163-185. [The viceroy, Marqués de Casa-Fuerte, wrote to one of the royal Council, Don Joseph Patiño (November 1, 1731), giving his opinion in regard to the regulation of the Philippine commerce. Estimating roughly the returns from the annual Manila galleon at 2,000,000 pesos when before the sum of 600,000 only was allowed, he regards the present permission as injurious to the commerce of España and to the commercial interests of Nueva España as well; for three vessels come from Philipinas to one trading-fleet from España, and, by carrying out of the country some six millions of pesos, they render the disposal of the merchandise brought on the fleets difficult, besides handing over the treasures of the Spanish domain to infidels. He advocates the reduction of the permission to such amount as will produce not more than 1,000,000 pesos of returns for Manila; and thinks that there is foundation for the remonstrances of the Spanish merchants, although they have exaggerated the amount of the money sent to Manila and the damage to their own trade therefrom. That damage arises almost entirely from the Chinese silks and ribbons sent to Acapulco, which at the fair in that year (1731) were sold for the estimated amount of a million pesos; he therefore recommends that Manila be strictly prohibited from shipping to Acapulco any silk, of any kind or quality whatsoever, except raw, twisted, and floss silk, hose, and white sayasayas; and that the value and amount of all the goods sent thither be judiciously regulated, so that prices may be kept within bounds. This result also depends considerably on the fact that in Mexico large quantities of cotton are raised, from which are made various fabrics; "and in the bishopric of La Puebla the elephant stuffs (which are a sort of Rouen cloth, but made from cotton, which serves for the shirts of very poor people, and for the linings of garments, like the thin hollands), which form a considerable part of the cargo of the ship from Philipinas, are so well imitated that they would and do check a rise in the prices of the cotton goods from China. In this City [of Mexico] all the raw silk which comes from Philipinas (a sufficient amount, so that the fleets [from España] do not bring it) is worked up, and in this industry many poor persons are employed, thus obtaining a suitable means of livelihood; and the fabrics which are made by them are consumed in this kingdom only." With these restrictions and precautions, the viceroy would recommend that the regulations of 1726 continue. He would also remit the payment now made by the citizens of 20,000 pesos annually to the treasury; but this loss, and that in the customs duties from the lack of the Chinese silks, would be recompensed by the better sales which would thus be afforded to the Spanish silk goods. In January, 1732, the viceroy consulted his fiscal, who thought that the Manila trade should be restricted, say