e is no money assigned for it,
and they are not subordinate to any other but the governor, and that
was not done in the time of his predecessor. It will be fitting for
your Majesty to declare what is your pleasure, considering the fact
that this treasury is poor, and that it is troublesome to have many
giving warrants on it. May God preserve the royal person of your
Majesty, as is needful to us your vassals. Manila, August 10, 1634.

_Don Juan Cereso Salamanca_

_Military affairs_

Sire:

On the twenty-second of October, I informed your Majesty of military
affairs. Now I shall do the same in detail, with the zeal of a true and
faithful vassal; in accordance with which I say that the conservation
of these islands consists in not embarking in new enterprises, but in
keeping the presidios well defended which cannot be dispensed with,
and to abolish those of least importance. By so doing there will be
men in this camp for undertaking great things, as has been done in
other times by your Majesty's governors; while the contrary is true
now, for the aforesaid reason, and the governors content themselves
with not losing anything that is in their charge.

I imagine that there will be difficulty in abandoning the
forts of the island of Hermosa; nevertheless, by my remarks in
my letter on government affairs, to which I refer, that seems
advisable. Accordingly, that can be reduced to but two posts, thus
saving most of the rations which are consumed; but in my opinion all
that may be done is superfluous.

The fort of this city is in a state of defense, although not in the
perfection that is practiced in these times; but the fortification
of the city is ruinous, to the degree of which your Majesty is
informed. On the other hand, the location of its settlement is
admirable, for more than half of it extends along the seashore where
it cannot be approached by any enemies; while another part of the
wall is bathed by the river. But on the land side it has a height,
and a location suitable for opening trenches up to the walls. The
latter has no terreplein, and is seven palmos in height. The redoubts
are smaller and have no regularity; on the contrary, the casements of
three cavaliers of the said wall are in the way. The moat is filled
up, and there is scarcely a sign of there having been one. This is
no cause of blame to the past governors, for without doubt much was
done in walling the city; for the only purpose then was to