High and Mighty, to judge otherwise, of the importance of this matter. ' Your High Mightinesses are aware, and it is not unknown to us, that this Company was in the commencement, designed principally to increase Trade and Commerce, without which the great multitude of seamen bestowed by God on this country cannot be employed, and all

occupations maintained in continual action and prosperity; that, also, those who supposed themselves most conversant with this trade, were of opinion that the West India Countries

were not so exposed to the attacks of our enemies the Spaniards and Portuguese, but that trade could be carried on with sundry nations and people; colonists transported, and plantations of various products promoted, from which advantages could be derived equal to those our aforesaid enemies have realized since many years, to the strengthening considerably of the King of Spain's finances. And in case of delay or ill success, it was expected to make good a portion of the loss, by going to Punta del Rey for salt; but in consequence of the tedious negotiations with the North quarter, we are entirely cut off by the enemy from the Salt Trade at the Punta; and as regards general trade, experience has now made us wiser, and shown, that the proposition founded on grounds altogether too weak and that the trade with is ;

those nations and people, who still remain independent of the King of Spain, is very meager and trifling; and that the countries, yet uninvaded, are for the most part of little consequence and unproductive, or if good and fruitful, are very difficult of cultivation, especially for our people, who, being unaccustomed to so hot a climate, can with great difficulty betake themselves to agriculture; and being unprovided with slaves, and not used to the employment of them, cannot, like the Spaniards and Portuguese, supply through others, their own Moreover, the colonizing such wild and uncultivated countries, insufficiency. demands more inhabitants than we can well supply; not so much through lack of population, in which our provinces abound, as from the fact, that all who are inclined to do any sort of work here, procure enough to eat without any trouble; and are, therefore, unwilling to go far from home on an uncertainty; to this may be added, the doubt of being able to protect it,