The Virginia Gazette

Cadiz, Aug. 30. The Merchants of this City complain very much of the Decay of their Commerce to the West-Indies, which, they say, arises from most of the Register Ships which are sent into that Part of the World being freighted by some of the most considerable French Merchants, who are very rich, and in a condition of running all Risks, and who only employ Commissaries of their own Nation, and perhaps some few others, on whom they may safely depend. They further alledge, that as the greatest Part of the Merchandizes which are put on Board these Ships, only pass through their Hands, the other Commissaries have almost nothing to do : These last are therefore very desirous that the Court would begin again to send, as in Times past, the Galleons and the Flotilla into those Countries. Every Body, and particularly the Spaniards themselves, they say, would then have a Share in the Profits of this Trade ; and the Monopoly which is at present carried on, would cease. Strong Representations have been made upon this Subject to the Court of Madrid, but no Answer has yet been made to them; and there is but little Likelihood that any Alteration will soon be made in this Respect, because it is evident, that the Court finds its Account better, by sending from Time to Time Register Ships, which return sooner, and consequently cause Money to come more frequently into the Coffers of the King, than by the Galleons and Flotilla. One may easily judge of the great Advantages which the French draw from this Trade, and the Quantity of Silver which it causes to go into that Kingdom, since it is assured, that this Nation is more than half interested therein.