with the decision of the Audiencia in meeting the most important demands, and especially in paying for the building of the said vessel, which would otherwise have been impossible.  I also brought forward the argument (which I refer to your Majesty) that an office of such value is a very large grant in these islands; while those who are entitled to receive favors—­that is to say, soldiers—­are not fitted for such offices.  I add that your Majesty is very poor here, and needs to take advantage of all resources.  Thus your Majesty will command that which will be most to your service; for all these measures have been taken on condition of receiving your Majesty’s approval.

Among the irregularities which I discovered was the following.  Although your Majesty has commanded that clerical offices shall not be resigned more than once, and that the resignations shall be confirmed within a limited time, still, of four public notaryships which are in existence here, three have been resigned three or four times, without receiving any confirmation; but from the sales and resignations it has been customary to place a third part in the royal treasury.  I entered an action to have them declared vacant; and after having carefully considered the question, I found that if they were to be granted as a royal bounty, and then were vacated, your treasury would be the loser by being obliged to return the thirds which it had received.  On this basis, it is better that things should continue as they are.  I have arranged that if they should be vacated they may be sold; for the demands upon the treasury are many.  If this plan shall receive your approbation I shall bring the cases to a conclusion; if not, I shall suspend them until your Majesty gives such commands as are most for the good of your service.  When these notaryships have been resigned they have brought eight hundred pesos, and latterly one thousand two hundred.  They are now worth more than three thousand, so that with a single one it would be possible to pay everything due for the thirds on all.  This will remedy something of the much which requires remedy.  The same thing can be done with the clerkships of registry, which will be worth more than eight thousand; and with those of probate and of the estates of deceased persons, which will be worth another good sum; and they have all been given for nothing.

It has been very unfortunate that the funds which your Majesty has commanded and decreed to be set aside for special objects have been employed for other purposes.  This has been especially the case with the fund for prebends and for the payment of troops, which should be performed with the utmost regularity.  I have done all I could to put this in order; but since the current from the past was very strong it was impossible to accomplish my purpose.  The reason given was that one fund ought to aid another.  The evils resulting are serious; for both ecclesiastics and soldiers perform their service, and all they get is