ABSTRACT
In 1728, some Biscayan merchants made a proposition to the King of Spain, that they would, at their own expence, destroy the contraband trade of foreigners with the province of Venezuela, on condition that they should be permitted to supply the country, and export its produce to the metropolis. The royal grant permitted that the province of Guipuscoa should form a company, and send annually to Venezuela two vessels of forty or fifty guns with the productions of Spain, which should discharge at Guayra, and then cruize from the Orinoco to the Rio de la Hache, to seize all vessels engaged in the contraband trade. For these purposes his Majesty gave them letters patent.
