early from Nueva Espana; and although we have written to
the latter country, giving the method that is advisable to be used
in that voyage and despatch, they always excuse themselves for the
late sailing of the ships by the risk of vendavals, as the violence of
the weather is an unavoidable difficulty. We have also written to you
that the only cause of the delay is the waiting to lade those ships
with the commerce of Manila--which are detained for personal ends,
by awaiting the merchandise from Japon, China, and the Orient. That
is poor management; and the welfare of private persons must not have
more force than that of the public. For the customs duties received on
departing and returning are not at all to be considered with the great
danger of bad weather, in which everything is risked--especially since
the only cause for the commerce between Nueva Espana and those islands
is not the benefit of the merchants, nor the lading of Chinese cloth,
but the maintenance, succor, and payment of the military and of the
ministers who assist in the service and defense of that country. If
you should one year cause the ships to sail on time, those at Acapulco
[_los terceros_] would be warned by it for the future, and would
understand the diligence that they must use in their despatch. It
is said--and let this serve as caution and warning to you--that the
chief officials who have in charge the despatch of the flagship and
almiranta are those most interested, as figure-heads for third persons,
in what is laded. The third point is, that when those vessels (not
only of trade, but of war) sail, and since their risk of enemies is
at the departure and return (but most on the return), you are advised
to take warning not to let the ships be so overladen that because of
that they go ill equipped with seamen, and even worse defended. In
conformity with this we have written to the viceroy of Nueva Espana;
and have stated that it would be a less disadvantage to increase
the number of ships than to overload those that are sent--to say
nothing of the damage done to the hull of the ship by carrying so
heavy a cargo. Also you are advised, on account of what you say in
this section--since you say that the Dutch get help in boats, money,
ammunition, food, and men in Xapon--that it would be well, since there
is so continual communication between Japon and our government [in
those islands], that you endeavor--through an embassy, or in any other
way--to n