away with the ship and its cargo.  The Jesuits secure a new supply of food for their mission, by soliciting alms.  The islands still suffer from the depredations of the Moro pirates.  The writer describes the special festivities in honor of the Virgin Mary, and the martyrdom of some missionaries in Japan.  He then proceeds to relate the particulars of the murder of the Augustinian provincial, Vicente Sepulveda, by some of his own friars, and the punishment of the criminals.  A postscript to this letter states that the ships sent to Ternate with supplies had been attacked by the Dutch; and part of the crew were killed and wounded, and much of the food lost.  Other supplies, however, have been sent to Ternate from India.  The prince of Tidore has become hostile to the Dutch.  One Sequeira makes an unsuccessful voyage, and dies in Cochin.  The new governor of the Philippines arrives at Manila in July, 1618.

Of nearly the same date is a descriptive account of the Philippine Islands, their inhabitants, government, products, etc.—­including a statement of the number of Indian tributes in each island, which amount in all to 160,000.  The writer notes various matters relating to the interests and social condition of the Spanish colony, especially the need of vigorous measures to punish the Moro pirates, who continually harass the Pintados.

Pedro de Heredia, a Spanish official in the Moluccas, furnishes to the king (1618) a list of the Dutch factories and forts in the Orient; from this, and the value of the products annually exported thence, it is evident that the Dutch have gained an extensive footing and prestige in the Far East, together with rich profits, while the Spaniards have lost the best part of their former commerce there.  The king is urged to consider these matters, and take measures to remedy the present state of affairs.

A former steward of the royal hospital at Manila memorializes the Council of the Indias (1618) regarding the losses incurred by that institution through the mismanagement of its funds; and various orders conducive to the improvement of the hospital are thereupon given by the Council.

Soon after his arrival in the islands the new governor, Alonso Fajardo de Tenza, writes to the king (August 10, 1618) regarding the state of affairs there.  He finds the colony suffering from various recent disasters, and much fear and uncertainty among the people.  He implores aid from the king to maintain the Philippine colony and defend it from its enemies.  He is endeavoring to make the most of his scanty naval torce, in the face of news that hostile fleets are coming to attack the islands; and has sent to Nueva Espana to ask for reenforcements and supplies.  His predecessor, Geronimo de Silva, desires to go to Spain; but the Audiencia orders an investigation of his official conduct, especially in regard to the loss of the galleons.  Fajardo recommends that more care be taken to provide suitably for an ad