of
great importance for those who had the power in this community, as
will be evident when it is inspected and investigated. For three years
past nothing of importance has been done on the wall, although there
were many places which needed repairing and finishing, which would
be a great detriment and danger in time of war. It would likewise
be well to send a warrant to make investigations and audit accounts,
concerning both the said monopoly and the other properties of the city.

[_In the margin_: "Let the person who is charged with the residencia
of the governor be entrusted with that of the cabildo, and see that
that is taken and an account of everything. He shall give an account
to the governor of all which results from this, and of the amount
of this impost, so that it may be converted to the use for which it
was imposed."]

15. By an ordinance of this royal Audiencia the president and two
auditors thereof are commanded to audit, at the beginning of each
year, the accounts of the royal officials, and to finish them in
two months, with the additional amount, for expenses, of twenty-five
thousand maravedis for each auditor. In the time of the former royal
Audiencia this was done; and they named an accountant each year,
to whom they gave fifty thousand maravedis beside. Since that time,
what has happened is as follows: Governor Gomez Perez Dasmarinas,
at the beginning of the year ninety-five, without an order from
your Majesty, created an accountant-in-ordinary of accounts for this
purpose, with a salary of five hundred pesos, and a secretary with two
hundred and fifty pesos, for which they were to secure the approval
of your Majesty--which they have not done in the past. The accounts
were audited in two months--or at the most, in three. Accordingly it
is not necessary, for so small an account as we have here, to incur
a thousand pesos of expense each year to audit them. It could be done
for a hundred thousand maravedis, as was formerly done. Your Majesty
will command in this as is most fitting for the royal service.

[_In the margin_: "Send this to the new governor, that he may examine
into and adjust the matter as appears best to him, and advise us of
what action he takes."]

16 The office of secretary of the cabildo has been given by the
governors to whom they thought best. In this way they learn what
goes on in the cabildo, which is a great evil. It would be better to
have this sold; and accordingly, he who h