aken to him. Response on a separate paper."]

_6. That all that has been done in this matter has been with the
approval and assent of the Audiencia, and against my own_.

I never took my pen to sign an act in this matter (upon which all
the Audiencia was unanimous), for they seemed to me the most serious
acts that could arise pro and con in this community. All that I
have executed has been against my own opinion. What I would gladly
have done would be to have four or six alert men to take charge of
the goods of private persons, and have each one administer it as
best he could, without at present trying to oppose the citizens of
Mexico and to deprive them at one stroke of the agencies, and that
would be accomplished gradually. Besides, times becoming better by
buying here cheap, the profits would be greater; and it would be a
good expedient not to send too great a consignment of goods to Nueva
Espana. That would be, and this city would have, some relief without
so much offense to the City of Mexico, which is of no less importance
to the monarchy than this city. [_In the margin_: "Take it to the
fiscal." "It was referred to him. Response in a separate paper."]

7. _How injurious it is to take loans from the inhabitants of this
city_

The havoc wrought by the loans which the inhabitants are forced to
make to the royal treasury, which is now owing them about two hundred
thousand pesos, is not little. The inhabitants have been unable to
invest that money, and hence the deficiency in what they could have
used in trade has embarrassed them with a like shortage in the profits
that they would have made with this sum. Your Majesty ought to have
this matter remedied by ordering the viceroys of Nueva Espana to aid
this treasury with the sum asked for here; for surely such procedure
means the total destruction of these few vassals whom your Majesty
has here in this little commonwealth. If that relief be lacking,
the enemy will have but little to do in making themselves masters of
the South Sea. [_In the margin:_ "That this matter is being discussed
very carefully and that it will be thoroughly examined in order to
give a suitable answer."]

_8. The fresh supply of saltpetre which was brought from Yndia by
the efforts of Don Felipe Mascarenas, captain of Cochin_.

Four galliots have come from Yndia with flour and a certain quantity
of saltpetre, of which we were in great need. The captain of Cochin,
Don Felip