to Felipe IV from Governor Tavora

Treasury Matters

Sire:

The officials of the royal treasury will give your Majesty a detailed
account of the condition of your treasury in these islands--which
beyond all doubt is very pitiable, because of the smallness of the
relief that has come these last few years from Nueva Espana, and the
little profit that the islands themselves have produced, because of
the great decrease in commerce. That obliges me to see what measures
will be advisable to increase the revenues and decrease the expenses
of this royal treasury. The other day, I proposed in a meeting of
the treasury, of which I send a copy, what will be seen in that
copy--for whose better understanding, and so that the advisability
of the proposition may be seen in your royal Council, I thought it
fitting to write this section.

_First point of the letter_

Your Majesty has ordered by many decrees that we try to obtain
cloves, from our present possessions in the Malucas, and that they
be cultivated for your royal treasury. In accordance with that
command--although your Majesty's purpose had not been realized
hitherto, either because the governors my predecessors were unable
(which is the most certain thing), or they did not always have the
cloves in the quantities necessary, or because of the corrupt agents
who have been occupied in that business--I have now forty-five bars
[_i.e.,_ bahars] of cloves stored in the magazines; and I judge
that an average of fifty bars per year (rather more than less)
could be obtained without much difficulty. Considering the question
of the cultivation and investment of that quantity, I think that by
no other route can this be better accomplished, or with more gain to
your royal treasury, than by way of Yndia. I base my assertion on the
following argument. Fifty bars of cloves are worth four thousand pesos
in Maluco. If they are traded for clothing such as the Moros wear,
the cost will be one-half less. The carriage from Maluco to Manila
is nothing, for they will be brought in the ships of the usual relief
expedition to those forts. The fifty bars, delivered in this city, are
worth already at least ten thousand pesos. Once laden for India, and
carried at your Majesty's account in your own ship, they will be worth
thirty-five thousand pesos and more when delivered in Goa or Cochin,
as is affirmed by men experienced in this kind of merchandise. Your
Majesty needs many things in yo