Appendix B
Real Cédula of October 5, 1701, AGN Reales Cédulas Originales 30 Expediente 67

The King

Very Reverend in Christ Archbishop of the Metropolitan Church of Mexico, of my Council, my Viceroy, Governor and Captain General in the interim of New Spain and President of my Royal Audiencia of México: don Francisco Arias de Vibero, vecino of the city of Veracruz in a letter of the 8th of April of this year, facilitates the construction of ships in the River of Guazacualco because of the great abundance of timbers of all types that are found on it and how commodious the place is for these constructions, forming a camp there with the security and defense that he proposes and executing the rest that he expresses and you can understand by the copy of his letter that is attached. This has been reviewed in my Junta of War of the Indies at the same time as was what don Guillermo Morfi, admiral of the Windward Fleet reported he had proposed to your predecessor on the 28th of August of the year passed of 1700, concerning the fact that in the Forest of Tango, a dozen poles could be cut to mast and spar the vessels of the Fleet and also what he discussed concerning the poles for this that there are in the Bay of Santa Maria de Galve. It has appeared appropriate to send you a copy of don Francisco Arias de Vibero's stated letter and the report of don Guillermo Morfi so that in view of both, you can report to me [as I pray and entrust you to do] on the contents of all the points they include, saying with detail and clarity what it is you are offered upon each one, so that in view of your opinion, it can make the decision that is most appropriate for my Royal Service. From Barcelona on the 5th of October of 1701.
I the King [rubric]

By command of the king our Lord
Don Manuel de Aperregui [rubric]

4 rubrics

To the Archbishop Viceroy in the interim of New Spain, sending him a copy of the letter from don Francisco Arias de Vibero and other papers so that he reports on their contents.

Mexico and February 21 of 1702 years

Seen and obeyed. For compliance with it and to be able to make the report to the King [whom God save] that is ordered, testimony of this Royal Cédula shall be drawn up so that at its continuation and in view of the 4 copies that are sent with it, the Sergeant General of Battle, don Andrés de Arriola, who is found in this city, reports with the greatest clarity and detail on all the points that the propositions on this matter contain. Once this is done, it shall be brought in order to provide [an answer to the King] and the original is to be returned to my Secretariat of the Chamber and if don Andrés de Arriola needs any autos, those that he might ask for conducive to this end, shall be delivered to him.
Juan de Ortega Montañes

This Royal Cédula and messages that
Accompany it, remain executed in the
Office of Administration under the
Charge of don Joseph de Cerda Morán and
… for the diligences of its compliance
Mexico 24th of May of 1702

Thomas Fernández de Guevarra [rubric]

By order of the Archbishop Viceroy, my Lord
Bachiller Augustin delguian [rubric]

Señor General don Andrés de Arriola

My Dear Sir; Recognizing in Your Lordship, the advantageous experience that [Your Lordship] has in seamanship, ships and their construction and places where many can best be built without movement because of how experienced and understanding it has made him in his continuous work and acquired knowledge, I place in Your Lordship's hands, the attached paper which on the occasion of this advise boat, I intend to place in those of His Majesty [whom God save], desiring his greatest service. Further, because of how limited my little judgement is, I may err and more in matters that are so very serious. [Therefore], I supplicate Your Lordship to review it critically and say [your] opinion at the foot of this without holding back anything on which [Your Lordship's] curiosity and knowledge stumbles because it is my desire to be correct and that whatever report of its contents is made, may be also found congruent with this proposition. Further, considering that if Your Lordship shall be found in Europe, [Your Lordship] would be the one who shall be asked what he thinks [of this], it has appeared [appropriate] to me that [Your Lordship] put [Your Lordship's] opinion up front, a circumstance that can be of such value to [Your Lordship] as it has for me. God preserve Your Lordship as I desire in the greatest happiness and the posts that [Your Lordship] merits. New Veracruz 8th of April of 1701. I kiss the hand of Your Lordship, his servant = don Francisco Arias de Vivero

