ent for your Majesty's service. In conformity
therewith and in due form, acts of obedience were rendered; and, in
some points which appear to me to demand more detailed explanation
than was given in that general answer, I will furnish it.

As to what your Majesty wrote to the Marques de Guadalcaxar, [21]
former viceroy of Nueva Spana, in regard to [the statement] that on
the ship "San Nicolas" three hundred and thirty persons died on account
of its late departure from these islands, all that I can say is that,
since a person of his position and character undertook to write it,
he should certainly have first informed himself thoroughly in the
matter. Although I was present at the despatching of this ship and
went out with it well outside of Cavite, it did not appear to me that,
in regard to the people who were going, the ship was carrying half [of
its quota]; for at most there are accustomed to go with the officers
usually seventy seamen and gunners, more or less, according to the
tonnage of the ships, although the number mentioned is for a ship
of very large tonnage. With these there usually go as many more,
Indians from this country, as common seamen, and some slaves that
the said officers and the passengers are allowed to take with them
for their service, paying the duties which are usually paid to your
Majesty. The passengers are usually kept down to as small a number as
possible; and if so many died as is affirmed in the supposed relation,
they were not Spaniards, because of these not many died. They must
have been negroes and slaves, who were hidden after embarkation by
those who took them aboard, with an eye to the great gain which there
usually is in this, by saving the cost and the duties that they owe,
when the royal officials at Acapulco are friends of theirs, or those
who thus convey slaves are of the household of the viceroy. [22]

In so far as concerns their departure, the regulation of that is
not at present in the power of the governor of these islands; for
the enemy are accustomed to come hither, as has been evident during
the little more than three years while I have been here; they have
come twice, and I am likewise expecting them now--and always with
at least twice the fleet and troops that we have. Every day they are
gaining more strength, as is seen by the presence of so many of them
on this coast. The ships from China do not come, and it is with their
merchandise that our ships must go to Nueva Sp