vernment, while
certain proceedings of the Franciscans have scandalized the Spanish
colony. The Augustinians are in need of reform, as their proceedings
are unscrupulous and selfish, and they are trying to usurp the royal
authority among the Indians. Corcuera advises that a coadjutor be
appointed for the aged archbishop Guerrero, and that hereafter no
more friars be made bishops in the islands. The orders have brought
over more religious than the government had allowed them, to which
the governor objects; he also recommends that those who do come
should be procured from Mexico, to save unnecessary expense in their
transportation, and that seculars be preferred to friars. Moreover,
this will provide occupation for the theological students in the
Mexican colleges, who now are set aside, in ecclesiastical appointments
there, for the friars. The governor appeals to the king for support
in his contest with the friars. In another letter, he recounts the
annoyances which he has experienced with the Dominicans, and asks
for the king's orders therein. Still another is devoted to the recent
difficulties in the Franciscan order, wherein the Observantines have
been trying to oust the discalced friars; Corcuera asks the king
to interpose his influence with the heads of the order in Spain to
check these schemes, and to restrain the arrogance of these friars
in the islands. In a brief letter regarding the Mexican trade of the
islands, the governor urges that the government double the amount
of this trade allowed to the islands. Considerable attention is
given to the Chinese who come to the islands; Corcuera describes
their present location and status, and proposes further imposts on
them in order to replenish the Philippine treasury. He relates the
controversy between the Dominicans and Jesuits over the salary paid to
the Santa Cruz cura from the Parian fund, and his settlement of the
case. Corcuera also proposes the names of several persons from whom
may be chosen a protector for the Chinese residents, and announces
that he has made a temporary appointment for this office. He states
the action that he has taken in regard to certain vacant encomiendas;
and asks that these rewards be more strictly assigned, and that the
large encomiendas be divided into smaller ones.

Another part of this first report of Corcuera concerns administrative
and financial matters. He complains that the royal treasury has been
recruited, and afterward deple