GALLION, or GALLEON, in naval affairs, a sort of ships employed in the commerce of the West Indies. The Spaniards send annually two fleets; the one for Mexico, which they call the flota; and the other for Peru, which they call the gallions. See FLOTA.
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 galleons; eight ships of six hundred tons burden each, and three tenders, one of an hundred tons, for the island Margarita, and two of eighty each, to follow the armada; for the New Spain fleet, two ships of six hundred tons each, and two tenders of eighty each; and for the Honduras fleet, two ships of five hundred tons each: and, in case no fleet happened to fail any year, three gallions and a tender should be sent to New Spain for the plate.
They are appointed to sail from Cadiz in January, that they may arrive at Porto-Bello about the middle of April; where, the fair being over, they may take aboard the plate, and be at Havannah with it about the middle of June; where they are joined by the flota, that they may return to Spain with the greater safety.