re had
been those who contradicted this; and therefore the governor should
have no apprehension, and might rest secure.

On the twenty-third of May the three mandarins landed in this city,
with many insignia of justice which they are accustomed to wear in
China, attended by alguacils, executioners, and other officers, with
wands and cords, and receiving much reverence. They had a small box
in which were carried the patents of their offices. While I was on
that day in the company of the governor, all three mandarins came
in to visit him, and we saw them coming from a window. I told the
governor that those mandarins could not be allowed to carry their
insignia of justice; but he answered me that there was nothing worth
notice in that. A short time after this, Pedro Hurtado Desquivel,
clerk of the court of the said royal Audiencia, in behalf of the
auditors thereof told the governor to take notice that he could not
consent that the mandarins should bear the insignia of justice in this
city. He answered in the same manner as he had replied to me. The
mandarins having taken up quarters in houses which were made ready
for them, I had information that they were sending thither Chinese and
flogging them, in form of justice, according to the Chinese usage. This
moved me to enter a petition in regard to it in the royal Audiencia,
demanding that this be stopped. I was ordered to give an information,
and I did so, as fully appears by the copy thereof which accompanies
this. When the governor learned of this, he was much angered at me,
and complained bitterly of me--saying that this proceeding was in
opposition to him; and that I should have first given him an account
of what I wished to petition, which I should have done very willingly
[_illegible in MS._] had I thought it of any use. But as he had seen
what occurred, it appeared to me--with the report of the Audiencia,
and what I had before said to him in regard to the mandarins not
bearing insignia of justice--that any further discussion of the
subject with the governor might be dispensed with, and that it was
my duty to petition as I did. The Audiencia took no action, because
the governor issued an act commanding that the mandarins should not
administer justice, or bear their insignia of chastisement through
the streets. The Audiencia commanded that this act be joined with the
information which I had given, and the mandarins went back to their
own country. As it appeared to me