a farther comparison of two terms of twelve years, before, and after, the Decree of Free Trade, the revenue rose from 131,135,286 dollars, to 233,302,557 dollars; and the exportation of dollars alone, from 155,160,564 to 224,052,025.
But notwithstanding the advantages which the Government itself derived from the concessions made in 1778, and the consequent probability that, by a farther relaxation in the old Colonial Policy, still greater advantages might be obtained, the wealth, which speedily accumulated at Veracruz, combined with an intimate knowledge of the wants, and intrigues of the Court, enabled the merchants established there successfully to oppose every project, by which their own monopoly was likely to be affected, and to defeat the plans, which were 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 whole 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.
Free Trade began to take effect,) was 11,394,084 dollars; thus averaging 2,840,000 dollars on each year, in lieu of 617,000 dollars, which was the average from 1774 to 1778.
