-which
will be of great importance, help, and benefit to the necessities of
poor and needy women who have not wherewithal to care for themselves
in their sicknesses. It must be no little that they suffer in these
regions for lack thereof, and because of their poverty; for even in
health there is no little to be undergone, and many are the evils
and misfortunes which may result from the lack of this provision.

The provincial and Order of St. Francis having discussed and considered
this matter hesitate about it because the distance between the hospital
and their monastery makes it inconvenient to keep religious in the
former; but as for me, my judgment is that, as they have religious
who have to go even further away in the work of instruction, they can
keep them here; and that there is no lack of religious who know the
language, for the work of conversion. Hence, although there will be
some inconveniences, they will not be serious and important; and it
seems best to overlook them, and to take account of the advantages
hoped for from this work and to be expected of it, which are not few,
or of small value and importance.

The deputies and Confraternity of La Misericordia were inclined to
accept the suggestion, and to undertake the administration of the
royal hospital jointly with that of the slaves' hospital; and the
same guardian of the Order of St. Francis, before the adoption of
the resolution above mentioned, approved it. In conference with the
deputies with regard to the effect of it, he hesitated on one or
two points. One of special importance was the question whether the
expense was to be in common, and whether the expense for the slaves
was to be paid out of the income of the hospital, and that for the
Spaniards, in consequence, out of the alms of the Confraternity
of La Misericordia. Although he made some doubt and scruple to me
personally as to paying for the slaves, to whom his superiors owed
the duty of support (although God knows how it was incurred) out of
the funds destined for the poor Spaniards, yet on the whole he said,
with my approval, that in the interim before your Majesty should be
advised of the whole matter, everything should be paid for by accounts
kept separately for the royal hospital and by consequence for that
of the slaves likewise--as used to be done and as is done still;
so that they are not connected, though the connection is desired
because of the known advantages of it. But the greate