32.  Great difficulty arises from the governors placing in the city magistracy relatives or dependents of his household, or those of the auditors.  Because a certain ex-governor did that, nothing was enacted in the cabildo that he did not know, and of which he was not informed.  Consequently the cabildo does not proceed with any liberty, nor does any one dare talk with Christian freedom, or defend the community in grave cases.  He petitions your Majesty to order that such persons be disqualified to act as regidors, or as alcaldes or scriveners of cabildo (which has resulted in the same difficulty).

Item:  Your Majesty granted favor to those islands and their inhabitants, so that they might be encouraged to work gold mines of which only the tenth part of the product should be paid for twenty years, which time is about at an end.  He petitions your Majesty to grant that country favor for another twenty years, so that the operation of the mines may be better established.

33.  In regard to the inspection of the Chinese vessels, when they come with their merchandise, your governor appoints an inspector.  The ex-governor was wont to appoint a member of his household.  On that account notable wrongs have been committed; but no one has dared to demand justice against the inspectors, because they are such persons.  He petitions your Majesty to order that this post be filled by one of the alcaldis-in-ordinary—­who, inasmuch as they understand the great importance of conserving that trade, and as it is a matter that grieves them, will show the Chinese good treatment, since it is incumbent upon those officials to consider the interests of their community.

34. Item:  That the trading-ships that navigate to Nueva Espana have sometimes not been despatched, for personal purposes of the former governors, which is to the great injury of your royal treasury and of the citizens, since those ships are the sinews of that community.  He petitions your Majesty to order your governor to prevent such a thing, so that, unless compelled by a very great necessity, the annual despatch be not neglected.

35. Item:  He petitions your Majesty to order your governor not to exclude the regidors of the city from appointments in accordance with their merits, since they derive no profit from the city magistracy, and are serving the community.

36. Item:  He petitions that your Majesty be pleased to order that religious be provided, belonging to the orders there, for there is great need of them

37. Item:  The maintenance of commerce with the Chinese, and the good treatment of those from that nation who dwell in those islands, are of so great importance that that community cannot be maintained without them (as they practice all the trades needed by a city), and it is advisable to treat them well.  But your governor, Don Juan de Silva, after having levied upon them so great a tax as the annual payment