We have also written to you that the only cause of the delay is the waiting to lade those ships with the commerce of Manila--which are detained for personal ends, by awaiting the merchandise from Japon, China, and the Orient.

That is poor management; and the welfare of private persons must not have more force than that of the public.

For the customs duties received on departing and returning are not at all to be considered with the great danger of bad weather, in which everything is risked--especially since the only cause for the commerce between Nueva Espana and those islands is not the benefit of the merchants, nor the lading of Chinese cloth, but the maintenance, succor, and payment of the military and of the ministers who assist in the service and defense of that country.

If you should one year cause the ships to sail on time, those at Acapulco [_los terceros_] would be warned by it for the future, and would understand the diligence that they must use in their despatch.

It is said--and let this serve as caution and warning to you--that the chief officials who have in charge the despatch of the flagship and almiranta are those most interested, as figure-heads for third persons, in what is laded.