In another letter of greater length, I have informed your Majesty regarding the affairs of this land, and have requested some things desirable therefor.  What is now presented is as follows: 

On the twenty-fourth of the past month, there came to this port a ship of about one hundred and twenty toneladas.  It was sent by your viceroy of Nueva Espana, but it contained no reenforcements, nor has he yet despatched them.  This country cannot make progress if a year passes without reenforcements, since it depends upon colonists for its settlement and growth.  Moreover, the commerce cannot be increased by sending, from year to year, a ship so small that after the departure of two ships (and one of them more than four hundred toneladas) this year, half of the goods remain in this city for lack of a ship.  Moreover, this settlement is not provided with a doctor or apothecary, who are greatly needed on account of the insalubrious nature of this country.  There was a scarcity of everything except provisions; this fact the royal Audiencia [of Mexico] sent against me, with only false accounts and petty information obtained from the followers of Doctor Francisco de Sande, my predecessor—­whose residencia I had taken, and, as a result thereof, had deprived him of all royal office.  Nevertheless, he was received in that royal Audiencia as auditor; and, as a consequence, persons with grievances may well lose hope of obtaining justice.  It is just that complaints against me as subjecting him to indignities, be heard, and that justice be done in that tribunal; but I also believe that your Majesty will be pleased to guard the dignity of an office as important as mine, and the servant in whom your Majesty has placed so much confidence.  I say this because from Mexico they meddle with my government—­giving me orders as to the corregidors whom I am to keep, and addressing private individuals in regard to the supplies, directing them to keep watch over that matter.  This gives much occasion for those who are here to lose respect for me.  The most serious thing is, that no matter how small the affair may be, they do not listen to me, or to my side of the story.  They impose grave penalties upon me and threaten that I will be obliged to defray the expenses of the judge.  I send some copies of the commands to your Majesty so that the royal council may consider and provide what is most fitting for your royal service.

Moreover, I have heard news in regard to Captain Graviel de Ribera, who was the attorney of this city; he was one of Doctor Sande’s chief enemies, and most accused him in his residencia, as will appear by his own deposition therein.  On the way from here to Mexico, he became an ally and confederate of the said Doctor Sande; and together, with false reports and some witnesses who were tools of the said doctor, they preferred many charges against me in that royal Audiencia.  With these charges the said Grabiel de Ribera went to Espana, without a hearing having