a second time engaged in an eager expectation of meeting
with this Manilla ship, which, by the fame of its wealth, we had been
taught to consider as the most desirable prize that was to be met with
in any part of the globe. As all our future projects will be in
some sort regulated with a view to the possession of this celebrated
galleon, and as the commerce which is carried on by means of these
vessels between the city of Manilla and the port of Acapulco is
perhaps the most valuable, in proportion to its quantity, of any in
the known world, I shall endeavour, in the ensuing chapter, to give as
distinct an account as I can of all the particulars relating thereto,
both as it is a matter in which I conceive the public to be in some
degree interested, and as I flatter myself, that from the materials
which have fallen into my hands, I am enabled to describe it with more
distinctness than has hitherto been done, at least in our language.

SECTION XX.

_An Account of the Commerce carried on between the City of Manilla
on the Island of Luconia, and the Port of Acapulco in the Coast of
Mexico._[1]

Though Spain did not acquire the property of any of the spice islands,
by the enterprising labours of Magellan (related in our tenth volume,
to which we refer,) yet the discovery made in his expedition to the
Philippine Islands, was thought too considerable to be neglected; for
these were not far distant from those places which produced spices,
and were very well situated for the Chinese trade, and for the
commerce of other parts of India; and therefore a communication was
soon established, and carefully supported between these islands
and the Spanish colonies on the coast of Peru: So that the city of
Manilla, (which Was built on the island of Luconia, the chief of the
Philippines) soon became the mart for all Indian commodities, which
were brought up by the inhabitants, and were annually sent to the
South-Seas to be there vended on their account; and the returns of
this commerce to Manilla being principally made in silver, the place
by degrees grew extremely opulent and considerable, and its trade so
far increased, as to engage the attention of the court of Spain, and
to be frequently controlled and regulated by royal edicts.

[Footnote 1: Much of the original in this section is omitted, as
either unimportant now; or elsewhere given in the work.]

In the infancy of this trade, it was carried on from the port
of Callao to th