ports of the colony. During the seven years from 1785 to 1791 the receipts at the custom-house of Vera Cruz amounted to $3,185,192; those at Acapulco, for the five years 1786 to 1790 inclusive, to $660,532; while the total receipts in all the ports for the single year 1798 were $242,968. In the early period of the colonial history the principal exports at the port of Vera Cruz were aguardiente, dyes, and gold and silver bullion. A letter of instructions to the royal officers stationed there was issued on the 12th of July, 1530. It was also provided that one of the crown officers at Mexico, under whose superintendence custom-house affairs were placed, should reside at Vera Cruz, in order to appraise merchandise.[1] Particular directions were issued to prevent fraud and smuggling, and the penalty of death and forfeiture of goods was proclaimed against all persons illegally exporting gold or silver.[2]
From old documents of the port of Acapulco there appears to have been stationed there a paymaster who kept the accounts in connection with the building of vessels and the payment of workmen's wages, as also those of seamen employed in voyages of discovery. The almojarifazgo, however, was not collected until 1574. In 1597 royal orders were issued relative to the management of this port, the viceroy Velasco, however, having already in 1593 given instructions to the factor. The substance of these lengthy orders was to the effect that the factor should reside at Acapulco, and make a summary of the arrival of all vessels and merchandise from the Philippines; pay into his Majesty's treasury all moneys received;[3] at-
- ↑ The queen regent in April 1533 ordered the audiencia to investigate the practice of royal officials taking merchandise from importers at appraisement rates. This was defrauding the royal treasury, and the oidores were instructed to report on the matter. Puga, Cedulario, 87. In 1536 the treasury officials were ordered to provide a strong box with three keys, at Vera Cruz, for the money derived from the custom duties, as we have elsewhere seen. Id., 111.
- ↑ Fonseca and Urrutia, Hist. Real. Hac., iv. 547.
- ↑ The duty on gold was at the rate of one and a half per cent, at this time, a mark of 18 carat gold being equal to 70 pesos de oro, and one of 23
