hey seem suitable to your Lordship.
The new settlement of La Hermita and Malate may be all one
administration. Paranaque and Cavite at least can be another; and,
by establishing a house for religious at Cavite, Paranaque and the
tingues ["hills"] may be administered by visit, and also the lowlands
of Tuley and Limbo. In this way there will remain three clergymen who
can minister elsewhere, because [_illegible in MS_.] which is a great
burden. The Augustinian fathers are able to give enough instruction
to [meet (?) _ - illegible in MS_.] their obligation; and they will
accept it and take charge of it without any more alms being given
them. I would save up what is given there, in order to bestow it
somewhere else; for there are so many places where there is need of
it. Moreover, two religious could be taken from Vatan, because there
are four there, and two are sufficient, and there are not enough alms
given for more. Furthermore, Father Leon is a very good speaker; and
the dean, as he wishes to advance him, can employ him in the ministry.
The king's villages in Ylocos are for the most part without religious
instruction; and the Augustinian fathers say that it should be given to
some of them because, as they are new Christians, they do not confess
yet. Thus, if the convents were near, a few might remain alone until
there should be plenty of ministers; since now all that they can do
is to baptize them and prepare them for subsequent confession. It
would not be unsuitable that, for the present, while there is no
greater supply of ministers, one friar should be alone in a house,
since one clergyman is also alone, and is entrusted with the care
of a greater number of souls. Moreover, Father Carvajal is a good
interpreter and could be of use. I beg of your Lordship to insist
that the clergymen who are ministers of religious instruction should
not come and go so many times to Manila--not only on account of the
offenses which they commit, of which there always are some (as your
Lordship might ascertain if you wished to), but also that they may
not impose such burdens on the Indians. This is as much as concerns
the provision of ministers.
I propose the Augustinian fathers to your Lordship because they have
a greater number of religious than the other orders have, and not
because I have any partiality in regard to the orders, as your Lordship
suspects. I do not know on what you found your suspicion unless it be
on the advanta
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