These and many other economies can be facilitated only by disinterestedness, zeal, and application to the affairs of the royal service.
STATEMENT VII
What can be produced for the royal exchequer by an increase in the tributes
In statement i is reckoned the number of two hundred [thousand] whole tributes, at the rate of ten reals each, which is the amount that they actually pay. This computation was made by reducing the tributes of mestizos to tributes of Indians, and in the same sense ought the increase which is discussed in this statement to be understood; for, although the mestizos pay twice as much tribute as the Indians, and consequently the increase ought to be double, the number also is duplicated, in order to avoid discrepancies and to facilitate the greater perspicuity and clearness of these statements by the definite number of two hundred thousand tributes, at the rate of ten reals each. As this is a very moderate rate, it can be increased in such ratio as shall be considered necessary; for this reason, I have set down separately in the following columns the amounts by which the royal treasury will benefit from an increase in the tributes—from ten reals to sixteen, which are two pesos; to twenty-four reals, which are three pesos; and to thirty-two reals, which are four pesos.
| Increase in tribute, | of 6 reals | of 14 reals | of 22reals | |||
| pes. | tom. | pes. | tom. | pes. | tom. | |
| The increase of 6 reals, of 14 reals, and of 22reals in each one of the 200,000 whole tributes which statement imentions, amounts, as seen in the respective columns, to | 150,000 | 350,000 | 550,000 | |||
| The said increase in each one of the 9,000tributes mentioned in item 1, statement 6, amounts to | 6,750 | 15,750 | 24,750 | |||
| The said increase in each one of the 60,000tributes mentioned in item 2, statement 6, amounts to | 45,000 | 105,000 | 165,000 | |||
| The said increase in each one of 1,800 tributesmentioned in item 3 of said statement amounts to | 870 | 1,389 | 2,970 | |||
| The said increase in the tributes mentioned initem 4 of the said statement amounts to | 1,528 | 7 | 3,567 | 3 | 5,605 | 7 |
| The said increase in the tributes mentioned initem 5 of the said statement amounts to | 147 | 3 | 343 | 7 | 540 | 3 |
| Total | 204,236 | 2 | 476,551 | 2 | 748,866 | 2 |
| Summary | ||||||
| The increase of 6 reals, of 14 reals, and of 22reals in each tribute, according to the respective columns of thisstatement, amounts to | 204,236 | 2 | 476,557 | 2 | 748,866 | 2 |
| The increases and savings contained in the summaryof statement 6 amount to | 1,312,833 | 3 | 1,312,833 | 3 | 1,312,833 | 3 |
| Total amount of the increases andsavings of the royal revenue every year | 1,517,069 | 5 | 1,789,384 | 5 | 2,061,693 | 5 |
Thus the increases and savings which the royal exchequer can practice in these islands, without increasing the royal tributes from the Indians, will be worth each year the sum of one million, three hundred and twelve thousand, eight hundred and thirty-three pesos, three tomins, as is shown in the items of statements v and vi.
If the tribute is increased from ten to sixteen reals (which are two pesos), the savings and increases will bring into the royal treasury the sum of one million, five hundred and seventeen thousand, and sixty-nine pesos, five tomins.
If the tribute is increased from ten to twenty-four reals, the said savings and expenses amount to the sum of one million, seven hundred and eighty-nine thousand, three hundred and eighty-four pesos, five tomins.