, rich, and powerful--where, with but
little difficulty, God willing, His Divine Majesty can be so exalted,
recognized, and magnified, and your Majesty served. Thus considering
the greatness, natural advantages and opportunities which God has
given to affairs here, together with other things, I am prompted to
write to your Majesty of the great importance of this garrison and
post. I do not say this in undue exaggeration but with sincere love
and desire that your Majesty may esteem, recognize, and know it for
such, and provide and appoint for it a person of the requisite valor,
Christianity, sufficiency, and talents, demanded by the greatness and
importance of affairs here at this time, and which each day may be
presented in their full import. God has provided these things here,
and perhaps some of them are reserved for the happy days and times of
your Majesty, so that even in this life you may enjoy the reward of
the height to which your Majesty has procured and advanced His glory,
honor, and service, and in the life hereafter the greater rewards
and crown. In resuming discussion of the expedition to Canboja, I
will say that I find myself ill-prepared for it; for I should like,
considering the great import it may have, more resources and force for
it than I have at present. For, if God should be pleased to grant the
success hoped for at this time in regard to this kingdom, the effort
would be lost, as affairs would take shape and increase in extent;
and because a sufficient number of troops could not remain from the
first in the kingdom and land of Canboja, who could, in any event,
sustain themselves in that post, until your Majesty should be pleased
to reenforce them and assure its safety. But I desire this most
earnestly for I foresee and desire the great blessings and benefits,
and the spiritual and temporal advancements, which may be increased
and hoped for. Likewise, because the voyage thither is but short,
we can send help and reenforcements twice a year, and maintain there
a moderate force and garrison. Moreover, if this friendship with the
king is brought about, many greater and more important undertakings
will follow, which can be attempted, attained, and expected to follow,
with the aid of His Divine Majesty. Therefore I have had the boldness
and audacity to be so prolix, and to beg your Majesty to have the
goodness to provide that if perchance this effort is not successful
now, this peace, friendship, and unde