15.  By an ordinance of this royal Audiencia the president and two auditors thereof are commanded to audit, at the beginning of each year, the accounts of the royal officials, and to finish them in two months, with the additional amount, for expenses, of twenty-five thousand maravedis for each auditor.  In the time of the former royal Audiencia this was done; and they named an accountant each year, to whom they gave fifty thousand maravedis beside.  Since that time, what has happened is as follows:  Governor Gomez Perez Dasmarinas, at the beginning of the year ninety-five, without an order from your Majesty, created an accountant-in-ordinary of accounts for this purpose, with a salary of five hundred pesos, and a secretary with two hundred and fifty pesos, for which they were to secure the approval of your Majesty—­which they have not done in the past.  The accounts were audited in two months—­or at the most, in three.  Accordingly it is not necessary, for so small an account as we have here, to incur a thousand pesos of expense each year to audit them.  It could be done for a hundred thousand maravedis, as was formerly done.  Your Majesty will command in this as is most fitting for the royal service.

[In the margin:  “Send this to the new governor, that he may examine into and adjust the matter as appears best to him, and advise us of what action he takes.”]

16 The office of secretary of the cabildo has been given by the governors to whom they thought best.  In this way they learn what goes on in the cabildo, which is a great evil.  It would be better to have this sold; and accordingly, he who held it—­being a proprietor, and one who could not be removed during good behavior—­would be free to remain silent.

[In the margin:  “Let the governor and Audiencia investigate this.”]

17.  The office of secretary of the registries has been held by the secretaries of the governors.  As a result of this, claims for justice have been relinquished in several grievances of great importance, to the loss both of the Chinese who come to trade here, and of the citizens of the city.  It would be well to sell this office, under condition that he who buys it cannot be the secretary or in any wise the servant of the governor at that time acting.  As Rroque Espino de Caceres, who is serving it at present, has begged for your Majesty’s confirmation, and is a person worthy of it, as appears from the informations made in this royal Audiencia, in its opinion this favor might be extended to him, as he seeks it, with the said condition, and with that of a moderate price for the royal treasury.

[In the margin:  “Tell the new governor that it is not expedient that this office should be held by a secretary or servant of the governor, or a subordinate of the auditors and ministers of the Audiencia; and that from worthy persons there he shall appoint three, in whom he believes is found the necessary ability for this office, so that his Majesty may select the one who may seem best to him.  In the meantime let him appoint as best he can, and without inconvenience.”]