er
many discussions, the citizens had resolved not to lade any goods at
present for Nueva Espana. I gave a copy of all this to the fiscal and
the royal officials. I resolved [not] to despatch the ships without
cargoes, and even to take the boxes and bales from where they should
be found and actually put them on board the ships; but the auditors
and officials believed that it would be contrary to law to force the
citizens. Therefore I determined to call a meeting of the Audiencia,
archbishop, fiscal, and royal officials, in order to determine what
ought to be done in this matter. All were of the opinion that the
ships should be laded, even though we should postpone the fulfilment
of what your Majesty lately ordered, for the damage that would ensue
from the ships going empty would be beyond comparison far greater
than the gain of the two per cent; and that the appeal interposed by
the citizens ought to be granted, as it was apparent that the report
which the visitor had made was different from what had actually and
truly taken place. In accordance with this, the city has given bonds
for all the sum to which this duty can amount, now and henceforth,
until your Majesty be pleased to provide what is most advisable. In
order that this may be apparent from the investigations, I enclose
herewith a testimony of the acts.

In respect to my report, Sire, I declare that the three per cent which
has been collected hitherto, has entered into this royal treasury,
and has never been reckoned with the situado. The same will have
to be done with this two per cent, for it is all needed for the
ordinary support, unless that your Majesty should be better served
[by ordering otherwise].

The visitor at his departure gave me an account of all that he had done
during the two years while he has been occupied in his visit. According
to the report which he gave me of accounts which had been settled,
I learned that this treasury was clear of debt, and had much money
besides. But I have found by experience since then that, although in
appearance he stirred up affairs, in fact the expense was greater than
the gain. For most of the settlements of which he made a parade are in
litigation, and are being nullified by the acquittal of the parties
[in the suit], while others in the Audiencia are even abandoned;
and few reach the point of collecting [the amounts due]. Some of the
new ordinances that he left suffered the same misfortune, because
he did n