It seems to me that with the commission borne by the above-mentioned, it will be very well if, during his execution of it, he be relieved somewhat of the many onerous duties of the office of factor; and for that purpose I shall endeavor to give him the aid and leisure that should appear necessary.  If the treasurer—­who has not yet arrived and whom I do not know—­is such as I believe and have proved the factor to be, I shall have no need of carrying memoranda in my pocket of what is paid into the royal treasury, as I have done sometimes, even constraining this present treasurer so that he might ordain that those warrants for whose despatch and payment he did not have my decrees should not be honored.  Consequently, I would not be sorry to see here two or three men for the accountancy of this treasury and for that of Terrenate; but, although the governors are accustomed to make that appointment, I cannot find many to choose here.

[Marginal note:  “It is well.  With the arrival of the treasurer and that of the treasury accountant, he is relieved of his anxiety about the matter of accounts.”]

7th.  I have equalized the pay of the captains, officers, and soldiers here and at Terrenate, by increasing that of some and diminishing that of others, as your Majesty has ordered.  In order that they may have an equal amount of work, and comfort also, I am having part of them changed every year, so that their exile may not be perpetual, nor desperation compel them to go over to the enemy, as many have done.  Accordingly, for this reason, and so that the smaller and larger boats, in which the reenforcements are conveyed, may go and come in safety, I cause some infantry to go in all of them.

[Marginal note:  “Council.  It is well.  You have already been informed in regard to this, and it was referred to your prudence and better judgment, as you are the one in direct charge of affairs.  You shall give licenses and shall arrange for the passage of the soldiers from one part to the other in the manner most advisable.”]

8th.  The last reenforcement that I despatched this year has been the most abundant that has entered those forts since their recovery, especially in money and men; for there were almost two hundred and fifty Spanish soldiers, besides the Pampangos and pioneers, and the men of the two galleys and four ships in which that reenforcement was taken.  Of the latter only one small patache was lost, which is considered miraculous here because of what has happened on other occasions.  But I, although not neglecting to give thanks to God for it, cannot be well satisfied with the result, until I can ascertain whether the galleys could have gone more quickly and efficiently to the aid of the patache—­although I am told that when they sailed there was sufficient wind so that they could not fight with a galleon carrying heavy artillery.  I shall endeavor to inform myself of it, and of what the person in charge of the patache did, and what he