Inasmuch
as that trade has hitherto consisted of Chinese merchandise with Nueva
Espana, it has been, and is, necessary to obtain from that country the
value of the merchandise in money, and to take the money there in order
to make the investment of the following year. Trade is there [_i.e._,
in the islands] like sowing in order to reap; and consequently, if the
door were to be partly closed to this trade, the said inconvenience
would cease. The door might be shut without any harm to the said
islands, if another door were to be opened to them, which would be
also as remunerative as the other, and would not be with his Majesty's
countries. In this way his money would not be taken away, for they
could engage in that trade with Japon. In this same manner as the
inhabitants of Manila lade the silks that they buy in that city from
the Chinese, and send them to Nueva Espana, they should lade them to
send to Japon, where there is a great consumption of these goods and
much excellent silver with which to buy them. This would be a very
good thing for the people of Manila; for, although the profits for
any year might be less than those of Nueva Espana, still they would
be more sure, because of the much greater frequency and shortness of
the voyage. Furthermore, they would enjoy the entire proceeds from
the returns for their goods. Of the returns from Nueva Spana they
enjoy only to the sum of five hundred thousand pesos--the amount that
his Majesty allows to be sent annually to the Philipinas, and no more,
although the value of the goods in Mexico amounts to much more.
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