Barcelona, like other Spanish cities, also suffered from the rise in cereal prices following the liberalisation of the grain trade in 1756, 1757 and 1765. However, it was not the scene of violent protests as were Madrid, Zaragoza or Valencia. Historiography has attributed this to the preventive measures taken by the Captain General of Catalonia, the Marquis de la Mina. To alleviate the critical effects of the grain shortage, de la Mina tried to put an end to grain hoarders and attempted to control bread prices by importing and expropriating wheat. On 9 April 1766, a month after the outbreak of the riot in Madrid, pamphlets against Esquilache were distributed in Barcelona. This protest, however, failed to mobilise the rest of the population. The Marquis de la Mina had taken measures the previous month to keep the city well supplied, something that had made him a popular figure among the Catalans. After the events of 9 April, no one was arrested. At the end of the month, however, de la Mina signed an edict reiterating the prohibition on disseminating seditious and insulting pamphlets and papers.