esulted from those who
despatched those ships not paying attention to what their commanders
asked, while they supply them at times with what they do not need or
request; and other things those persons furnish at their own pleasure,
with no care whatever except for the bulk and lump--obliging the
masters to receive them on faith, and even on appearances, according to
what is observed here. Those who have made those voyages think strongly
that the standards of measure there should be somewhat less. I hope
for a reform in all this, through the good management and zeal of
the viceroy, and that he will set a limit to what those who attend
to these despatches at the port of Acapulco have done--as also to the
vexation and trouble caused to the sailors and workmen of those ships
by examining so minutely the wretched belongings that they carry in
their little chests, and by treating them with more severity in this
than appears advisable for men so necessary and who work so hard.

[_Marginal note_: "In the letters that were written you, in the next
to the last and the last despatch before this one, that discussed
this reform and the avoidance of expenses which were made and caused
in Nueva Espana for those reenforcements, you were directed to try
to give special and minute information as to what you have there,
and of its cost; and advised that, if prices are so much more
advantageous than those of Nueva Espana, those expenses might be
avoided. The same thing has been written to the viceroy, while the
royal officials there [_i.e._, in Filipinas] have been notified to
send a detailed report of the matters of that sort [in which expense]
could be avoided. If that has not been done, you shall do it; and
with it those in whose charge are the despatch and provision of
the ships and the supplies, shall be convinced, and the losses and
expenses repaired. Since you have abundance of all kinds of rigging
and sea-stores, and they are obtained so advantageously in the ports
and regions of your archipelago, provision shall be made only in the
smaller firearms--that is, outside the _situado_. And inasmuch as
the Council should have the information that is desirable in regard
to these matters, you shall always send us a copy of what you write
upon them to the viceroy and royal officials, so that observance of
what is enacted in this regard may be demanded from here, and that
the account may be somewhat better regulated. The other things that