Page:Mexico (1829) Volumes 1 and 2.djvu/347

 MEXICO. 307 Decree of Free Trade, the revenue rose from 131,135,286 dollars, to 233,302,557 dollars ; and the exportation of dol- lars alone, from 155,160,564 to 224,052,025. But notwithstanding the advantages derived by the Go- vernment itself from the concessions made in 1778, and the consequent probabihty that, by a farther relaxation in the old Colonial Policy, still greater advantages might be obtained, the wealth, which speedily accumulated at Veracruz, com- bined with an intimate knowledge of the wants, and intrigues of the Court, enabled the merchants established there suc- cessfully to oppose every project, by which their own mono- poly was likely to be affected, and to defeat the plans occasionally submitted to the Spanish Ministry, for opening a communication with the Interior through other ports, easier of access to the inhabitants of the Central and Northern Provinces than that of Veracruz. The trade with Europe was concentrated on this one spot ; and it is, consequently, in the returns of its Consulado, (or Corporation of resident merchants,) established by a Royal Cedula, in 1795, that we must seek the only authentic data that can now be obtained respecting the former commerce of New Spain. The period comprehended in these returns, is a term of twenty-five years, (from 1 796 to 1820;) and although it is to be regretted that the various items, of which the importa- tions consisted, are not specified in the Balanza General, or General Balance of Trade, (the name given to the Consulado Report,) still, as these may be ascertained from other sources, and more particularly from Humboldt, the General Balance is important, in as much as it gives the total annual amount of the registered Exports and Imports on a long term of years. take effect,) was 11,394,664 dollars ; thus averaging 2,840,000 dollars on each year, in lieu of 617,000 dollars, which was the average from I774 to 1778. X 2