, asking for
redress of their grievances and improvement of their condition, and
to discuss with your Majesty other matters of greater importance, of
which he will inform you. We beg your Majesty to grant him audience,
and to place entire confidence in a man who acts here with prudence,
circumspection, religious principle, and wise methods--as your Majesty
will understand when you see him in person; we refer your Majesty to
the relation he will give you.

Section 5. Your Majesty did a great favor to this Audiencia and to
the citizens of these islands, by appointing the licentiate Don
Antonio Rivera y Maldonado, who arrived in good health, and has
assumed his office.

Section 6. In this Audiencia, as is usual among all those that are
newly founded, a certain rivalry as to jurisdiction has existed between
the president and auditors, and some differences and discords have
arisen over it; therefore we decided among ourselves to lay the matter
before your Majesty, in order that you may declare and enforce your
pleasure; meanwhile the Audiencia will exercise the duties contested
between them. The trouble is ended, and there is quiet and agreement
among us. We beseech your Majesty to examine the record of proceedings
and acts in this matter, and to declare whether the conferring of
the said offices belongs to the Audiencia, or to the president alone,
in order that our concord may be permanent, and that there shall be
no further occasion for disturbing it; for this condition of peace
is so important for your Majesty's service and the good of the land.

Section 7. As we have before related to your Majesty, ships resort to
these islands from China with merchandise and many supplies, with which
this land is but ill furnished. The fear of customs duties on such
things as provisions and supplies, which are of great bulk, the great
expense in lading, and their small profits here, induce those merchants
to discontinue bringing the above-named articles, substituting others
in their place. Thus there has been a great scarcity of supplies,
and considerable distress in the land. We have seen your Majesty's
decree in which you order us to make a report of the duties imposed
upon the merchants by Don Gonzalo Ronquillo, governor of these islands;
and whether it is expedient to impose heavier duties, or to drop them
altogether. In the meantime, we shall take such measures here as we
consider most necessary for your service. We are ordering