[In the margin:  “A person shall be named by the lord president of the Audiencia to investigate these officials; and the governor shall name, with the consent of the investigator, an accountant to examine the accounts.”]

13.  Your Majesty commanded by a decree that the office of treasurer of the royal exchequer of these islands be abolished, as it entails no duties whatever, and the two offices of factor and accountant are sufficient; accordingly, the duties of the treasurer were performed by the factor.  On account of the death of Juan Baptista Rroman, who exercised these offices, your Majesty again appointed to the said office of treasurer Captain Hernando Davila.  So far as I know, your Majesty was not made aware that a command had been issued to abolish it, since no mention of that is made in the commission of Captain Hernando Davila.  The office is a superfluous one, and, as I say, has no duties; for everything which has to be done here pertains to the offices of factor and accountant.  It would be well, if your Majesty is so pleased, to command that when this office of treasurer shall become vacant, in whatever manner, no other person shall be appointed to it; but that it shall be merged with that of the factor, as was formerly done.  In this way the royal treasury will be relieved from paying two thousand pesos, which the said treasurer draws as a salary.

[In the margin:  “Let the new governor inform us concerning this.”]

Governor Gomez Perez Dasmarinas established a monopoly on cards, so that the proceeds therefrom could be used to fortify this city; and the cabildo of the city collected that, along with the rest of its property, and expended it in other matters, and not in that for which it was imposed.  Accordingly, in this tax, as well as in the administration of the said monopoly, there have been interests of great importance for those who had the power in this community, as will be evident when it is inspected and investigated.  For three years past nothing of importance has been done on the wall, although there were many places which needed repairing and finishing, which would be a great detriment and danger in time of war.  It would likewise be well to send a warrant to make investigations and audit accounts, concerning both the said monopoly and the other properties of the city.

[In the margin:  “Let the person who is charged with the residencia of the governor be entrusted with that of the cabildo, and see that that is taken and an account of everything.  He shall give an account to the governor of all which results from this, and of the amount of this impost, so that it may be converted to the use for which it was imposed.”]