The Viceroy of Mexico had sent this royal order to Señor Tamon, the then Governor of Manila, and when it was communicated to the merchants, various meetings were held, and it was resolved that no alteration in the shipments should take place, and that it should be given out that the royal order had not arrived in due time to be promulgated, previous to the arrangements which had been made for the usual shipments. In short, great consternation prevailed. The Governor did not interpose his authority against the general sentiments, but intimated his apprehension that the Viceroy would seize the goods on their arrival at Acapulco. During this agitation of the public mind the galleon arrived, bringing the order from Madrid, which is in force to this day, and by which it is ordained, that the merchants of Manila may ship to the amount of five hundred thousand dollars in cotton goods, manufactured silk, wax, spices, and every description of goods from China, the Peninsula of India, and the islands, and that they may take in return one million of dollars in silver, and the rest in merchandize, or South American produce [4]. Our guarda costas, during this year, captured a Dutch vessel, and brought her to Manila, where she was condemned, under the pretence that she was carrying arms to our enemies the Moors. As soon as the Dutch in Batavia understood this, they despatched three ships to cruize off Mariveles, with a view to intercept the galleon which was expected to sail about this time for Acapulco, as well as the one which was expected to arrive. Intelligence of the disposition made by the Dutch was forwarded to the straits of St. Bernardino, but the messenger on his arrival found that the galleon was aground in the bay of Calantas, and that the silver had been taken out and sent to Sorsogon. Some works had been erected to protect the ship, and many unsuccessful attempts were made to get her off, when she was eventually set fire to, that she might not fall into the hands of the Moors. The Dutch annoyed these islands considerably, by thus preventing any vessels from entering or leaving the port of Cavite. The Governor viewed with deep concern this attack on our possessions, and found himself embarrassed how to act, as he had transmitted to court the account of the seizure of the Dutch vessel, and had decreed her condemnation; but as the Dutch seemed determined to avenge the insult, he had every reason to apprehend that serious misunderstanding between the two powers might be the result. In this dilemma he resolved to restore the vessel, and write to the Governor of Batavia on the subject, on which the Dutch retired, and left the bay open. Nothing else worthy of notice took place during this long government, except the arrival of a new archbishop on the 24th of January, 1737. CHAPTER X. ANNO DOM. 1739. The Administration of Don Gaspar de la Torre.