nnot be adjudged by the
alcaldes-in-ordinary; and if we had a lawyer for a lieutenant-governor,
as we used to have before the said Audiencia was established, that
is sufficient for business--which would be despatched with less
difficulty, and without the Audiencia being missed; for when there
is any suit of importance, which seldom happens, appeal can be made
to the Audiencia of Mexico, as was formerly done.

It must be taken into consideration that each auditor or fiscal
brings with him, his household, wife, children, and relatives, who
are drawn by the idea of coming to the Yndias, and has other creatures
and connections; and for one and all of them he must procure aid and
favor so that they may become rich; for this is the aim and intention
with which they come here. Accordingly, although your Majesty has
commanded that the livings and offices of these islands be given to the
old citizens and those deserving of these rewards, the auditors and
their wives bring it about that the said relatives, dependents, and
other persons whom they bring with them are the first to be provided
for. If the governors do not consent to this, the auditors dislike
them, and seek means and expedients whereby the worthy persons to
whom the said offices and livings are given shall not be received
therein. Accordingly the governors, in order not to displease the
auditors, give up their claims and dare not insist upon them.

The said creatures and connections of the said auditors trade and
traffic a great deal in merchandise from China; and the citizens
complain that it is with the auditors' money (their own, or borrowed),
and that with the favor they receive they cause great injury to the
commonwealth, for they take up the whole cargo. They desire to be
preferred therein, and in buying the cloth, and in every other way,
try to take advantage. If the president wishes to remedy this they do
not cease to offer him little annoyances; for the auditors know how to
magnify themselves, in such a manner that they give one to understand
that any one of them is greater than he; and they attain this by
saying that what the president and governor does they can cancel,
and that what the auditors decree has no appeal, recourse, or redress.

This country is not at peace but at war; and it is therefore more
fitting for the time being to attend particularly to military affairs
and to the government, for our defense, than to keep courts of high
justice. For