ll be had of the occurrences in Portugal. They will bring back
a report of everything which has been learned there of affairs,
even to the defeat of the Infante Don Antonio. I realize that it
is necessary to be diligent in order to effect the desired ends,
or that at least I shall be informed of the conditions there, and
the forces with which the Portuguese are supplied.

The governors who have been here have used no system in making
disbursements from the royal exchequer. They have followed the plan
of spending as they saw fit and convenient to your Majesty's royal
service. I have continued in the same way because in no other manner
would it be possible to support it or make advancement. The expenses
here are for the most part extraordinary, and of small sums, as the
royal exchequer cannot allow more owing to its limited resources,
as I have already said. For expenses of considerable sums, as those
incurred in despatching fleets for our settlements, against pirates,
and in paying the salaries of corregidors and alcaldes-mayor,
the officials ask me to request an order from your Majesty. I
have no other way of complying with the obligations of your royal
service. Will your Majesty please to have an order sent me, in order
that when I consider it convenient for your royal service, I may
make payments from the royal treasury? It is not possible otherwise
to maintain your royal service. The total expenditure is but slight,
and is watched and regulated with all care.

There are several men, newly-arrived in this country, who are always
writing advices and opinions in respect to the aforesaid matter
and others. It would be best for the royal service that the decrees
despatched therefor be sent submitted to the consideration of the
governor. As we are so far away it is right, _ceteris paribus_,
in order to insure progress, that confidence be placed in the governor.

By other letters, I have already given advices of the imposition of
three per cent as duties on both importations and exportations of the
merchandise of both Spaniards and Chinese. A freight charge of twelve
pesos per tonelada is also imposed. Considering their large profits,
these duties are very moderate. For this reason, and because the
instructions brought by the adelantado Legaspi decreed the collection
of five per cent from the people of this country and seven from
the merchants of Mexico, and as the collection at that rate cannot,
in good conscience, be t