Fontes manuscritas do "Comércio Livre"

Résumé

In the second half of the XVIIIth century the economic relations between Spain and West Indians suffered changes in its structure. It was the “Free Commerce” system that started the changes of the “Unic Port” rule and at the same time made possible the continuity of the Spanish merchantilism. Beside Seville and Cadiz thirty seven other ports began to operate throughout transoceanic routes and so increasing the circulation of mechandises in the Metrópoles and Colony. This article provides a guide to the archives of manuscript sources on “Free Commerce”. They are of great importance for Portuary History, and available in many archives of Spain and America, such as: “Archivo General de índias”, in Seville; “Archivo Histórico Nacional” in Madrid; “Archivo Provincial de Guipuzcoa”; “Archivo de Simancas”; “Manuscritos da Biblioteca Nacional de Madrid”; “Museo Naval de Madrid”; “Archivo General de La Nacion”, in Caracas; “Archivo General de la Nacion”, in Buenos Aires.