gley
winepresses which have been conceded to the seminary for orphan
boys. For justification of that, I refer to a section of the letter
which I am writing on this matter in the letter regarding government
affairs, and to the papers which are cited in that letter, which are
clear enough. I know that the opposition shown to this is managed by
Licentiate Marcos Capata, who, as he has but lately been invested with
authority, has been actively engaged in attacking these winepresses,
as he thought that he was performing a great service to the community;
and as it has been made clear that the disadvantages of the matter
are not of the importance that he imagined, he is somewhat piqued. I
beseech your Majesty to consider this point and not to allow any
ill-will to disturb so excellent a work as is the completion of the
seminary for these boys, without any cost to the royal revenues and
without any damage to the community.

_Report on the permission to gamble which is given to the Chinese
during their festival_.

8. The sixth point is that they speak of the permit which is given to
the Sangleys to gamble during the fortnight of their festival. [10]
They allege that it is a pernicious thing for the community. I,
Sire, have been even more strict in this than were my predecessors,
who introduced it at petition of the Sangleys themselves, in order to
keep them quiet and in order to avoid greater troubles, as that nation
is by nature excessively addicted to gambling. It seems conformable
to reason that if they are not permitted to play during the year,
it be conceded to them for their festival, which is the time of their
holidays. Your Majesty has ordered that the infidels be allowed to live
according to their own customs in everything which is not contrary
to natural law, or opposed to the good example of the Christians in
whose land they live. It seems very conformable to law and to good
government to keep these men contented and quiet, and this is being
done. This country cannot get along without infidel Sangleys, for
they are the ones who bring us food from China. Consequently, it is
necessary to allow them to live in their own manner in all things which
are not prejudicial to the faith and to the light of reason. Gaming
is a matter of indifference, and although it is true that, if it be
indulged in to excess, the troubles follow which are experienced in
these Sangleys, yet those troubles are not to be laid to the one who
giv