Royal Decree of Minister of the Navy Domingo de Grandallana

At the beginning of the 19th century, Spain's resources were severely depleted as a result of its continuing involvement in conflicts. Trade with the Americas and the transport of goods and wealth were therefore essential for its survival. For this reason, in September 1802, Prime Minister Manuel Godoy advised the Secretary of State for the Navy, Domingo Pérez de Grandallana, of the need to send Spanish naval ships to the American viceroyalties to bring back some of their wealth.

This is the document in which Godoy advises Grandallana of "the existence in Lima of many riches and fruits that are precious to Spain," and points out that it would be easy to bring them back in "a few warships." A side note adds, "this has been taken into account and the frigates "Clara" and "Mercedes" have been dispatched to Lima for the riches."

This document, now kept in the Álvaro de Bazán General Naval Archive, was key to the investigation into the discovery of the frigate by the North American company Odyssey. It proved that the "Mercedes" had indeed taken part in this enterprise, and that the frigate found by Odyssey was the one lost in the English attack on the Spanish, making it part of Spain's cultural heritage.