The Portobello Fair of 1708

Abstract

The docking of the galeones commanded by the Conde de Casa Alegre in Cartagena on 19 April 1706 was not marked by the activity usual throughout the provinces of the viceroyalty of Peru and its dependencies on the arrival of the fleet from Spain. Owing to the abnormal situation in Spain and the exceptional circumstances of the sailing of the fleets, it had been impossible to send ahead of them accurate early notice of their departure for the Indies. Preparations for the dispatch of the Armada del Sur had, therefore, not even begun when the galeones put in to Cartagena, and so the ships and their crews were made ready for a long wait in port. Moreover both the illegal trade in Oriental merchandise from New Spain and the French contraband in the Pacific had increased out of necessity during the previous few years, and the well-stocked merchants of Lima were not anxious to hasten along the regular commercial routes. In the meanwhile the new viceroy of Peru, who had arrived with his family and suite in the galeones, proceeded on his way to Panama and eventually to Lima. He did not arrive in his capital until 22 May 1707, 13 months later, to take over the organs of government and begin arrangements for the merchants of Lima to ship their money up to Panama for the trading at Portobello.¹