was made, and all were in turn invited to the palace by the viceroy, who flattered them, feasted them, promoted some of them to office, and finally did them the honor of borrowing their money, the repayment of which in all probability was to be made ad Græcas calendas. To refuse or to concede was alike dangerous, and many preferred the latter. So well worked the contrivance, that within a short time several hundred thousand pesos were obtained.[1] Occasionally appropriations were also made from the royal treasury and from the monopoly of quicksilver, the latter proving so injurious that the product of the mines was largely reduced.[2]
Cool as were the relations between Escalona and Palafox, an open rupture had always been avoided by the latter, perhaps more from policy than from any other motive. Even the viceroy's misconduct with regard to the armada de Barlovento, and the despatch of the fleet of 1641, did not produce any visible effect on the visitador, though they widened the breach already existing. Orders had been given to the duke to proceed with the organization of this armament for the protection of the coasts and the escort of merchant vessels. These instructions were carried out in the most careless manner; a large amount of money was drawn from the royal treasury and spent on vessels scarcely seaworthy and altogether too small.[3] In addition, the despatch of the fleet was unnecessarily delayed until the end of July. In vain the visitador had remonstrated; but though his advice was disregarded the result proved how correct it had been, for a storm destroyed the whole flota, and caused the crown a loss of about eight millions of pesos.[4]
- ↑ Authorities differ as to the exact figure, stating it from 300,000 to 400,000 pesos. One Alvaro de Lorenzana alone is said to have loaned 50,000 pesos.
- ↑ It is asserted that not one mark of silver entered the royal treasury under Escalona 's rule.
- ↑ The amount is estimated at 800,000 pesos. Palafox, El Ven. Señor, 8.
- ↑ Palafox made of the viceroy's proceedings a charge of harboring seditious plans; but this fell to the ground; for at Habana the fleet was placed under the command of an officer quite independent of Escalona. Escalona, Defensa, in Vir. Instrac., MS., série i., no. 1, 13-14.
