In these Philipinas your Majesty has some Spanish settlements; and in this city of Manila, the capital, and in the others, are usually about seven hundred men, and sometimes as many as eight hundred.  Although your Majesty has ordained that reenforcements should be sent annually from Nueva Spana, that has not been done; and, even when soldiers are sent, there are but few.  And as, after their arrival here, they have no pay or any means of gain, they suffer great hunger and privation, and cannot endure more than the dry season.  As this country is so unhealthful, and the climate so trying, most of them die, while others desert; and it is not in our power to remedy the evil.  I beseech your Majesty to be so good, if this kingdom—­as being a gateway, so important for the gospel and the Christian religion, to so great and powerful kingdoms—­is to be extended and increased, to order the viceroy of Nueva Spana to send every year, conformably to his orders, the troops, supplies, and arms requested by the governor of these islands.  Will your Majesty also command that food and sustenance be provided for the soldiers, for their sufferings are most pitiful.

In another letter, I have informed your Majesty of the deep affliction and pressing need in which I found this city, because all the houses and property had been destroyed by fire, not even the fortifications escaping.  On account of the constant danger from fire, because the buildings were being constructed of wood and bamboo, thatched with straw, and because many quarries and much limestone had been discovered, which is brought down the river, I forbade that any houses should be built of other material than stone, since this could be done at a very slight expense.  I ordered roof-tiles and bricks to be made; and now many substantial and handsome houses are being constructed of stone.  The natives have assisted no little in this, for most of them have been set to work in the quarries.  According to the promptness exercised by the citizens, I trust, God helping, that, in ten years, the city will be built entirely of stone, for from two stone houses here the number has increased to twenty large houses, besides a monastery; and a considerable number of buildings, very substantial and well planned, are at present in course of construction.

This city is located on a narrow piece of land, between the sea on one side and a river of considerable size, which flows through part of the city, on the other; while on another side is a swamp or morass.  On the side fronting the sea is a handsome beach, extending two leagues to the port of Cavite, where lie the vessels of the Nueva Spana line.  Where the river enters the sea, the land forms a point, upon which is built a very small and dilapidated wooden fort.  Neither on the seacoast nor in any other part was there any defense.  On this account, in view of our danger, I resolved to set about fortifying the city, although the poverty of the city and of your royal treasury