The Virginia Gazette

From the Gentleman's Magazine for March, 1738.

Of the Spanish Guarda Costas, and of Insurance on Ships.

The Guarda Costas consist of Three Squadrons, Sometimes their Men of War are employ'd; and to them I must do the Justice to observe, that I never yet heard any just Cause of Complaint.

Sometimes Vessels are fitted out, at his Catholic Majesty's Expence; but generally, by private Persons, with whom the Spanish Governors are often concern'd, who are to have no Purchase no Pay. From These flow most or all the Injuries and Abuses of our Merchants; for They well knowing that it is not worth while to cruise in their proper Stations, where They seldom meet with any thing more than dry Blows, the illicit Traders being prepared for Them, all in the known Tracts or Latitudes of our lawful Traders, who being deeply laden with Sugars and other Commodities produced in other Colonies, and unprovided for Defence, confiding in the Faith of solemn Treaties, become an easy Prey to Them. The first Step they take, after they are in Possession, is to seize the Master's Papers, and rifle Him of every Thing that is valuable. The poor Seamen's Chests are also broke open, and their Cloaths taken from Them: Then they rummage the Ship for Contraband Goods, as They call them; and if any Spanish Gold or Silver, Logwood, or Cocoa, be found aboard, even tho' in small Quantities, They immediately declare Her to be good Prize; and when such Pretences have been wanting, they have not scrupled to convey Pieces of Eight on board privately, to colour the Capture, and as a Proof of their having traded on their Coasts. This was the Case of the Robert, Capt. Arding, of Bristol, bound from Africa to Jamaica, who was taken and carried into St. Domingo; and tho' the Governor and Royal Officers neither could or did countenance so barefac'd a Proceeding, but after many Delays and Hearings, gave Sentence in Favour of the Claimants, yet the Owners did not recover above one Half of the Value of the Ship and Cargo, the rest being confounded in the extravagant Fees of their Courts, Death and Desertion of Negroes, as pretended, and the excessive Regalo's, or Presents, They were under the Necessity of making the Royal Officers, and to the Governor in particular Twelve choice Negroes, to the Value of 200l. Sterling. But it has seldom been known that our Masters have fared or come off so well: being close confined; not allowed to make their own Defence; and their Men put on Board the Guarda Costas, or sent to Old Spain. From hence Insurance is risen from five to ten Guineas per Cent. which is a Demonstration of the Danger, to which our lawful Trade to the West-Indies is exposed from these Guarda Costas: and that it is deemed equal to all other Risks of the Sea: for the Insurers will, at this Time, underwrite a Policy at five Guineas per Cent. provided Spanish Captures are excepted. To explain this Matter more clearly, it is necessary to observe, that, in Case of a Loss, the Insured receives no more than 84l. for his 100l. it being customary to allow 16l. Discount: out of which, deducting the 10s. Premium, and 4s. 6d. the Policy, He actually receives no more than 72l. 3s. 6d. So that, in Reality, the Insurance is almost 15 per Cent. on the Value, which is equal to the Tax of 3s. in the Pound, besides all other Duties or Taxes; for, supposing a Merchant trades for 10,000l. per Annum: and many of them trade for much greater Sums, He must, to save himself, in Case of a Loss, insure 15,000l. the extraordinary Expence on which Sum at five Guineas per Cent. the Difference on Insurance on Account of the Guarda Costas, amount to 787l. 10s. What Trade, at this Time, will bear so excessive an Expence? And must not that Branch of our Commerce be given up, or end in the Ruin of Those, who pursue it, unless timely relieved and supported?