ver, it were not advisable to discuss this, but that
the necessity of the public government demands it and invokes it,
since only at such times can it be called just or used as an argument.

I consider your Majesty's permit in regard to the money going to the
Philipinas as liberal and beyond the excess of what is carried as
contraband, which is a very large amount. It is almost impossible to
put a stop to this, notwithstanding that I do not give permission,
expressed or tacit, in that commerce for one real more than the
amount allowed; and I have ordered vigorous investigations on this
point at the time of the despatch of the vessels. But if it is easy
to hide the money, there is little to fear in the penalties, although
orders are given that they be executed. Accordingly, in case of the
cloth that can be brought to and unloaded at Acapulco, I think that,
as it has bulk, it can be locked up in some warehouse and examined,
or (which would be more efficacious), that no limit be placed on the
use of this class of goods in Nueva Espana, so that those persons whom
the viceroy considers needy might not be restricted in wearing it. I
fear greatly that in the case of the money, as it is so easy to hide,
no sufficient reform can be instituted for this evil, as I see that
there is no remedy in other things of like nature, either in the armed
ships or the trading vessels from those kingdoms. There, however,
is less damage; for this is all in money which goes to infidels and
never returns, and thus militates against this country, and that
[Espana], and greatly weakens the commerce of both. I recently made
arrangements with Don Pedro de Acuna (as I wrote to your Majesty on
another occasion) for making a personal inspection at Acapulco; it
was decided that I should reject the money, and, because there have
never been confiscations that cause fear, that some part of each one's
share should be actually applied to the treasury, and that the same
should be done in Manila. Since letters received from there state
that goods are very dear because of the great quantities of money
that go there, it must be that this inspection was not promptly made;
and I fear that there is too much laxity there. For it would appear
that those islands should grow rich with the increase of money,
and that if they buy at high prices they must sell the goods here
at high prices; and on this account regard and favor for that land
must not give the governor and Au