21.23. 23. A Problem, it is not for me to decide the question whether, if
Spain be not herself able to carry on the trade of the Indies, it would
not be better to leave it open to strangers.
I will only say that it is
for their advantage to load this commerce with as few obstacles as
politics will permit. When the merchandise which several nations send to
the Indies is very dear, the inhabitants of that country give a great
deal of their commodities, which are gold and silver, for very little of
those of foreigners; the contrary to this happens when they are at a low
price, it would perhaps be of use that these nations should undersell
each other, to the end that the merchandise carried to the Indies might
be always cheap. These are principles which deserve to be examined,
without separating them, however, from other considerations: the safety
of the Indies, the advantages of only one custom-house, the danger of
making great alterations, and the foreseen inconveniences, which are
often less dangerous than those which cannot be foreseen.