Señor Captain don Francisco Arias de Vivero

My Dear Sir: Examining the attached paper which Your Honor sent on the occasion of this advice boat to His Majesty, wishing to favor me so that I tell my opinion on what my small experiences and limited comprehension might recognize, I go ahead to assure Your Honor that in my knowledge, the points that Your Honor represents are worthy of full attention because they are addressed to the greater service of His Majesty [whom God Save], facilitating the construction of ships of war of which so many are needed, it being evident that it can be managed with all convenience on the River of Gosacoales (sic), [the construction] of all number of vessels that would be necessary, taking measures in Europe so that all the military equipment and spikes and nails that Your Honor lists are sent to this America and particularly, a master builder or two which is the greatest shortage since although there are some craftsmen (mechanicos), they only know how to lay out merchant ships (solo sauen dar medidaspara navios merchants) and they are very different from those that are in use at this time in the Fleets of France as well as in those of England. [However,] I assure Your Honor that I have seen some lay out designs in this America for these kinds of ships with great skill (dar medidas en esta America para nauios semejantes con gran fazilidad) and although as is well known, I have made many cruises (é cursado tanto la nauegazion) and taken part in various careenings, I have never had the temerity to [build a ship] myself (nunca me atreuiera a ejecutarlo). This is as much as has been offered to me to tell Your Honor as concerns what [Your Honor] was pleased to order me. God preserve Your Honor many years. Veracruz and April 17, 1701. I kiss the hand of Your Honor, his greatest servant. don Andrés de Arriola.

This is a copy of the original which remains in the Secretariat I am in charge of, from where it was drawn up in order to send it to the Señor Viceroy of New Spain with a dispatch of the 5th of the current month.
Madrid 11th of October of 1701
Don Manuel de Aperregui [rubric]

What indispensably needs to be sent from Spain for the greatest economy and speed is the following:

Nails (clavazon) :
Zinta maior [505-555 mm]
Zinta menor [455-505 mm]
Costado [305-355 mm]
escora [204-255 mm]
escora media [168-204 mm]
Alfajia [90-125 mm]
Varrote [73-90 mm]
Entablar maior y menor [2 types of flooring or decking nails, no sizes for these]
Tillado [30-40 mm]
medio tillado [20-30 mm]

tajamani (roofing tacks?) which are not foreign
Pump tacks (Tachuelas de bombas)
Estoperoles wide headed tacks [15-35 mm]
Governaduras para timones rudder pins?
Eye and round headed bolts that are called tree nails (pernerias de cauesa y ojo q llaman cauillas)
Collection of chains (cadenajes)
Large rings and ring bolts for atillery (argollas y cancamos de artilleria)
Large rings for the ship's waist and sides (argollas de combezes y costados)
Iron for the other needs such as chain pumps and other works that do not have standard specifications (fierro para los demas menesteres de zunchos y otras obras que estos no tienen medida regular)
Iron axes with a good inlayed steel edge, 100 for one use (hachas muy bien calzadas ziento por una vez)
Heavy woodcutting axes with large eyes, 300 for one use (ojos de achas de buen peso y los ojos grandes trezientos por una vez)
Drills of all types, those that would be desirable to send for one use (varrenas de todas suertes las q se quisieren embiar para una vez)
Saw blades of 8, 9, 10 and 11 palmos with their handles and files, 50 for one use (ojas de sierra de ocho nueve diez y onze palmos cons sus trabaduras y linmas zinq.ta p. una vez)
Hafted sledgehammers or mauls of various sizes, 50 for one use (mazas o mandarrias calzadas de deferentes tamaños zinq.ta por una vez)
Goat's foot levers, ditto (pies de cabra ydem)
Shovels and spades, 100 of each type for one use (palas y azadas, ziento de cada cosa pr una vez)
Grindstones, those that are here are not good, 12 for one use (piedras de amolar q las de aca no son buenas, doze por una vez) jackscrews of 3 up to 5/4ths of lift?, 10 or 12 for one use (gastos de tres hasta ; zinco quartas de asta diez o doze por una vez)
Anchors and kedge anchors corresponding [to the ships] (anclas y anclotes correspondientes)
Steel in order to inlay steel edges on iron tools (azero para calzar erramienta)
Worked lead sheets for bottoms unless they might be fully sheathed? (plomo tirado para fondos sino hubieren de llevar gala)
Bleached hemp [rope] for the splices of the lower rigging? (cañamo blanco pa las costuras bajas)
Rigging and hawsers of all sizes, bayben, marline and house-line (jarzia y guindarezas de todas menas bayben merlin y piola)
Cables and hurricane hawsers (cables y calabrotes) canvas (lonas)
Some tar for the rigging since what is found here is alright for the sides (algun alquitran pa jarzias q para costados aca lo ay aproposito)
Coarse canvas for topgallant sails (crudos para juanetes)
Thin lead sheets? (lienzo de enplomar)
Spanish sailmakers thread (hilo de vela español)
Paint and linseed oil (pintura y azeite de linaza)

