who write
this letter complain because they have been unjustly treated in their
efforts to improve this condition of affairs; they ask for redress,
and for the abolition of the royal Audiencia. A letter from the cabildo
(municipal council) of Manila commends Sanchez as their envoy to the
king. They complain that the Audiencia "cannot be maintained here
without the total destruction of the state," which cannot bear the
burden of this expense; and ask that it be abolished. They ask for a
garrison of three hundred paid troops, and the grant of an encomienda
to the city of Manila. They complain of the losses inflicted not only
upon the merchants of that city, but upon the colonial government, by
the trade which Mexican merchants carry on through the port of Manila
with the Chinese; and demand that this traffic be restricted to the
citizens of the islands. They ask the king to see that more friars
be sent out, both Augustinians and Franciscans. The cabildo recommend
that the archdeacon Juan de Bivero receive from the king some reward
for his hitherto unrecompensed services in the Philippines. On the
same day Antonio Sedeno, rector of the Jesuits at Manila, writes a
letter commending Sanchez for this present embassy, and recounting
his past services to the Philippine colony. On June 26 Bishop Salazar
writes a short letter, regarding some points outside of Sanchez's
commission. One of these concerns the respective precedence of
the bishop and the Audiencia on public occasions. The bishop also
describes the quarrels between the president and auditors of the
Audiencia, and his success in reconciling these differences. He has
delivered, although against his better judgment, certain prisoners
to the Inquisition, in obedience to a royal decree. A letter from the
Audiencia of the Philippines to the king (dated June 26), recommends
an increase in the rate of tribute paid by the Indians; the money
thus obtained could be used to pay the soldiers, which would greatly
improve the standard of military service in the islands. The colonial
treasury is greatly embarrassed by heavy expenses, and the salaries of
the Audiencia would better be paid from Mexico; then the encomiendas of
Indians now taxed for that expense could be assigned to the soldiers
who have so long been serving in the Philippines without pay. The
king is asked to make an annual appropriation for the military and
marine expenses of the islands. Father Sanchez is recommended b