his same reason,
and because I have so recently arrived, I have considered it fitting to
inform your Majesty, so that, in so grave a matter, you may determine
what will be most fitting to your royal service. [_In the margin_:
"Send this letter to Don Juan de Palafox, so that he may be informed
of it." "Seen by the [_word illegible in MS._] J. Palafox."]

It is my opinion that since it has been impossible to check the
practice of sending every year money for these parts from Nueva Espana
(and I suspect that two millions are sent, and that the dearness
occasioned by this abundance of silver results only to the benefit
of Great China, where the money stops without your Majesty having
collected your duties), it will be considered as an aid to the great
expenses of the galleons of this line that your Majesty allow the money
that shall have to pass to be openly registered in Acapulco, at the
rate of five per cent. By so doing your Majesty will enjoy what has
hitherto been usurped by the officers (both the higher and the lower)
of the said ships; and at a reasonable price, and with permission,
no one would conceal the money that he was sending. And now since no
other remedy is found, it will be right for your Majesty to do this,
so that you may not lose your duties. In regard to the difficulties
on account of which they might at Acapulco refuse to accept this tax,
which will reach so great an amount of income, I answer that the trade
of these islands is not injured nor will the exchanges of the money
that comes annually from Nueva Espana increase. Only that which has
hitherto been done surreptitiously will be done openly in the future,
to the benefit of the royal treasury. The higher and lower officers
of the galleons will content themselves with the emoluments of their
offices, which are those that they are enjoying for this. Will your
Majesty have this matter considered very closely; for here, to one
who has the matter before him, it is a clear case.

In the port of Acapulco, your Majesty has three royal officials, who
are present from the time of the arrival of these ships until they
have once more set sail. In the despatching of the vessels they look
as much to their own comforts as to the service of your Majesty. They
make friends among the registrars, and shut their eyes to the money
that is wont to be sent on commission. The governors are powerless to
remedy this from here. I think that your Majesty can dispense with