reat
naivete the reasons of its failure, and implored anew that he might be
intrusted with the government of the wide realms which his skill and
the valor of his followers had attached to the Spanish crown.

"While engaged in this business," he writes, "I received
accounts from Vera Cruz of the arrival at that port of a
ship, in which came Christoval de Tapia, smelting inspector
in the island of Hispaniola. The next day I had a letter
from him, informing me that the object of his coming to the
country was to assume the government of it by your majesty's
command, and that he had brought with him his royal
commission, which he should nowhere exhibit until he saw us,
but hoped this would be soon. As, however, the horses he had
brought were affected by the voyage, he was not able to set
out immediately, and begged that we would direct how the
interview should take place, whether by his coming here, or
by my going to the sea-coast.

"As soon as I had received his letter, I answered it, saying
that I was much pleased with his arrival; that no one could
come provided with an order from his majesty to assume the
government of these parts with whom I should be better
pleased, both on account of the acquaintance that existed
between us, and the neighborly intercourse we had enjoyed
together in the island of Hispaniola.

"Tranquillity not being firmly established in this quarter,
and any novelty being likely to estrange the natives, I
begged Father Urrea, who has been present in all my labors,
and who knew well the situation of affairs to the present
moment, and by whose coming your majesty's service has been
promoted, and ourselves benefited by his spiritual teachings
and counsels, to undertake the task of meeting the said
Tapia, and of examining the orders of your majesty. Since he
knew better than any one what the royal interests, as well
as those of this country, required, I requested that he
would give such directions to the said Tapia as he deemed
most proper, from which he knew I would not deviate in the
least degree.

"I made this request in the presence of your majesty's
treasurer, who joined his solicitations to mine. He
accordingly departed for the town of Vera Cruz, where the
said Tapia was; and in order that suitable attentions m