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The Decline of Manila as the Spanish Entrepôt in the Far East, 1785–1826: Its Impact on the Pattern of Southeast Asian Trade

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  07 April 2011

W. E. Cheong
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Extract

A pattern of trade completely new to the traditional structure of Southeast Asian trade emerged in the eastern extremity of Southeast Asia following the permanent settlement of the Spaniards at Manila in 1571. The new addition was based upon the Manila-Acapulco trade with its two supply lines originating from the ports of Fukien province in China, and the Coromandel and Malabari Coasts in India. Two hundred years later, this trade with Manila as the entrepot, had become a well-defined system, and very much a part of the traditional pattern of Southeast Asian trade. The mercantilist regulations obtaining in Manila, the seasonal rhythm of shipping movements, the goods carried along the routes and the dependent trades outside the Spanish systems had moulded the character of the Manila trade.

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Articles
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Journal of Southeast Asian Studies , Volume 2 , Issue 2 , September 1971 , pp. 142 - 158
Copyright
Copyright © The National University of Singapore 1971

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References

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34 Schurz, 182 claims that this was in 1804. I am indebted to Professor G. Zaide of Far Eastern University, Manila, and Fr. I. Rodriguez, O.S.A. of Seminaro Mayor Augustiniano, Valladolid, for the corrected date.

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38 It included J. de Valdes, Minister for the Indies (later Diego Gardoqui), Francisco Cabarrus, the French President of the National Bank of St. Carlos, Bernardo Yriarte, a famous member of the Supreme Council of State, Leandro de Viana, former Fiscal of Manila, and later, Berenguer de Marquina, Governor of the Philippines (1787–93), and later Mexican Viceroy, and Alesandro Malaspina, Admiral of the Galleon for several years.

39 Between 1785–90 the Company took out $2,053,000 from Lima, $841,000 from Buenos Ayres, and $270,000 from Acapulco. In 1789, Buenos Ayres claimed a debt of $1,036,362, and Lima $820,850. Unsettled bills in India and China were $1,250,000, and debt to the Manila Hacienda was $190,000. Filipinas 987, No. 410, Lima, 31.3.1789; No. 70 Buenos Ayres, 29.1. 1790; 988, No. 34 ‘Extracto de la carta de la Direccion de Manila’, 15.7.1791.

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41 The Junta comprised: 2 Company Directors, the Governor, the Intendente, 1 member representing the ‘City & Commerce’; the Manila Consulado had final veto and ratifying powers. Cheong, W. E., ‘An Anglo-Spanish-Portuguese Clandestine Trade between the ports of British India and Manila, 1785–90’, Philippine Historical Review (Manila, 1965) I. i, 84.Google Scholar Schurz, 415. Filipinas 986 ‘Junta del Govierno de la Real Compania’, 27.12.1787.

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62 Filipinas 932 Decree of Regents, 17.9.1813; Filipinas 965, Minute of Jose de Texada, 28.4.1817.

63 Canton Consultations (CC), 242, II, 317 G. Yreretagoyena to Select, 27.3.1830 on trans-Pacific trade after 1821.

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76 These included X. Yrissarri who died in 1826 and left a penniless estate; J. Uriarte who failed with his partner in 1826 as Mendietta & Uriarte; M. Laruletta who escaped narrowly the two failures of 1826; Lorenzo Calvo whose two firms in Paris and Canton failed in 1831. Cheong, ‘Opium Trade & Agencies in China’, Chapters, IV & V.

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