Every thing that is contained here that ought to be sent boxed up, shall be in boxes of no more than 2 quintals [weight] since it is easier to handle them in transport when they are of this weight and since they are brittle. This shall be the best and shall mean that there will be no shortages by everything being sent in good condition in all ways by all means. don Francisco Arias de Viveros

This is a copy of the original relation which came with a letter from don Francisco Arias de Vivero which remains in the Secretariat that I am in charge of from where it was drawn up in order to send it to the Viceroy of New Spain with a dispatch of the 5th of the current month.

Madrid and October 11, 1701.
Don Manuel de Aperregui [rubric]

Señor

Since it is so important that there are poles for the masts and spars of the vessels of this Windward Fleet it has appeared appropriate to my unworthy self that in order to attain this speedily and at little cost, Your Excellency should be pleased to order the Alcalde Mayor of the Villa Alta that in the next moon of January, he arranges to cut about a dozen poles in the Forest of Tango, the district of Jn.s Caxones that are of its jurisdiction and that must be of the following specifications: The ones of 47 cubits of length in a rough state (en bruto) and their thickness (grueso) of 8½ palmos, others of 45 cubits length and 7½ palmos of thickness and the rest of 37 cubits of length and 6½ palmos of thickness. Further, for the conveyance of the said poles and so that they can be taken down to the shores of the sea, it is going to be better that they go by the River of Chiro which is next to the Forest of Tango where its rapidly flowing current goes to Cosamaluapa and flows into the sea by the Bar of Alvarado. From this port, they can be conveyed with barks, towing them to Veracruz since the distance is not more than 12 leagues by sea, being also informed that from the River of Tango, the poles must come in rafts that are well tied together and with 2 Indian men on it and 2 push poles so that they can guide it down the rivers until they come to Alvarado. Further Señor, when this is placed in execution, I think it will not cost much and if the quality of the poles is attained not only in the cerazon? but also in the sizes and thickness, it shall be a great economy to the Royal Estate and having them ready to mast and spar said vessels and not corecer [?] them as happens at the present without which there is another better way to remedy this necessity. Therefore, I represent to Your Excellency, moved by my zeal, considering this to be of His Majesty's service and that Your Excellency with [your] great comprehension, shall give the orders that [Your Excellency] might find to be most appropriate. God preserve the Most Excellent Person of Your Excellency many years as I desire and have need. Veracruz 28th of August of 1700. Don Guillermo Morfi.

