Sales catalogue 491: Maggs Bros

Date:
1927
Reference:
WA/HMM/CM/Sal/13/50
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Sales catalogue 491: Maggs Bros. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    48/326 page 38
    Spaniards, by the Venerable Padre San Vitores, to the glory of God and the welfare of His creatures; and having shed his blood together with other Brother- Religiosos, 11 would be a dolorous sacrifice in vain, were all these Islands to be ultimately lost for lack of the effort to develop this enterprise, not only on account of the work already done, but of the hope of converting the many islands to which these lead, reaching as far as Japan; and to avoid this loss, it should be noted that.—The Mission entirely depends upon the service of a vessel between the Mariana Islands and Manila, which is three hundred leagues away, to bring people supplies, labourers, and everything else necessary—otherwise it is impossible for it to persist, cut off from all the rest of the world.’’ ““Until to-day, the Islands have had relief from the Philippine vessels returning from New Spain, but as these ships are not of the required tonnage they are not suitable, and in the ordinary way, are liable to run great risks from heavy seas. . . . The vessel needed by the Marianas should be about 100 tons, and should be built in a Philippine port, and, sailing from there in due course, should supply the Mission with its needs; take heed of the course by sea; the monsoon; the voyage; and finally, whether there are, in between, any other Islands which could be navigated by smaller vessels for the purpose of intercommunication and an easy voyage to the Philippines by gradual stages from one island to another; a matter which would not be possible to the larger vessels sailing between there and New Spain, for besides being too large for the purpose, they could not spare the time to search for new courses amongst the small islands, which might expose them to the dangers of shipwreck.’’ The writer explains that much depends upon the disposition of the Governor of the Philippines, who has the authority to order the construction of such a vessel. He sets forth the practical means by which the building of the ship and the sailings could be financed, and remarks that the officers are paid by the King whether they work or rest. Some of the outlay could be refunded, also, by the salving of the bronze from the artillery which had been sunk off the Mariana Islands in 1638, when the ship ‘‘ Conception ”’ was lost. ‘¢The Governor should despatch the 200 Panpangos who were ordered (under a Royal Decree dated 16th November, 1672) to be sent out, in default of which, Pangazinians or Vizayans—it would be easy to obtain people of these nations; and in Manila there is always a superfluity of vagabonds . . . these could be employed on board and subsequently teach the Islanders any trade they might be proficient in . . . but the big ships cannot take them, by reason of the expense.”’ ‘‘ Failing the construction of the required vessel, the Governor should issue orders for the big vessels to call regularly at the Marianas on their return from New Spain, and leave the passengers and necessary supplies . . . as laid down in different Royal Decrees, particularly that dated 30th April, 1676’. Etc.
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