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.
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. 258: These are another fleet, which carry on all the trade of Terra Firma, by Carthagena, and of Peru, by Panama and Portobello, in the same manner as the Flota serves for the trade of New Spain. When the Flota arrives at the Havanah, and joins the Galleons and Register ships, which assemble at the fame port from all quarters, some of the cleanest and best sailing vessels are dispatched to Old Spain with advice of the contents of these several fleets, as well as with treasure and goods of their own, that the court may judge what indulto, or duty, is proper to be laid on them, and what convoy is necessary for their safety. The fleet which is called the Galleons, consists of eight men of war of 500 tons each, designed principally to supply Peru with military stores; but in reality laden, not only with those, but with every other kind of merchandize on a private account, so as to be in too weak a condition either to defend themselves,
P. 259: or protect others. Under the convoy of these are twelve fail of merchant ships, not inferior to the Galleons in burthen. This fleet of the Galleons is regulated in much the fame manner with the Flota, and is destined for the exclusive commerce of Terra Firma, and the South-Sea, as the Flota is for that of Mexico. As soon as this Galleon fleet arrives at Carthagena, expresses are dispatched to Portobello, and to all the adjacent towns, but particularly to Panama, that they may get ready all the treasure which is deposited there, to meet the Galleons at Portobello; at which place all the persons concerned in the various branches of this extensive trade, assemble. There is no part of the world where business of such great importance is negotiated in so short a time; for in a fortnight the fair is over. During the fair, heaps of wedges and ingots of silver are thrown about upon the wharfs, as things of no value. The display of gold, silver, and precious stones on one hand, and of the various and rare workmanship of the several ingenious fabrics of Europe on the other, are truly astonishing.”
Source
Rev. Edward Clarke. Letters concerning the Spanish nation: written at Madrid during the years 1760 and 1761. London, 1763.
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. 258: These are another fleet, which carry on all the trade of Terra Firma, by Carthagena, and of Peru, by Panama and Portobello, in the same manner as the Flota serves for the trade of New Spain. When the Flota arrives at the Havanah, and joins the Galleons and Register ships, which assemble at the fame port from all quarters, some of the cleanest and best sailing vessels are dispatched to Old Spain with advice of the contents of these several fleets, as well as with treasure and goods of their own, that the court may judge what indulto, or duty, is proper to be laid on them, and what convoy is necessary for their safety. The fleet which is called the Galleons, consists of eight men of war of 500 tons each, designed principally to supply Peru with military stores; but in reality laden, not only with those, but with every other kind of merchandize on a private account, so as to be in too weak a condition either to defend themselves,
P. 259: or protect others. Under the convoy of these are twelve fail of merchant ships, not inferior to the Galleons in burthen. This fleet of the Galleons is regulated in much the fame manner with the Flota, and is destined for the exclusive commerce of Terra Firma, and the South-Sea, as the Flota is for that of Mexico. As soon as this Galleon fleet arrives at Carthagena, expresses are dispatched to Portobello, and to all the adjacent towns, but particularly to Panama, that they may get ready all the treasure which is deposited there, to meet the Galleons at Portobello; at which place all the persons concerned in the various branches of this extensive trade, assemble. There is no part of the world where business of such great importance is negotiated in so short a time; for in a fortnight the fair is over. During the fair, heaps of wedges and ingots of silver are thrown about upon the wharfs, as things of no value. The display of gold, silver, and precious stones on one hand, and of the various and rare workmanship of the several ingenious fabrics of Europe on the other, are truly astonishing.”
Source
Rev. Edward Clarke. Letters concerning the Spanish nation: written at Madrid during the years 1760 and 1761. London, 1763.