This is a copy of the original relation which came with a letter from don Francisco Arias de Vivero which remains in the Secretariat that I am in charge of from where it was drawn up in order to send it to the Viceroy of New Spain with a dispatch of the 5th of the current month.
Madrid and October 11, 1701.
Don Manuel de Aperregui [rubric]

The Captain don Francisco Arias de Vivero, vecino of the city of New Veracruz in New Spain, zealous and faithful vassal of Your Majesty; well informed of the desires that Spain has for the construction of ships for its Armadas and merchant trade of the Indies and how stripped the Spanish forests are which is the reason that the few that are built have such little durability that even before they can be used, they are already rejected as unusable. Further, that at various times, it has been discussed that there are shipbuilding sites in the Indies that because of how costly they are and the lack of means and of subjects that would be encouraged to employ themselves in this occupation and the other reasons that the Council would have experienced [they have been dismissed]. However, knowing that currently those that there are in this America are being discussed and this has had no effect because of the serious conditions in the Monarchy, these have been presented without more than the desire for the greater glory of His Majesty and as concerns [these], I know that he has in his monarchy, many places where the number of warships that he might want can be obtained very much to his satisfaction. Leaving out the many ports where this can be effected because they are separate and distant from each other and the fact that there is currently no money in the Royal Estate with which to pay for these except what is already needed for one or another kingdom [and] because of other inconveniences of which there is no lack, I report to Your Majesty as from a forgotten corner about everything that can be built every year. [These are] 4 to 6 ships of the port of 70 cannons which can leave [it] finished and the larger ones can go to San Juan de Ulua to be finished.

The River of Guasacoalco is the place. It is 40 leagues distant from Veracruz to the south. It is large, holds a lot of water and on its bar at low tide, there are 28 to 30 palmos of water, capable of having ships of the stated port with 2 decks, a quarterdeck and a forecastle depart over it. It is in the jurisdiction of the Alcaldia mayor called Guasacoalco y Agualulcos, with its capital at Acayuca. This river has a great abundance of timbers. The greater part of them are cedars, seasoned and old, ordinary ones and big ones: Havies, Mulberry trees, Zapateras Amarillas, Ocujes and other types of wood, all of them of the most precious types for shipbuilding and without excessive toil can be conveyed to the camp or shipyard which would be selected. This shall be on the river away from the coast about 8 leagues more or less. There are Indians in this jurisdiction that when paid the ordinary daily wages, can assist during the times that they would be needed for cutting timbers, to drag them and bring them down [to the water] and other mechanical exercises which will be done by Spaniards or Negroes with a greater amount of daily wages.

Because it is possible to place the objection of how is it in a place so close to this port where so there has been so much shipbuilding for Your Majesty and for individuals, there have never been any built in this place. I can satisfy this [by saying] that the reason is that this river has been unprotected due to the little traffic on it [and] the pirates have been able as a result, to enter it and make meat, get firewood and water, robbing some unprotected pueblos during the summers and whatever fishery that was going to be made in it. This fear has made nothing conversant and fearful but with shipbuilding and a camp formed which shall soon be a populous pueblo, necessarily must be evidently be of 300 persons that which whatever defense as is informed below, it is secure in whatever case from any pirate on the sea or its coasts, not only where he would have entered at other times but he shall also flee fearfully, with which I satisfy the issue.

There is an example of what is made there [as] a ship of port as was the one of Landa Verde which was built 60 years ago. It served in the merchant trade of the Indies for many years and was Capitana of a Flota and any individual would have made them there except he would distrust to [because of] the stated fear of the pirates.

The method [employed] for the continuation of many and frequent constructions is the following:

A camp must be formed with houses of wood and roofed with straw as are those of most of the pueblos of this America. [There must be] warehouses for the materiel, blacksmith shops, houses and bowers (armadas) for the skilled workers and peons and seamen. Once it is set up since there is plenty of room, they will be building them at their own expense for their greatest convenience for this occupation. There are the Indians, who ordinarily are paid 2 reales and 2½ reales per day if they bring their own food, which is usual for these people. Further, for the woodcutting, [the Indians] must be conveyed to the shipyard for this and started on hewing out timbers. This must occupy the first year so that in the second they can lay down 2 or 3 keels and the following (year), 4, 5 and 6. [This must be done] the same every year so that cutting timbers never stops as well as their conveyance to the shipyard [and] so that those that shall be cut this year, may be dried out by the following one. Further, they shall build some ships of extremely great duration and although the first ones of anything are the most costly, those in the future are almost half that. [They are] cheaper because one is informed by the first one what is the least expensive way to go.

