I had given orders that, when any ship should come from the islands, it should reconnoiter the coast of China on the way, in order that more information of the land and its commerce might be obtained.  I gave your Majesty an account of this before the step was taken; and I likewise enclosed the instructions concerning the procedure, which I thought should be observed.  General Miguel Lopez had ordered that it should be adhered to; but when he died, it appeared to Guido de Labezarii to be a dangerous enterprise on account of the coast being unfamiliar and unknown, as well as a region where our ships might fall in with Portuguese or other people.  This is a fact, but nothing of importance can be done without danger.  Still we shall postpone the carrying out of this until your Majesty shall arrange matters concerning that land; and the person who manages affairs there will make all suitable provision, since he will have more information upon the subject.

As I have already written your Majesty, there is a lack of artillery here, for those islands take it all—­so that I have no artillery for a ship which I am now despatching, and which was built in the port of Acapulco; and I shall have to take some of that brought by the other vessels coming here.  In future, will your Majesty kindly order some to be sent both for an emergency like this, and for these royal settlements?

Together with this ship, I will endeavor to send one of those that have arrived here which may be repaired; and in them I wish to send all the people able to go—­a number not in excess of one hundred and eighty men—­and some munitions.  The flagship, which is of larger tonnage, will be repaired and put into shape, for it is in bad condition; as well as another ship which was to sail thence within twenty days.  Afterward, the vessels will remain, in order that they may go from here in a year, and take more people with them.  Meanwhile, your Majesty will have time to make such provision as you think best.

The rigging which is bought here is that conveyed by the ships from Espana, and is very costly and very inferior in quality; but nothing else can be done.  I beg your Majesty, therefore, to send from yonder a large quantity of rigging, both small and cable size, for ships of small tonnage and for larger vessels (provided your Majesty think it is well to do so).  Please have sent also a lot of canvas.  Your Majesty will have to order the officials to make selection of both, and to see that it is very good; or else let them send to Vilbao [Bilbao] where they say the best rigging is made, and at the most reasonable prices.  This must come, moreover, with the fleet, if it is to be utilized by these ships.

The accountant Melchor de Legazpi, on hearing of the death of his father, wished to go to throw himself at your Majesty’s feet, in order to beg you to remember his father’s services, and how he had died in your royal service; and he had for this purpose sold his property, and was poor and even not free from debt.  However, I prevented him from going, by telling him to write to your Majesty, and recall his father’s services to your Majesty.  Certainly, from the accounts I have received, his father did perform such services; and I understand that he was a good man, and served with all possible loyalty.