rote to your Majesty that, in my opinion, it was
not time to dispose of them, and that they would bring but little if
offered at auction; but that, if anyone would buy them at a reasonable
price, I would sell them. This I did, and in order to enhance their
value at the sale, I announced that the offices could be renounced and
sold by paying to your Majesty the third part of the price they were
worth. As the offices of notary have been sold, will your Majesty
be pleased to provide that this condition be observed; or, if not,
that the price be returned to them and the offices be sold without
this condition--as the perquisites and influence of these offices are
held in such esteem in this land, that they have risen to very good
prices. The bids for the first of the magistracies that were commanded
to be sold closed at one thousand two hundred and fifty-one pesos;
and for the second, third, fourth, and fifth, at two thousand eight
hundred. The four offices of notary-public of this city brought two
thousand eight hundred and eighty pesos, at seven hundred and twenty
pesos each. That of the province of Panpanga brought one thousand;
of Oton, one thousand six hundred and twenty; that of the city and
province of Cubu, five hundred and sixty; of Ylocos, three hundred
pesos; and that of Bombon, two hundred and sixty-two pesos. The other
magistracies and offices of notary-public which were offered at auction
did not bring so high a price, as the stubbornness and competitions
which had caused the offices to rise so in value had ceased. For
this reason the remaining magistracies and offices of notary-public
have not been sold. I shall give an account to your Majesty, later,
of whatever is done with regard to them, and the sum they bring will
be placed in the royal treasury as soon as it is collected. [_Marginal
note_: "Write to the governor that, in what refers to the offices of
regidor, it is not expedient that there be the condition permitting
them to renounce the offices. The sales must be made in the usual
way. As regards the notarial offices, what has been done is approved."]

On this route to Nueva Espana your Majesty has four ships, and the
new one that has just been finished, and which makes the voyage this
year. Of these, the viceroy of Nueva Espana sold the ship "San Martin,"
to make the voyage to Macan, where it was wrecked and burned by the
Chinese. Another was taken by the English corsair, as I reported to
your Majesty;