ABSTRACT
The reason the galleys have accomplished nothing this year, so many enemy ships having meanwhile sailed by the entrance to this port, is because they are so restricted by the order Your Majesty has issued to me that they must await the passing of the fleets at Cape San Antonio. The enemy is perfectly aware of this order and so with utter impunity frequents this coast, merely avoiding Cape San Antonio, which they know is the place where the galleys are usually lying. Therefore I entreat Your Majesty to leave it to my discretion to send the galleys wherever they can do most damage to the enemy, even though it be only to try out their worth and report whether they should be maintained here or not. I would prefer to see four frigates of the armada detailed to protect this coast. They would cost less and could go out in any weather ...
