not know any other rich people here than the president and auditors;
and that is the only reason why they object to the tax, to which they
incorrectly give the name of "impost." This it certainly is not, for it
is assessed once only and upon men such as the Peruvians and Mexicans,
who are going away, and will not be obliged to pay it again, even if it
is demanded. It is a great pity, Sire, that the theologians, when they
are not invited and ought not to be invited to do so, meddle thus with
this matter, as they do with everything else which is decreed; and that
they should wish to act in all respects as a superior tribunal. This
they do not only in the interior court of conscience, but with outward
proceedings in the exterior court by excommunications, declarations,
and the taking of measures to stop that which is being done. It is
this disturbance and interference for which in other letters I beg
your Majesty to command a remedy. The ecclesiastical tribunal has
certainly possessed itself and gained the mastery of everything here
to an extraordinary degree; and this is not consistent with exemplary
conduct and life in the clergy. From the bishop down to the humblest
of them, they are as good merchants as the most secular and the
most skilful tradesmen. It is because the two per cent affects and
includes them all, as I have said, that the theological council finds
fault with it, declaring that it is not just. It is fortunate that
they do not directly affirm it to be unjust; but assert that I err
in laying this assessment, which the laws themselves declare shall
be laid for expenditures upon defenses and walls. From this it is
plain that they desire to be jurists and theologians and governors,
and, under pretext of conscience, to embark in and embarrass
everything. Notwithstanding, I have gone on with this tax; and all who
pay it are very well pleased--except, as I say, these long petticoats,
who smart under it. I believe it will amount to something, and a
statement of its value will be enclosed in this report. The best of
all is that, some days before the two per cent was laid, there was a
meeting called at my request, and held in the bishop's house before him
and me and all the regidors of the city. At this meeting were present
all the superiors of all the orders; this matter was discussed, and
it was decided that the tax might lawfully be levied, inasmuch as it
did not exceed two per cent, and was for the public welfar