rivate encomiendas, for it is the duty of the encomenderos to
provide the wine.

Orders were given that for just reasons, and for the welfare and
preservation of that commonwealth, the governors your predecessors
were to name and appoint a certain number of regidors from trustworthy
men; but I have been told that the said governors have, through bribes
and other means, appointed to these offices certain persons who have
not the requisite and desirable qualifications therefor. I therefore
charge and command you to make a thorough investigation of the matter,
and to remove the regidors whom you find to have been appointed through
questionable means, or who are unfit for the office. You will replace
them with men possessing the necessary character and ability. Let
there be only eight regidors, which seems to be a sufficient number
for a city of that population. You will inform me of the men whom
you appoint, and of their qualities.

By a clause of the ordinance establishing the Audiencia there, it
is provided that its president and two auditors at the beginning of
every year audit the accounts of the officials of my royal exchequer,
and settle them in the course of two months, for this allowing each
auditor twenty-five thousand maravedis. This was done also in the
time of the previous Audiencia, and an accountant was appointed
who received another fifty thousand maravedis. I have learned that
afterward Governor Gomez Perez Dasmarinas, without any orders,
created for that purpose a position of accountant-in-ordinary, with
a salary of five hundred pesos, and a secretary with two hundred
and fifty pesos. This could have have been avoided by pursuing the
former method, with no other expense than the said hundred thousand
maravedis. It has seemed best to me to refer this matter to you,
as I do, in order that you may examine it and apply such remedy as
you think best. You will inform me of the steps you take in the matter.

I understand that the office of clerk of the regimiento in Manila has
been filled by the secretaries of the governors, and that on this
account justice is no longer sought for certain injuries inflicted
not only on the Chinese but on the citizens. I also learn that it
would be best to sell this office to a person who is not a servant
or a relative of the governors. Since it is not befitting that this
office should be filled by any secretary or follower of yours, or of
an auditor or an official of the Audie