GALLEON, in naval affairs, a sort of ships.employed in the commerce of the West Indies. The Spaniards send annual ly two fleets ; the one for Mexico, which they call the flota, and the other for Peru, which they call the galleons.
By a general regulation made in Spain, it has been established that there should be twelve men of war, and five tenders, annually fitted out for the armada or gal leons; eight ships of six hundred tons burden each, and three tenders, one of an hundred tons, for the island Margaritta, and two of eighty each, to follow the ar mada ; for the New Spain fleet, two ships of six hundred tons each, and two ten ders of eighty each ; and for the Hondu ras fleet, two ships of five hundred tons each ; and, in case no fleet happened to sail any year, three galleons and a tender should be sent to New Spain forthe plate. They were formerly appointed to sail from Cadiz, in January, that they might arrive at Porto-Bello about the middle of April, where the fair being over, they might take aboard the plate, and be at Havanna with it about the middle of June, where they were joined by the flota, that they might return to Spain with the greater safety. For this purpose the viceroy of
Peru was to take care that the plate should be at Panama by the middle of March. The plate is fifteen days remov ing from Potosi to Arica, eight days ge nerally from thence by sea to Callao, and from that place to Panama twenty days, taking in by the way the plate at Pasta and Truxillo. It has, however, been found by experience, that the month of September is the fittest for the fleet to sail : they are about two years in the whole voyage.
The galleons bring annually of gold about two or three millions of crowns, and the flota one. Of silver, the galleons bring eighteen or twenty thousand crowns and the flota ten or twelve. Of precious stones, the galleons bring quantities to an immense value ; besides fine wool, lea ther, and Canapeachy wood.