This will create many skilled jobs for carpenters, caulkers, many woodsmen and seamen.

For the greatest speed and the least expense, Your Majesty must send from Spain, the nails (calvazon), bolts (perneria), rudder pintles (gobernaduras), chains (cadenaje), grommets (anillas), forelock keys (chavetas), all made in Biscay and for the tackle (aparejos), rigging, cables, canvas, lead sheets and the rest, this will be found in the memorial at the end of this proposal.

Your Majesty must send specifications by which [the ships] are [to be] constructed, two master carpenters [who must be] shipbuilders not craftsmen (mechanicos) of which there is no shortage [here], 2 or 4 skilled workmen for the trailboard sculptures (esculturas vichas) and adornments of the poops. There are none of these [latter] in America and for this there are good Flemmings or Frenchmen or Dutchmen [who are] the most experienced.

The other skilled workmen and caulkers are not lacking around here and at the first report of these constructions, there will be more than enough discovered without (considering) the many that will show up while the said constructions are ongoing.

Not only shall this camp serve for the stated constructions but also the Windward Fleet will be able to go there to careen after it arrives to Veracruz and the ships are stripped. They are only going [there] to have the work done and in case some difficulty may be found in doing this there, all the timbers that are needed for said careenings can be supplied from here. [This] is a large expense and many times, [the careening] is delayed because of shortages of these.

It shall also serve as a very great encouragement so that many individuals that want to build ships and don't do so because of fear, with the encouragement of Your Majesty's shipyard, [will] go there to build ships for the merchant traffic. They shall build their camps and everything shall increase in great service to Your Majesty.

This river has a tree that is called majagua in great abundance, from whose bark ropes, hawsers and cables can be made for the use of the constructions which shall excuse the expense of the many ropes and hemp rigging that are used in this since with the seamen that shall assist said constructions and a master ropemaker of which there is no lack here, as much as is necessary can be made for this use hasta los tables which the ships shall use up while they are in this river, reserving those of hemp for the ports.

Your Majesty must place a general superintendent with the greatest authority over all the administration of said constructions with the license that they have both Royal military and ordinary jurisdiction. He must be recognized as the superior in as far as it concerns those who live [and work] in the said camp and shipyard and would come there. Further, they must recognize this one as [their] only superior directly under Your Majesty. [As a result], this must be made known to the Viceroy of New Spain and further, this [superintendent] must be forced to maintain his presence in the camp or shipyard except for those times when he might have to go to Veracruz to deliver ships or to finish up some of them.

[There must be] one paymaster who is charged with the money and he must pay this by drafts from the superintendent with a letter of payment from whoever receives money from Your Majesty not only for their daily wages and salaries but also of the rest of the items that shall be purchased for this effect. Further, this one must also give his accounts to whoever Your Majesty would order him to which will prevent the multiplicity of ministers and salaries which usually are found for each thing of Your Majesty's service.

There must be 25 soldiers with a reserve officer in charge of them continually there in order to post guard on the camp sentinel posts and other events that might be offered [and] they must tell the Superintendent that they recognize said officer as their superior.

It will be necessary to have 8 or 9 artillerymen with their master gunner, 200 flintlock muskets and the munitions that correspond to them for the defense of the said camp which must have as stated above, 300 men. They will serve as a great defense for whatever incident.

Then for greater justification and to have an accounting and relation of everything, Your Majesty shall order that there is an inspector accountant that shall approve everything that is done. This would not be a position that can be omitted nor can the rest that Your Majesty should wish to be there.

