MANILLA. 271) 



brated and for ever royal city of Manilla." In 1595, the charter was 

 confirmed by royal authority; and all the perogatives possessed by 

 other cities in the kingdom were conferred upon it in 1638. The 

 members of the city council, by authority of the king, were constituted 

 a council of advisement with the governor and captain-general. The 

 city magistrates were also placed in rank next the judges ; and in 

 1686 the jurisdiction of the city was extended over a radius of five 

 leagues. In 1818, the number of the council were increased and 

 ordered to assume the title of " Excellency." Manilla has been one 

 of the most constantly loyal cities of the Spanish kingdom, and is, in 

 consequence, considered to merit these additional royal favours to its 

 inhabitants. 



In 1834, the Royal Tribunal of Commerce was instituted, to super- 

 sede the old consulate, which had been established since 1772. The 

 Royal Tribunal of Commerce acts under the new commercial code, 

 and possesses the same privileges of arbitration as the old consulate. 

 It consists of a prior, two consuls, and four deputies, elected by the 

 profession. The three first exercise consular jurisdiction, the other 

 four superintend the encouragement of commerce. The " Junta de 

 Comercio" (chamber of commerce) was formed in 1835. This 

 junta consists of the tribunal of Commerce, with four merchants, who 

 are selected by the government, two of whom are removed annually. 

 The prior of the Tribunal presides at the Junta, whose meetings are 

 required to be held twice a month, or oftener if necessary, and upon 

 days in which the Tribunal is not in session. The two courts being 

 under the same influences, and having the same officers, little benefit 

 is to be derived from their double action, and great complaints are 

 made of the manner in which business is conducted in them. 



Of all her foreign possessions, the Philippines have cost Spain the 

 least blood and labour. The honour of their discovery belongs to 

 Magelhaens, whose name is associated with the straits at the southern 

 extremity of the American continent, but which has no memorial in 

 these islands. Now that the glory which he gained by being the first 

 to penetrate from the Atlantic to the Pacific, has been in some measure 

 obliterated by the disuse of those straits by navigators, it would seem 

 due to his memory that some spot among these islands should be set 

 apart to commemorate the name of him who made them known to 

 Europe. This would be but common justice to the discoverer of a 

 region which has been a source of so much honour and profit to the 

 Spanish nation, who opened the vast expanse of the Pacific to the 

 fleets of Europe, and who died fighting to secure the benefits of his 

 enterprise to his king and country. 



