en, as is the courage of its
people. If there is any way in which to resuscitate it, it will be for
your Majesty to give permission for the citizens thereof to despatch
a ship of three hundred toneladas to Peru every two or three years,
with the products of this country; they will not undertake to carry
anything more than flagstones, ivory, and other things which are not
carried from Espana, and this will not cause any loss to the royal
customs duties of your Majesty.

33. _That it brings much damage upon this colony that the officers
on the voyages are appointed by the viceroy of Mexico_.

I have already advised your Majesty of the irreparable injury resulting
to this commonwealth from the appointment of the officers of the ships
on this voyage by the viceroy of Nueva Espana; for they come here
provided with money on commission, and when they have arrived here they
invest it; nor is there any way to prevent them from lading the ships
as soon as they have left the port. This they effect by placing their
cloth in small vessels six or seven leguas away; and then they take
from the ship the cloth belonging to the citizens, and lade their own,
from which results great injury to this country. This was done even
by Don Antonio Maldonado, son of the licentiate Maldonado, auditor of
Mexico, who unloaded on a beach a great deal of cloth belonging to
citizens here. This would not happen if the officers were appointed
here; because those appointed would give bonds before they left,
and, as they must come back and render an account, they would not
commit these evil acts. Your Majesty will be pleased to order what
is most expedient.

34. _That a sworn statement is being sent of the execution and
fulfilment of the decrees_.

I am sending your Majesty a sworn statement of the decrees which have
been put into execution, besides those which are being carried out;
and the same will be sent next year.

35. _That it is customary on feast-days that the city banner should
be brought out, and that the royal Audiencia should be present, and
the standard-bearer should walk at the left hand of the president;
and that this custom was opposed by an auditor_.

One of the principal feast-days which is kept in this city is that
of the apostle St. Andrew, in memory of the victory which was on
that day won against the Chinese pirate Limahon, driving him from
the land when he had already hemmed this city in. On that day the
city brings out its b