It shall be very important that the one who is superintendent of this camp must [have the authority] that has been stated as concerns jurisdiction of the Alcaldia Mayor of Guasacoalco and Agualulco. He must be the Alcalde Mayor of this place to prevent the many conflicts that would occur between the superintendent and the Alcalde Mayor because he is the one who the Indians of this jurisdiction shall resist many times in giving him the workers who must be the usual [workers] for this camp. Some [of the Indian leaders will] deny them in toto and others [will] not give the number that they are asked for. Because the utility of these professions rests on them, if they are not occupied in them neither shall there be any there as shall clear nor shall Your Majesty's service have the profit that is desirable. Further, the one that is [currently] holding this office or whoever shall have the future benefit of this grace can possibly be given something else that is equal to what is taken from him and this is an very essential point because even though the Viceroys always attend to the greatest service of Your Majesty, while they are being informed and are giving their orders [about the case], the damage and stoppage of work that can happen which never ought to stop, cannot be repaired and whatever suspension in these types of works is very prejudicial and of considerable injury to Your Majesty.

The most essential thing so that all of this takes effect and the [needed] number of ships are made, are the ready means such that the work never stops because of lack of them. There must be an order from Your Majesty so that there is always sufficient money in the coffers of Veracruz, which must be sent monthly to the camp. [This is the amount] which it is estimated can be expended on [the works]. The rest for the quick payment for the materials that would be needed. This entrustment as a thing that is so important to Your Majesty's service, must be given to whoever the Viceroy would be, to whom the Superintendent is to give a detailed account of what he is building on as many occasions as may arise so that [the Viceroy] may see what is progressing or delayed, soliciting the money for this purpose [it being] so very necessary to be most free in it so that it is never delayed.

What each ship of the stated port shall cost; this is its perfectly finished hull with its launch and gote and gun carriages (cureñaje) which is considered at 40,000 pesos. This presumes that the ironwork and nails will be coming from Spain which with the example of what they cost in Campeche where the construction is the cheapest of all America, the economy of this measure shall be obvious since currently the two ships that are in the works (en planta) there, have arranged in the contract in this regard, 1,000 pesos per cubit. The one is of 55 and the other of 45 cubits. No one can be ignorant of the fact that in increasing the size, for each cubit that it goes up, the cost does not increase proportionately but much greater. As concerns the many ships that are removed from Your Majesty's service, it would be very important that they would bring the materiel on the [list of materiel] and that these are broken up and stripped and their materiel, masts and spars and nails are used profitably in the ships which would be of great economy and in Spain they are of very little or no use since they are sold at such low prices as shall be evident to Your Majesty. Since the amount expended in preparing them to come [here] in company with the annual merchant fleets (flotas) is so much less that what can be gotten for them there since nothing would be lost from them and everything would be accommodated with the good application.

These same ones are able to convey masts and spars but they cannot manage to bring those from the Bay of Santa Maria de Galve where they are and [from where] specimens have been brought but of little size by saying that there no larger ones. [Therefore] for this effort (planta) to take effect, they can only bring from Spain the major ones such as the larger foremasts and bowsprits and the others for spars, mizzenmasts, topmasts and topgallants, can be brought from this place in the vessels that go there with supplies or sending a vessel that can convey them, always having them in abundance not only for this purpose but also for those that the Windward Fleet needs and even in order to aid the vassals that shall need them for the vessels of the trade and can pay for them, who many times do not find them and have to avail themselves of what is almost no profit to them, it being a great pity that where it can have what is needed, it fails to have them because of few measures [being taken to provide them] and no attempt being made to do so.

Further, with Your Majesty giving the instructions and orders for the best administration, nothing is left to chance and Your Majesty shall remain well served without there being any mistake in what has been proposed even though there as are there is in everything, a diversity of opinions making things difficult for many which was not its intention. In all, Señor, there is no more purpose than that Your Majesty is pleased that there is attained in [Your Majesty's] dominions, what the times have made necessary [and] it craves in others and that [Your Majesty] begins to reign gloriously [with Your Majesty's] provinces also beginning to pay him tribute with what nature has placed in them so that they serve [Your Majesty] with so very full hands such that [Your Majesty] lacks nothing from them since what is lacking in some places has more than enough in others, being the greatest measure of the Creator that it is thus for the greatest increase of commerce and trade and for communication with distant lands by which means, it can approximate enjoying all things in all places.

