The Spanish Flota described in 1760-1761 according to reverend Edward Clarke

Tanks 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.

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. The Flota is a fleet consisting of three men of war, and fourteen or fifteen merchant ships, from 400 to 1000 tuns burthen; they are loaded almost with every fort of goods which Europe produces for export; all forts of woollens, linens, silks, velvets, laces, glass, paper, and cutlery; all forts of wrought iron, watches, clocks, quicksilver for the use of their miners, horse-furniture, shoes, stockings, books, pictures, military stores, wines, fruits, Sec. so that all the trading parts of Europe are highly interested in the cargo of this fleet. Spain itself fends out little more than the wine and fruit; this, with the freight, and commissions to the merchant, and the duty to the King, is almost all the advantage, which that kingdom derives from her commerce with the Indies. This fleet is fitted out at Cadiz, and bound to La Vera Cruz, Mexico: they are not permitted to break bulk on any account, till they arrive there. When all the goods are landed and disposed of at La Vera Cruz, the fleet takes in the plate, precious stones, cochineal, indigo, cocao, tobacco, sugar, and hides, which are the returns for Old Spain. From La Vera Cruz they fail to the Havanna in the Island of Cuba, which is the place of their rendezvous, where they meet the

P. 258: Galleons.”

Source

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