own countrymen, and tyrants over the helpless natives. The
Audiencia is a costly institution, a burden of which all the people
complain. They have other grievances and many needs, which finally
impel them to send a special envoy to Spain, to procure relief and aid
from the home government. The documents in this volume contain much
valuable information regarding the economic condition of the colony,
and its commercial relations with China and Mexico respectively. As
the Spanish settlers in the Philippines find that they are largely
dependent upon China for their food, those who are wise see the
necessity of encouraging and extending agriculture in the islands;
but others are fired with the lust for wealth and conquest, and urge
upon Felipe II a scheme for subduing China by force of arms, thus to
give Spain the control of the great Oriental world, and incidentally
to enrich a host of needy Spanish subjects.

In Volume V was presented the greater part of the royal decree
establishing the Audiencia of the Filipinas; the document is
here concluded. The duties of certain subordinate officials of
that tribunal--commissioners of examination, jail-wardens, and
interpreters--are carefully prescribed. Such commissioners are
forbidden to play games of chance, except for articles of food ready
to be eaten. Prisoners in jail shall not be allowed to gamble, except
for food. The document closes with a general provision for a tariff
of official fees, and for the care of the Audiencia's archives.

Felipe II decrees (June 21, 1583) that the Audiencia aid the
Franciscan missionaries in the islands; and (April 24, 1584) that the
religious orders there continue to receive from the royal treasury
the gratuities originally bestowed upon them by Legazpi. The officials
of the treasury furnish a statement of their accounts, which shows a
yearly deficit in current expenses; and extraordinary expenses besides,
which nearly equal the total revenue for the year. Alarmed at this
condition of affairs, the Audiencia institutes an inquiry (June 15,
1584) into the commercial and industrial status of the colony; the
witnesses all testify that great scarcity of supplies, and poverty
among the people, are prevalent; that a considerable portion of the
native population has perished; and that the non-productive elements
of the population are much too large.

One of the auditors, Melchor Davalos, writes (July 3, 1584) to the king
a letter which, withal cont