Considerations

I propose that only the Guasacoalco River be used for the purpose of shipbuilding, not ignoring the many places in which ships have been built and so that it does not appear that ignorance or passion is the reason, I shall list the inconveniences of the rest, [part of] which I only omit so that the proposal is not too lengthy but considering how essential this report is, I refer to what I can achieve.

Campeche where the constructions are frequent has now the following inconveniences:

The timbers are very distant because of the many that have been pulled out because they have been continuously building vessels there. For this reason, they are now found only with difficulty and there is much delay in conveying them, launching the boat and much [of it with] so little water that the ship that is launched on the first deck, has to be more than a league to sea in order to finish it, at the mercy of the winds and enemies who can carry it off or burn it. These do not appear to me to be little obstacles.

Havana where there is a great port for shipbuilding: The timbers are already very distant. They must be conveyed from far away in vessels and rafts and many of these are lost as has been experienced with those that have been built there. Even though in Matanzas, they have [timbers] nearby.

Cartagena where also ships of good tonnage have been built: The timbers come from very far away and with difficulty as has been experienced in the careening that was given to the galleons of the Conde de Sauzedilla.

Puerto Rico has timbers but it does not have more nor are there dockyards, tar, turpentine nor any other thing. Everything is needed to be taken there from outside.

Cuba: [While] it is possible to do everything, it is a little port for the entrance and departure of large ships as also is Santo Domingo.

Honduras [has] many great timbers, shipyards and all the rest has to be brought in from the outside. There is no sheltered spot there.

Maracaibo [has] a shallow bar. Ships of any tonnage cannot leave and in the meantime the shipworms eat up the bottoms and while they can be careened there, this takes less time.

Caracas: Nothing is possible there because to careen even one frigate cannot be done.

And at last, in whatever port of these except for Campeche, if they could build one ship per year they cannot make two and in each place, more will have to be expended on traveling as for many and each vessel will cost more than 100,000 pesos. In Guasacoalco, once a sufficient camp is established, there will be nothing more than repairs needed and there are timbers to continue making 100 consecutive galleons and the most that could be wished for. Further, the rigging and tackle stated in this proposal will be needed for whatever place [this occurs], it shall not all be met at once or putting together only one [shipment] rather many. The stinginess of the Royal Estate is well known [and] as a result there is nothing to think about since it would not be the same to have one warehouse as it would be to have many and very far apart. Further, above all the money for this effort must be sent for its execution as has been said, from one of the kingdoms; Peru or New Spain. This is an inconvenience that remains in front of the eyes as does the fact that to each of these ports, it would be necessary to send a ship from Spain with the materiel needed for their rigging and tackle and other works.

As concerns the durability of the ships built in America, I have little to say because no one can ignore the distance that there is to those that are built in Europe and what can be saved in the first two careenings is sufficient to pay the cost of ships. Therefore since this is such a well-known thing, I omit it because it is not my intent to persuade with arguments that which is already so well known through experience and the reports affirm.

What has been said, is the truth Señor. If it shall fail to be persuasive because of curtness of the rude style with it has been explained [or] if it might merit acceptation, it shall be because of the zeal that it has for the greater glory of Your Majesty who Our Lord preserve in the fullest happiness for the greatest good of Christianity and of his vassals. New Veracruz and 8th of April of 1701. Don Francisco Arias de Vivero.

This is a copy of the original relation which came with a letter from don Francisco Arias de Vivero which remains in the Secretariat that I am in charge of from where it was drawn up in order to send it to the Viceroy of New Spain with a dispatch of the 5th of the current month .
Madrid and October 11, 1701.
Don Manuel de Aperregui [rubric]

_____________________________________

1 The civil government of an administrative area.
2 Probably "bote," or a ship's rowboat.
3 Capitana and a patache