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As soon as I arrived in this city, I began proceedings in the residencia, and the examination of accounts, according to your Majesty’s commands.  Duplicates of the report were sent in the ship “Santiago” and also in the ship “San Phelipe,” which were unfortunately lost.  In the ship “San Juan” will now be despatched the duplicates, as your Majesty will note in the letter to the viceroy.  There is also sent an account of everything else which has been done in regard to the officials.  I made all possible endeavor in Mexico to obtain instructions and papers regarding their, and I brought only those which I send with the accounts.  They said that there were no others, and the officers of the royal estate declare that they brought no instructions, and never had any.  As your Majesty will see by the accounts there were no books of the treasurer or factor, and consequently none can be despatched with the accounts.  When these officials were asked, they said that they kept no books.  Only the accountant kept a book; but Aldave, who served Guido de Lavazares, had a memorandum-book, which I remit with the accounts.  I have issued orders for every official to keep a book, and to have a common book of the treasury, which is now done.  Moreover, as they said that they had no instructions, I gave them some orders, according to what I believe is necessary, copies of which I send to the royal council.  The officials rendered their accounts, although I have not passed upon some things—­such as accounts which are not certified, the tribute collected, and their salaries.  If they hold some funds which I have not found, I cannot execute what I am commanded to do; although what I have found has been attended to.  For this reason, affairs have been delayed; and in the meantime investigations have been made, and thus many affairs are now sent for the consideration of the royal council.  Some of my instructions, however, cannot be carried out, for lack of funds.

On the occasion of the last investigations, it appears that they reported that they had spent more than they had received; and that the loans and deposits thus due should be placed to the account of the royal treasury.  As their loans were drawn out as salaries, I have not permitted this.

The officials of the royal estate have each furnished bondsmen, who are their securities for two thousand ducats; and they gave them, little [original illegible] because they came from Nueva Espana without furnishing bonds, and, as they say, without instructions; so I have commanded them to find bondsmen for these amounts.  Their sureties are all captains and soldiers, from whom their clothes and weapons cannot be taken away, nor their means of support; there are, moreover, no realty holdings here.  They regard their accounts, however, as adjusted, and have almost obliged me to wait for your Majesty to examine their pleas, so that their misdeeds may be excused.  On this account I am advancing but slowly; and, as our resources for correcting this evil are so inadequate, may your Majesty be pleased to declare his pleasure as soon as possible.