On this route to Nueva Espana your Majesty has four ships, and the new one that has just been finished, and which makes the voyage this year.  Of these, the viceroy of Nueva Espana sold the ship “San Martin,” to make the voyage to Macan, where it was wrecked and burned by the Chinese.  Another was taken by the English corsair, as I reported to your Majesty; and but now when another, in the port of this city, was ready to make the voyage, so great a hurricane burst on this and many other Spanish and Chinese ships that only a small boat was left unwrecked.  Of the two remaining, only one is available; the other cannot be used, as it is so old.  Understanding the great need there was of ships, I had a large galleon of six hundred toneladas, which had been built in the Pintados Islands, placed in the shipyards of your Majesty, for the above-named route.  God willing, it may sail in the year ninety-one.  I have given orders for private persons to make two other ships of less tonnage.  One is already finished, and both will be able to sail next year.  It is most important that there be for this navigation plenty of ships, both for the emergencies of war which may arise, and for the preservation of these islands, which are supported by trade.  If, as I have suggested several times before, your Majesty were pleased to have about ten thousand pesos sent annually from Nueva Espana, two ships of good capacity can be launched very easily, without harassing the natives in any way—­and with this help, at even less than a third of the cost elsewhere.  Otherwise, there is no way to bring it about.  Your Majesty will signify your royal pleasure in this. [Marginal note:  “Write to the governor to proceed with and carry out this plan, and to give orders for private persons to build ships.”]

For the ships sailing between these islands and Nueva Espana, and to other places which may be found, sailors are much needed, to navigate them and to remain here to look after them; also carpenters and calkers who must reside here to repair them.  They should be paid in Nueva Espana as this treasury is too poor.  As the money for their wages must be sent, sometimes it is not brought, and at other times it is lost, thereby causing the sailors to die of starvation.  Therefore the sailors serve half-heartedly, and desert; and there is great negligence in the despatch of the fleets.  The only remedy for both these evils is from the exchequer of your Majesty.  If it is to be spent therefor, it would be best for your Majesty to have the amount of the freight-charges on the property sent from these islands in the said ships granted annually to this royal treasury up to the sum of three thousand pesos.  Thus the needs here will be met without taking from the treasury of Mexico. [Marginal note:  “A decree in accordance herewith.  Meanwhile order shall not be given that the ships of this line shall sail at his Majesty’s cost.”]