nor's purpose this city interposed with objections, and
presented a petition that it might not be sold but might be given
as a grant. The basis of their contention was that your Majesty had
commanded in one section of the instructions given to Gomez Perez as
to the sale of clerical offices that they should be thus managed,
and should be given as grants to the well-deserving. It was urged
that this should be understood of all such offices, not only of
government but of the court of the Audiencia. I opposed the city,
and found a special decree to the effect that these two offices should
be sold. This decree was issued in the time of the former Audiencia,
and in conformity with it this office was sold. Alleging that the
said Ordas, although he had already received that grant, renounced
it so that the office might be sold, and a way be found for meeting
urgent necessities, I succeeded in effecting the sale, which was made
for seventeen thousand pesos to Gaspar Albares, who paid down that
sum, with which many matters were attended to. It was distributed
in accordance with the decision of the Audiencia in meeting the most
important demands, and especially in paying for the building of the
said vessel, which would otherwise have been impossible. I also brought
forward the argument (which I refer to your Majesty) that an office
of such value is a very large grant in these islands; while those
who are entitled to receive favors--that is to say, soldiers--are not
fitted for such offices. I add that your Majesty is very poor here,
and needs to take advantage of all resources. Thus your Majesty will
command that which will be most to your service; for all these measures
have been taken on condition of receiving your Majesty's approval.

Among the irregularities which I discovered was the following. Although
your Majesty has commanded that clerical offices shall not be resigned
more than once, and that the resignations shall be confirmed within a
limited time, still, of four public notaryships which are in existence
here, three have been resigned three or four times, without receiving
any confirmation; but from the sales and resignations it has been
customary to place a third part in the royal treasury. I entered
an action to have them declared vacant; and after having carefully
considered the question, I found that if they were to be granted as
a royal bounty, and then were vacated, your treasury would be the
loser by being obliged