INTRODUCTION. g 



ported from the new world. Hence the short-sighted policy of 

 repressing all industry in the colonies, that was not directly applied 

 to the procuring gold and silver, the jealous exclusion of com- 

 merce, and the prohibitions of manufactures, excepting the very 

 coarsest for home consumption. The misfortunes which attended 

 the successors of Charles in some measure fell also on their foreign 

 possessions ; and as the demand for treasure became more urgent, 

 the circumstances of South America became such as to render the 

 supply more difficult. The wars and the cruelties of the Spaniards 

 had destroyed so many of the Indians, that there were scarcely any 

 left to labour in the mines ; and though a bargain was made with the 

 Dutch to supply African negroes for the purpose, the number of 

 these, in Chile at least, was never great. The first viceroys and 

 governors had been men of enterprise and talents ; and although the 

 character of Valdivia is not free from the imputation of cruelty, yet 

 the building of towns, establishing something like lawful tribunals, 

 and a disposition to win over, if possible, the natives, which form the 

 principal object both of his government and that of some of his imme- 

 diate successors, were highly beneficial. But before the accession of 

 Philip V. the wants of a needy court had set up the high offices of the 

 Indies to sale. The viceroys no longer sought to distinguish them- 

 selves by arms or policy ; and they jealously guarded commerce from 

 the intrusion of strangers only that they themselves might become 

 the sole monopolists. The instructions sent by the court of Ver- 

 sailles to Marsin, the ambassador at Madrid, in 1701, contain the 

 following observations:— "The rights of the crown of the Western 

 " Indies have been sacrificed to the avarice of viceroys, governors, and 

 " inferior officers." And again, — " The different councils of Madrid 

 " are full of abuses, and that of the Indies particularly so. In it, so far 

 " from punishing malversations, the guilty are supported in propor- 

 " tion to their bribes. The excesses of the viceroys and other officers 

 " remain unpunished. This impunity, and the immense property 

 " which they bring back, encourage their successors to follow the same 

 " example. On the contrary, if any one, from a principle of honour, 



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