9 e
M. DE GUIGNES* OBSERVATIONS ON
For the internal tlifcipline, the government fhould nominate as alcaldes none butmen of probity; a council compofed of merchants fhould be inftituted for the fuper-intendence of commerce, for propofing ufeful meafures, and putting them in execu-tion ; a fimilar council fhould be eftablifhed for the furtherance and fuperinfpectionof agriculture ; and laftly, the Indians be endeared to the government by being placedon par with Spaniards in refpeft to tribute, and thus be induced to marry. Thefefhould be routed from their lluggifhnefs, and infpirited to an active life, by prefentingthem a profitable market for their produdtions; they fhould be encouraged by pre-miums to addidt themfelves to agriculture, to works of art, and to become gold andfilver fmiths, black and white fmiths. But for the promotion of this object a reductionof the Chinefe refidents would be indifpenfable : a certain number of thefe might betolerated. It would alfo perhaps be advifable to invite ftrangers, and afford them af-fiftance in eftablifhing themfelves. But in both thefe cafes much caution would be re-quired; for too great a number of foreigners might introduce danger, and originate acombination with the Indians for the expulfion of thofe who received them with kind-nefs.
By meafures fuch as I have propofed the Spaniards would be awakened from thelethargy which appears to abforb their faculties ; commerce, in a languifhing flate, andnearly at its laft gafp, would be called into life and aftivity; individuals, in a free com-munication between China, Acapulco, and Manila , would find an immenfe fource ofwealth; and government, in feconding their efforts, would be a gainer of money andfailors, would acquire a refpe&able navy, and with it competence to repel any at-tack, however unexpected.
From what I have faid it is eafy to perceive that with flight efforts the Spaniards mightcarry on a very extenfive commerce in the Philippines , and reap confiderable profitfrom a colony, the productions and refources of which are incalculable; but they arefo regardlefs of the advantages to be derived from thefe iflands, that under Philip II. and Philip III. it was a fubjeCt of deliberation, in the council at Madrid , whether or noManila fhould be abandoned.
Nothing could have been more defirable than that thefe iflands fhould havebeen ceded to the French. Their poffeffion of them, according to CardinalAlberoni in his political will, would not have been lefs ufeful to the French them-felves than beneficial to the colony. But, if the Spaniards are to remain mailersof them, that they fhould look with diligence to their fecurity is mofl effentiai. Anation, ambitious of monopolizing the commerce of the world, looks with anxious eyeon the ifland of Manila : once for a fhort period miftrefs of this rich colony, fherepents its reftitution, and fhould it a fecond time come under her dominion, willnever yield it again. Spaniards! look ferioufly therefore to the prefervation of thePhilippines : the lofs of them would be irreparable; anticipate the confequence of a.difafter, and have not to feek a remedy when, too late.
DEPARTURE FROM MANILA , AND RETURN TO THE ISLE OF FRANCE.
WE left Manila the 7th of March 1797*, at five in the evening, and on the 13thdoubled Pulo Sapate,, keeping its weflern fide.. This courfe fhould be avoided on ac-
* The fhoals of Boulinao and Mafliftlou, without the port of Manila , are laid down too much towardsthe eaft in the charts; they lie more weflerly, and nearer to Scarborough bank.
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