ged to make this decision by the consideration that
it might happen that there might not be left to a governor persons who
are under obligation to him in the country, because he has given to no
one other things than what he has deserved, by which no one considers
himself favored and obliged. And it may be that no one can be found
to go bond for him; and it will not be right that he should have to
remain in the Filipinas on account of not having bonds, if there is
no commission to take his residencia. And this would weigh even more
heavily upon the auditors, who have less power to give favors; and,
when they were promoted by your Majesty, they would be unable to go
to take charge of their places for lack of bonds. Thus they would
remain in this land, exposed to innumerable affronts from those to
whom they had administered justice, which is a thing that your Majesty
ought not to permit to happen to your ministers. Although all these
reasons were sufficient to decide me not to allow this innovation
without a special order from your Majesty, there is, in the present
case of Don Fernando de Silba, another very special consideration,
since he is leaving an encomienda in this country with an income
of four thousand pesos per year. That is the best bond that one
can ask. Consequently, seeing that no detriment was being incurred
in not taking the bonds, I decided the matter by declaring that I
was not judge in this sense. I am sending the copies of the acts to
that royal Council, so that your Majesty may be pleased, after their
examination, to enact what may be considered most fitting, and with
all distinctness, so that there may be no abuses here, and so that
the governors who depart after the entrance of the other governors may
not be harassed. With Don Fernando I have maintained very harmonious
relations during the three years while I kept him here. On the occasion
of this despatch, I have furnished him all the accommodations possible,
assigning him forty toneladas of cargo to carry his goods, household,
and servants. He is a person who is worthy of what favor your Majesty
may show him, and will render excellent service in any employment
that he may hold. [_In the margin_: "Refer it to the fiscal." "It
was referred. Answered on a separate paper."]

_[14.] Erection of the bridge; and how the hospital has been given
the revenue produced by the ferry boat._

The bridge which I began in this city (as I have advised you durin