n-general; and with greater ease and less red-tape,
orders can be given to the captain of artillery, who is the one who
has to execute it, than to a general of artillery, who has to order
another to do it. Juan Bautista de Molina has served your Majesty
many years, but the Filipinas do not need so many heads, nor so many
to draw pay from its treasury. I, Sire, shall not appoint anyone to
the post (although it is vacant), as your Majesty orders me, for I
do not desire to do a thing in which I believe that I would be doing
you a disservice; and since your Majesty orders me to abolish other
posts, I do not believe that it will be disservice to add this post
to them. In the meantime, will your Majesty please inform us whether
the master-of-camp of these islands or the general of artillery is to
govern at the death of the governor and captain-general, or during
his absence. Certain it is that he who has more authority and power
is the master-of-camp, and he ought to be second in command. For
there is not any general master-of-camp here, nor is it necessary;
nor is there more than one regiment that he governs. Juan Bautista
de Molina is exercising his charge in accordance with your Majesty's
letters-patent, which will be observed to the letter.

I wrote, with the ship that sailed to India, the good news that was
had from the island of Hermosa. We have not received later news. The
disobedient Indians have been punished, and affairs have been better
regulated. May God in His mercy bring them to a knowledge of His holy
faith. I am sending two ships there, so that more abundant relief
may be sent to our men. They will bring back the general, Don Juan de
Alcaraso, who is there. The sargento-mayor will remain in his place
until another person is sent, as he is a person of trust and worth.

The province of Cagayan is more quiet than before. A company there
was abolished, for the war has ceased; and hopes are daily entertained
that more peaceful Indians will come down [from the hills].

The inhabitants of Caraga revolted, as I stated in my last despatch,
after killing the captain and commander, with twenty soldiers, in
an expedition that he made. Thinking that they could gain the fort
with that force, they came to it, but it did not fall out as they
imagined. The greater part of the province rose, and killed four
discalced Recollect religious. A severe punishment was inflicted on
them in the month of September; and recently, in the