asked to decide whether such transgression be a mortal sin.  The viceroy of Mexico has ordered an increased duty on goods coming from the Philippines, to pay the cost of soldiers and artillery to guard the merchandise on the voyage.  The trading vessels lost in the Pacific are being replaced by new ones built at Acapulco; and the viceroy has sent over some ships “in trust” of private persons—­a plan which is censured.  Mexico should not be allowed to trade with the South American colonies in Chinese goods.

A group of documents on commerce (ca. 1602), although somewhat fragmentary, contain much interesting information regarding the trade between Spain and her colonies.  Fray Martin Ignacio de Loyola, bishop of Rio de la Plata, writes his opinion regarding colonial administration in the Spanish empire.  The colonies should be kept in a dependent and subordinate position, and their high officials should be sent from Spain.  Commerce should be maintained between the colonies and the mother-country.  At present the conditions and results of this trade are ruinous.  Loyola advocates the establishment at Manila of a “consulate” of trade, like that at Mexico; strict prohibition of Mexican participation in the China trade; and its monopoly by the inhabitants of the Philippines.  Letters from the viceroy of Mexico state that the merchants of Peru who trade with Spain are being ruined, on account of the long time during which they must wait for returns on their money, and the excessive duties charged on their goods.  As a result, they are sending their goods to Mexico; and they demand permission to trade direct with China.  Monterey recommends that this be allowed to a limited extent, and that no restrictions be placed on the use of Chinese goods in Nueva Espana.  He has used severe measures in regard to infringements of the ordinances regarding commerce, but there is evidently remissness in the customs inspection at Manila.  Another paper gives an abstract of certain points in a petition sent from the Philippines.  It is requested that the officers of vessels trading with Nueva Espana be inhabitants of the islands; that no space in the ships be sold; that Peruvian merchants be not allowed to go to the Philippines; that the troops be paid from a special and separate account; and that the lading of the trading ships be placed in charge of the Manila cabildo.  All these points are commented upon by certain bishops whose advice is apparently requested by the Council of the Indias.  Various memoranda follow, on the trade between the Philippines and Nueva Espana; these include recommendations for a commercial consulate at Manila, diminished coinage of money, allowance of a limited amount of trade to Peru, government custom-houses at Acapulco and Manila, etc.  A letter from Morga (December 1, 1602) informs the king that Governor Acuna has aided the expedition sent from India to seize Maluco; and that some of the trading ships sent to Nueva Espana have returned without crossing the ocean, after great losses by storms, and having risked seizure on the Japanese coast.