this alcaldia-mayor of Tondo, and let it be served by the two alcaldes-in-ordinary from this city of Manila, each one six months of the year, while the other one is present in this city.  In this way, with the provincial judge, there will be quite sufficient people to administer justice in the civil cases; and in the criminal cases there are the auditors and the said alcalde-in-ordinary.  In this way the salary of the alcalde-mayor of Tondo will be saved, which is now paid from the royal treasury; and this city will consider it as a singular grace and favor.  So likewise will the Indians, for they will be better treated and less annoyed by this form of government; because the man who is appointed to the said alcaldia must make his living from it, and on that account must do things which are illegal—­but, as he is usually a retainer of the governor, the latter shields him in the matter.  This will cease with the alcaldes-in-ordinary, for they perform their duties without any selfish considerations, being always men of honor and rich, who do not seek the offices through greed for money.

In the province of Zubu there used to be only one alcalde-mayor; but about two years ago another was added in the islands of Leyte, Camar, and Babao, which are close to Zubu.  It was done to the great displeasure of the citizens of Santisimo Nombre de Jesus, which was the first city founded and settled in these islands; for the said three islands were under the jurisdiction of the alcalde-mayor resident in the said city, and with the other one they would be greatly annoyed and molested, since most of the citizens who reside in the said city are encomenderos in the said islands of Leyte, Camar, and Babao.  The alcalde-mayor of these islands takes them from the said city and enters suits against them.  He takes them to the said islands as prisoners; and, as they have their property there, and must needs go there every year for the collection of tributes from their encomiendas, they cannot refuse to go; and thus the said alcalde-mayor molests them as encomenderos, and he of Cubu, on the other hand, as citizens.  As this is so, if your Majesty be pleased, the said alcalde-mayor of the said three islands might be removed, and they put under the jurisdiction of the said island of Cubu, whose alcalde-mayor could very well serve all of them.

On the river of Butuan, which is on the confines of this island of Zubu and close to the island of Mindanao, is another corregidor, with a salary of two hundred pesos.  In the island of Calamianes is another corregidor, with the ordinary salary.  In the district of Oton is an alcalde-mayor, with a salary of three hundred pesos.  In Panay is a corregidor, with two hundred pesos salary.  All the alcaldes-mayor and corregidors besides those mentioned should be done away with; and no alcalde-mayor or corregidor should have a deputy except when he is absent, and such deputy should not be given a salary.

[In the margin:  “If there is any reform to be made, have the new governor act therein, and advise us of his action. Idem.  Idem.  Idem in this matter.”]