[2] See Vol.  VIII, p. 253.

[3] “The present state of affairs in that which relates to this titulo is that set forth by the decree of March 10, 1785, establishing the Company of Filipinas.  In regard to this law and those following in this titulo, the reader should remember that a royal order of July 20, 1793, permitted the Company of Filipinas to trade directly between those islands and the ports of South America in one or two voyages, to the amount of five hundred thousand pesos apiece, on condition of paying the foreign duty and the 9 1/2 per cent on the silver taken back.  This permit, which was limited during the war with France, was, by a new royal order of September 24, 1796, made general for all succeeding wars, if carried on with maritime powers.”  The above note is translated from the Recopilacion, where it follows law 1.  Space permitting, the decree of March 10, 1785, mentioned above, will be given in this series.

[4] This law and all those treating of the prohibition of commerce between Peru and Mejico, Tierra-Firme, etc., were completely superseded by a royal decree dated El Pardo, January 20, 1774.  That decree was ordered to be kept and observed by the superior government of Lima, August 1, of the same year; and separate copies were ordered to be drawn, so that all might know that his Majesty had repealed and revoked the general prohibition of reciprocal commerce by the South Sea between the four kingdoms of Peru, Nueva Espana, Nueva Reino de Granada, and Guatemala.”  We transfer this note from law ix, of this titulo of the Recopilacion, an editorial note to law lxviii referring to law ix.

[5] Such a citation as this shows the hand of the editors or compilers of the Recopilacion.  Law lxvii bears as its earlier date March 3, 1617, and refers to the sending of contraband Chinese goods to the House of Trade of the Indias in Sevilla.

[6] The governors of the Filipinas grant permission to those who go to those islands under condemnation of crime to return.  Inasmuch as on that account many convicts hide away from the judges who exiled them, we order the governors, under no circumstances, to permit them to return to Nueva Espana or to go to Peru during the period of their exile.  And should they be condemned to the galleys or to other services, they shall fulfil the condemnation,—­[Felipe III—­Aranjuez, April 29, 1605.  Felipe IV—­Madrid, January 27, 1631.  In Recopilacion de leyes, lib. vii, tit. viii, ley xxi.]

[7] The Recopilacion is not clear as to the date of this law and the one immediately following.  Law lix bears both dates (as also does law lx), and is designated as clause 11.  Laws lxix and lxx bear no date (probably through error of the compiler or printer), but are designated as clauses 16 and 17, and clause 18, of a decree by Felipe III.  Hence the above dates with queries have been assigned to these laws.