The Manila galleon according to Rev. Edward Clarke in 1760 and 1761

Ron van Maanen

Thanks to the fact that nowadays more and more books are digitized we are able to read books that are some times for decades no longer available for the public for several reasons. That’s quite a pity while these books contains useful information while the archives are destroyed, incomplete or nor accessible. Clarke supplied more information about the so-called Manila galleon which departed during centuries from Manila towards Acapulco and which galleons were known for the value of their cargoes.

P. 257: The Spanish trade to South America is carried on by annual ships, usually divided into three classes, the Flota, the Register Ships, and Galleons; of which the following is the most accurate account I could meet with.”

p. 259: “The whole trade between the East Indies and Spanish America, is carried on by one great Galleon, which arrives at Acapulco from the Philippine islands, on the coast of China, in the month of December. They fee no other land in their whole voyage of 3000 leagues, which they perform in five months, than the Little Ladrones. The ship is laden with all the rich commodities of the East, as cloves, pepper, cinnamon, nutmegs, mace, china, japan wares, callicoes plain and painted, muslins of every fort, silks, precious stones, rich drugs, and gold dust. At the fame time the rich ship from Lima

p. 260: comes in, and is not computed to bring less than, two millions of pieces of eight in silver, (450,000 l. Sterling) Several other ships from the different parts of Chili and Peru, meet upon the same occasion; and besides the traffic for the Philippine commodities, this causes a very large dealing for every thing which those countries have to exchange with one another, as well as for the purchase of all sorts of European goods. The fair at Acapulco lasts sometimes for thirty days. As soon as the goods are disposed of, the galleon prepares to set out on her voyage to the Philippines with her returns, chiefly in silver, but with some European goods too, and some other commodities of America. I speak here, as though there were but, one; vessel on the trade with the Philippines; and in fact these is only nominally one trading vessel, the galleon itself, of about 1200 tons; but another attends her commonly as a fort of convoy, which generally carries such a quantity of goods, as in great measure disables her from performing that office; The galleon has often above 1000 people on board, either interested in the cargo, or merely passengers; and there is no trade in which so large profits are made; the captain of the vessel, the; pilots, the mates, and even the common sailors, making, in one voyage, what in their several ranks may be considered as easy fortunes. It is said by the writer of Lord Anson’s voyage, that the Jesuits have the profits of this ship to support their missions. This commerce to so vast a value, though carried on directly between different parts of the King of Spain’s own dominions, enriches them in proportion but very little; the far greater part of every thing which comes from the Philippines, being the produce, or fabric of other countries. The Spaniards add none of the artificial value of labour to any thing. The Chinese are largely interested in (his cargo; and it is to them they are indebted for the manufacturing such of their plate, as is wrought into any better fashion than rude ingots, or inelegant coins. When this Acapulco Fair is over, the town is comparatively deserted; however, it remains for the whole year the most considerable port in Mexico for the trade with Peru and Chile, which is not very great.”

Source

Rev. Edward Clarke. Letters concerning the Spanish nation: written at Madrid during the years 1760 and 1761. London, 1763.

Note

1. This note is added by me. The in the text mentioned Lord Anson is George Anson, 1st Baron Anson (23 April 1697-6 June 1762) who was appointed in 1740 as commodore while commanding a squadron which was to attack the Spanish South American colonies during the so-called War of Jenkin’s Ear. This expedition was a failure although he succeeded in capturing the Manila galleon Nuestra Señora de Covadonga off Cape Espiritu Santo on 20 June 1743. The prize captured with her 1,313,843 pieces of eight. The cargo was sold at Macau to the Chinese inhabitants.