From the maternal grandfather of Doña Maria Josepha the authorities seized here 102,000 or 106,000 pesos--a sum which, as it had been sent from these islands to Nueva España as an investment by Don Fernando Bustillo Bustamante, the former governor of the islands, was therefore by order of the viceroy of that kingdom [of Nueva España] placed in the royal treasury of Mexico; as also another considerable amount, which the aforesaid governor had sent, was obtained from various other seizures which the viceroy had made. Although the executors of the said grandfather of Doña Maria Josepha obtained a decree that they should be repaid for the amount seized, there has not thus far been any way in which that could be done--either because there was a lack of funds, or because the person to whom this commission had been entrusted in the aforesaid city of Mexico was inefficient. The greater part of the amount thus seized belongs to the aforesaid Doña Maria Josepha; in order to ascertain what is legitimately hers, some measures have been taken in order to secure the division of all the goods; and if (as I hope is the case), this effort shall have succeeded [in time] for the despatch of the galleon, I will then send word to your Grace of the result, in order that your Grace and friend Arze may be so kind as to ask for a new decree in which the viceroy shall be commanded to see that the most prompt satisfaction be given for the aforesaid amount. With this and a strong letter of recommendation from the secretary for the affairs of Indias in the general office of state, addressed to the present or future viceroy, there will be no doubt that the collection of this money will be facilitated, as is necessary and desirable--and all the more if this order shall arrive at the time when, as I trust, [an appointment to] a governorship being received, I should go, as would be necessary, to that kingdom [of Nueva España], even though it might be for [an office in] that of Peru.
Commerce of the Philippines with Nueva España, 1640-1736 (to be concluded). By Antonio Álvarez de Abreu; Madrid, 1736.
Source: This document is translated, partly in full and partly in synopsis, from the Extracto historial (Madrid, 1736), compiled by Abreu; it includes "Periods" iii-x, but on account of its length will be completed in VOL. XLV.