o them) besides being a merchandise of so
great value that he who would export them so far to the Philipinas
would lose them--are not used, because of the heat; and in Xapon,
where the cold might make them sought, they cost very little, for
the natives clothe themselves with the taffetans of that country, and
use cotton quilts. Consequently, I have also answered what was alleged
concerning the increase of the duties that would accrue to your Majesty
from the export duties in Espana and the import duties at Manila.

The other argument namely, that Espana would be filled with products
from China and Xapon--may be conceded to them; but it remains for
them to show us the utilty that would accrue to them, after the goods
had been obtained. For I, on the contrary, regard them as a very
great harm, since with those goods would cease the present industry
[in Espana] of the raising of silk, its weaving and trade; and all
this would be exchanged for what is so much poorer and of so little
durability. It is a fact that even now we are experiencing that,
and are discovering here the harm caused by even the small quantity
of silk of this class [_i.e._, the Chinese silk]; it comes mixed with
that of Espana, in almost all the velvets and taffetans brought from
Espana, for in but two days' time they become useless.

That by this means would be prevented the exportation of silver from
Nueva-Espana, is an opinion that one might value and thank them for,
if they were not trying to withdraw the silver from another and more
important region, where the harm would be greater. But, supposing
that what now goes from Mexico will be sent later from Castilla and
Andalucia, it seems that the only utility will be found in the less
occasion [for buying Chinese goods] that each of those provinces would
have, so that the export of silver would be in smaller quantity. That
is to be regulated by the wealth of each province, and by their
facilities for diverting it. All the silver that Nueva-Espana obtains
now comes from its own provinces, or is brought from the provinces of
Peru. The bulk of it is used in the trade with Espana, some in that
with the Philipinas, and very little in the retail trade of its own
cities and towns; for although Nueva-Espana has intercourse with Peru,
it never uses more than the products of the country for that. What is
sent to the islands goes by way of Acapulco, which is the only port
in all the South Sea where this despatch