here, so that this so urgent need may be
supplied. [_Marginal note:_ "Have us reminded of this at the time,
if the Society should request it."]

The other orders, those of St. Augustine, St. Dominic, and St. Francis,
experience the same lack of religious. They have their procurators
at that court. Will your Majesty be pleased to have them given
a goodly number of religious, so that they may attend to their
ministries. [_Marginal note_: "Have us reminded in due season."]

The hospitals--of which I am informing your Majesty in a separate
letter--need the efforts of the brethren of [St.] John of God, so that
the sick may be treated as is fitting, and which is the chief object
of those brethren. Hitherto the discalced Franciscan religious of this
province have had charge of their spiritual matters. As that is not
one of their vows, and they do not have charge of temporal matters,
the sick have suffered greatly. Accordingly, should your Majesty
be pleased to send some of those brethren from that country, and to
order them to take charge of the administration of these hospitals,
it would be a very great service to our Lord. [_Marginal note_:
"Observe what is decreed regarding this matter."]

The official investigations that are made in the royal Audiencia
are made with so little secrecy that the parties interested know
the witnesses and their depositions. The same occurs in the letters
of recommendation that are obtained from the cabildos and from some
orders--which the interested party takes to them, made out as they
desire, and only asks for their signatures. These are obtained easily,
whence follow the sinister reports that they give your Majesty, to
the harm of the public welfare. [_Marginal note_: "It is well. Let
us be advised of this on the occasions that arise."]

Although this royal Audiencia by right should attend the principal
feasts at the cathedral, they have not done so; nor have I seen them
attend in a body since I took up the government of this church--now
upwards of a year--except once only. That was on St. Andrew's day,
when a prayer was made for the coming of the ships from Mexico. I do
not know whether the reason has been the want of harmony between the
governor and the auditors, or because the governor's wife took a seat
beside her husband--a thing that has never been practiced in this city
in the time of the former governors. Will your Majesty decide what
should be done in this matter, as the govern