0) by the king regarding various matters that
have been referred to him. Felipe orders that certain offices shall
be sold; that the natives must pay at least part of their tributes
in kind; and that the salaries of the auditors be more promptly
paid. Command is given that war-ships in the islands be no longer
built so large as hitherto, as they are expensive, unwieldy, and in
some circumstances useless. A letter to the auditors gives directions
for the method of procedure in trying certain cases of appeal; and
answers some questions which the auditors had asked. Bishop Arce,
of Cebu, writes to the king (July 31, 1631). He congratulates Felipe
on the birth of a son; comments on some royal decrees just received;
recommends a person as schoolmaster in the Manila church; and advises
the appointment of the royal fiscal as protector of the Sangleys.

Early in 1632 several royal orders are despatched to the colony. In a
letter of January 27, the king writes to Tavora on several matters:
the monopoly of the sale of playing-cards, the sale of offices, and
the salary of the acting archbishop. A decree of March 25, addressed
to the municipal authorities of Manila, warns them to enforce the
royal decrees as to the proper consignment and registration of goods
sent to Mexico; and another, issued on the following day, orders that
secular priests from India be not allowed to go to the Philippines.

The usual report of Governor Tavora (July 8, 1632) is in three
sections, the first devoted to general affairs of government. He
complains that the remittances from Nueva Espana are painfully
inadequate for the needs of the colony and its troops; and that he
needs more soldiers than are sent to the islands. The royal visitor,
Rojas, is doing very careful and thorough work in inspecting the
administration of the colony, but is arrogating to himself too much
authority in regard to the expenditure of public moneys; accordingly,
Tavora appeals to the king against some of Rojas's decisions, and
argues for allowing a reasonable amount of liberty in this matter
to the governor and Audiencia. This is especially necessary because
the colony has so many enemies that it must always be in a state
of defense, and its people cannot wait to receive royal orders when
an enemy is at their gates. A controversy between the royal and the
municipal officials regarding their respective rights of precedence
has been duly settled. The relations between Manila and J