will
be decided on examination and review. In the meantime the said title
shall not be assumed, for there are many people in these islands whom
we are bound to remunerate merely for their own services and those of
their fathers, because they are poor and needy, and what we have to
give is so little that, even if it were divided among the citizens,
many of them would have to remain unprovided for.

[_In the margin_: "Tell the governor that in this matter he must
observe exactly what is ordered by decrees and provisions; and,
according to his instructions, shall prefer the most deserving and
those longest in the country."]

By order of your Majesty, the viceroy of Nueva Espana appoints the
general, admiral, captains, masters, and other officers of the ships
which are despatched from here to that province with merchanise, at the
time when the said ships return thence. The persons so appointed bring
so large a quantity of money unregistered in the ships as, it may be
readily seen, they can do, with the power attached to their offices,
since they are the servants and underlings of the said viceroy;
accordingly, when they have arrived here they invest their money,
and lade the goods in the said ships, although they are prohibited
from doing so. This is another opportunity, almost equal to that of
the governors who come. That this may be used by the said citizens, it
would be fitting that the said general, admiral, masters, and officers
of the ships be appointed here, in the sessions of the Audiencia, by
vote of the president and auditors; and that those appointed should
be citizens of this city of Manila, or of some of the other towns of
these islands. The salaries which hitherto have been given to the said
general and admiral in Nueva Espana should be diminished. With the
little which is given here to those who are appointed, and from the
profits which they will make, there will result no little benefit;
since every year, in the ships which are to go, there would be five
or six men, and they would return with a profit large enough to
maintain themselves, and face the enemy. The ships would be better
administered and governed, by persons who understand that better,
through the continual practice which they have in these islands in
maritime and military affairs; for at times persons come in the said
offices who have no experience whatever in the one branch or the other,
which is ordinarily the cause of much loss.

[_In th