t
was assigned. In consequence of that power that they possessed, the
accountant tried to take it upon himself to dismiss a clerk without any
agreement with his associates, or the consent of the government. In
fact, he abolished the position. I was informed that it was not for
incompetency, or for any failure of which the clerk had been guilty
in his office, but only for the accountant's own private reasons. He
was ordered to return the man to his place, and to have him serve as
before. The accountant alleged with too unmeasured language that he
and his associates had the authority to dismiss the clerks, since they
were the ones who proposed them. I was advised that it would be better
government, in order to avoid the consequences, for the royal officials
not to propose the clerks whom they had to employ in their offices,
except in the memorial of the person who enters it, petitioning that
they give information of his competency. Accordingly, I so provided;
and therefore, so long as the clerks give satisfaction, it must not be
understood that the royal officials can dismiss them without having
information of demerits understood by the government--which is the
agency to dismiss such men, as it was the one to hire them. [_In the
margin_: "Ascertain what the royal officials write; and, if they have
not written, let them report." "Search was made, and all the papers
on the matter collected, together with those sections and letters
which the royal officials have written."]

[_Sixth point of this letter_]

The accountant has also claimed the right to collect certain fees
which this royal Audiencia assigned some years ago, by a sentence of
examination and review, as a tariff to the clerks of the accountancy,
the factor's office, and the treasury. The accountant lately renewed
the suit, and declared in this Audiencia the one which I have resolved
to send to your royal Council with the evidence. The matter is one of
moment, for the clerks who serve carry the weight of the work of the
accountancy; and as they cannot be maintained with the fees of the
tariff, they charge additional fees, which parties give them in order
to facilitate their business. Nor is it possible for the governors to
avoid that; for it is a matter of importance to the parties themselves
to conceal it, for the sake of their business. If the accountant tries
to take those fees from them, the clerks will have a much greater
reason to accept bribes; else