which his Majesty allows
the inhabitants of this archipelago to trade with the said Nueva
Espana--and even to exceed that amount, in general, according to
the scarcity of wealth that they have today. The great investments
which are made today through the hands of agents who are here--who
have the money of certain citizens of Mexico in large quantities,
many thousands of pesos, with which they disturb the trade and
commerce of our citizens--will be prevented. For, as these men who
have the agencies enjoy an interest of ten per cent of what they thus
invest by their own authority (even though it be bought very dear),
they will not consider the removal of obstacles in the prices of the
merchandise--making them exceptions to the general loss of all this
community; for the Portuguese have continued their sales at the same
prices, without its having been possible to apply the corrective which
so great an injury demands. If that loss cease, our citizens alone will
enjoy the said investments, complying therein with his Majesty's will,
and will make them at favorable prices, whereby considerable profit
will accrue to them. For this they will share the merchandise which
will come, both from China and from the island of Hermosa and other
places, in accordance with their means. From it will also result
another advantage with the coming of the said vessels from China,
to the citizens who have possessions in the Parian, who will thus
have someone to occupy those possessions. The limited time during
which the said Sangleys are wont to remain here will be worth more
to those citizens than the rent and payment for their property which
they now usually obtain for all the year. With that income the tax
which they ought to pay for the arable land in the said possessions,
at the [current] values of this city, will not be so long delayed,
and will be paid with greater ease, promptness, and willingness than
is done now; for, as is well known to this city council, about eight
thousand pesos are owing to the said public property for the said
reason, according to the accounts that have been rendered by Juan de
Arguelles and Juan Lopez de Ando