The accounts of your royal exchequer have been audited this year, and are being sent with everything clearly expressed.  The entire accounts are set forth and the data in detail, each class by itself.  Because the gold was very cheap this year, on account of the great lack of coin, some uneasiness was felt for your royal exchequer.  Its income has not reached the value of last year, although your Majesty’s gold has been more valuable than that of private persons, because it had to be distributed in various payments.  If it were possible for your Majesty’s royal treasury to keep the gold and sell it at the coming of the ships, there would be considerable profit.  However, as the gold is being constantly needed, and there is nothing else with which to meet the salaries and other necessary obligations, it is, when there is a lack of coin, distributed at the common value—­although, as I have said before, a somewhat higher value is given to your Majesty’s gold.  If, as I have written in other letters, your Majesty would be pleased to command forty or fifty thousand pesos to be brought every year from Nueva Espana to the royal treasury of these islands, returning thence the value thereof in gold, it would give the greatest relief to this treasury and profit to your royal exchequer; for twenty-five thousand pesos in gold, at the price at which it is given in tribute by the Indians, would amount to fifty thousand in Nueva Espana.  This could be done very easily, if your Majesty would assume the risk of the transportation of the money and the return of the gold.  As a result, your royal treasury could in a short time be free from obligations, and could aid in the maintenance of this kingdom. [Marginal note:  “Abstract this clause, and send it to the viceroy of Nueva Espana.”]

By virtue of your royal decree received by your governor in the past year, concerning the sale of the magistracies and offices of notary, by order of your said governor the following offices were sold, in the usual manner of selling your royal property:  Four public notaryships in this city, at eight hundred pesos each; the notarial office of Panpanga, at one thousand pesos; that of the province of Pintados, at one thousand seven hundred pesos; that of Cebu, at six hundred; that of Bombon, at three hundred; that of Ylocos, at three hundred; that of Camarines is set at six hundred, and has not been adjudged to a bidder.  These offices were sold with some inducements, in order that there should be more bidding.  Of ten magistracies which were placed at auction, five were sold—­the first at one thousand four hundred pesos, the second at nine hundred, the third at a thousand, the fourth at one thousand two hundred, and the fifth at nine hundred and ten.  The others are left to be auctioned upon the arrival of the ship from Nueva Espana.  To increase the value of the offices sold, there were also admitted some bonuses, after payment of which, I understand, the offices will clear fifteen thousand pesos more or less.  That the magistracies might have more value to meet the present necessities, your said governor commanded that they be sold with the condition that the owners thereof could renounce them by depositing in your royal treasury the third of the value, as is done with the offices of clerks.  Should your Majesty confirm this, it will be of much profit to your royal exchequer.