to a million pesos of investments, and prohibiting the Chinese silks; that this would benefit the Spanish traders, and would also secure the opening of Peru to trade with Nueva España. In the following month, the viceroy called together a junta of auditors and other experienced persons to discuss this subject; they favored Manila, and advised that no definite action be taken as yet. The viceroy, hearing that from Mexico and other cities more than 1,500,000 pesos in silver was being sent to Acapulco, presumably intended for Filipinas, felt the necessity of taking measures to prevent the despatch of too much merchandise from Manila in the future galleons, since the five years' term allowed to that city would expire in 1733. He therefore referred to the junta the question whether he should write to Manila that the galleon of 1734 must come with a cargo in accordance with the former plan of 300,000 pesos' investment and 600,000 for returns; and whether he should enforce the decree of 1720 by prohibiting that galleon from carrying any Chinese silks. The junta decided both these questions in the affirmative, advising the viceroy to notify Manila accordingly--these regulations to be made, provided that the king meanwhile did not give new orders. The viceroy therefore sent despatches to Don Fernando Valdés Tamón, the governor of Filipinas, and to the city of Manila, to that effect (March 20 and 25, 1732); [3] and on April 3 following sent a report of all these proceedings to Don Joseph Patiño. He recommends that Manila be allowed only 3,000 piezas in all, of which only 100 chests be permitted for the finer grades of cotton goods, entirely prohibiting the silk goods from China, except those mentioned in his letter of November 1 preceding; that besides the 3,000 piezas, the citizens be allowed to send wax and porcelain at their pleasure, as these are commodities of little value, and needed by Nueva España; that any smuggled silks be publicly burned, and very rigorous penalties imposed on transgressors; that more rigorous inspection of the lading be made at Manila, to prevent any contraband goods being sent, not only in the shipments of traders, but in the chests of passengers, officers, and others on the galleons; that suspected packages be opened at Acapulco; that the returns sent back to Manila be in no case allowed to exceed a million of pesos; and that the contribution of 20,000 pesos be remitted to the Manila shippers.] 186-188. [The viceroy's letter was referred to the royal Council; the deputies from Filipinas--at that time, Lorenzo de Rugama y Palacio, and Miguel Fernandez Munilla--thereupon asked for all the documents belonging to the Council which bore upon this subject; the Council consented (March 26, 1733) to do so, with the reservation of certain documents, and the deputies then drew up a long memorial protesting against the proposed restrictions on their commerce.]