The consequence was that a great smuggling or contraband trade arose throughout her American possessions, carried on mainly by the English, who made their lawful traffic by the Asiento and the yearly ship subserve also the unlawful, or at least unauthorized, trade.

This system was doubtless advantageous to the great body of the Spanish colonists, and was encouraged by them, while colonial governors connived at it, sometimes for money, sometimes swayed by local public opinion and their own knowledge of the hardships of the case; but there were Spanish subjects who saw their own business injured by the use and abuse of English privileges, and the national government suffered both in pocket and in pride by these evasions of the revenue.

It now began to pull the strings tighter.
Obsolete regulations were revived and enforced.

Words in which the action of Spain in this old controversy have been described are curiously applicable to certain recent disputes to which the United States has been a party.

"The letter of the treaty was now followed, though the spirit which dictated it was abandoned.