The Governor Punishes Illicit Traders Spanish law minutely regulated trade with the Empire. All goods coming into Florida, for example, had to be carried on licensed Spanish ships and sold in Saint Augustine by licensed Spanish merchants. No foreign ships, no foreign goods, and no foreign merchants might enter the Florida capital. The law provided severe punishment for those who violated these prohibitions, and it was the governor’s duty to enforce the law. For the most part, however, he ignored this obligation. In fact, when it became necessary to feed his needy colonists, he himself became a party to illegal commerce. Corcoles, Ayala, Benavides, Moral, Montiano, and others often sought goods from English merchants when the colony was in need. Seldom did any governor bring charges against those bringing goods into Florida illicitly. The province was too far removed from the mainstream of trade, and, like Buenos Aires, somehow had to obtain the necessities of life. Interim Governor Fulgencio Garcia de Solis was an exception, a rare example of one who took action against illicit traders. In April, 1753... (Tepaske GSF)