account they ran a risk of being captured by the Dutch; for since the viceroys are not interested, even in making those provisions, the ships sail later than they would be permitted if the persons who have charge of the ships were appointed by him, in whose good success would be also his share of reputation, or the contrary.  Will your Majesty be pleased to order this to be noted, and take what measures may be most to your royal pleasure. [Marginal note:  “Obey the ordinances.”]

One could not believe the injury that is done to the soldiers and sailors, and to all the wage-earners, by not paying the vouchers earned by their labor and sweat; and on the other hand, by buying these for much less than their face value.  For, being rendered desperate, they sell vouchers valued at one thousand pesos for one hundred, and the lamentable thing is that, if they did not sell them, they would never be paid.  Scarcely have they sold the vouchers when they are immediately paid, and the purchasers even take the poor wretches to the office of accounts, so that they may be present at the payment, and that it may appear justified, by their saying that they did it of their own accord, for which they give a receipt.  As it is the price of blood, and they see that others take that price, it is a grief and sorrow that cries to heaven for redress, and petitions your Majesty to be pleased to have a very effective and rigorous correction applied. [Marginal note:  “Have a letter written to the governor that this has been learned; and that he accordingly must correct it immediately, if there is need therefor, and advise us of what shall be done.”]

There are at present more than sixteen thousand Chinese in this city of Manila, who have received license to stay in the country.  In addition about one-third as many generally remain without having a license, so that, on good computation, there are now more Chinese in the country than there were sixteen and a half years ago, when they revolted and made war on us—­without reckoning a great number of Japanese, whose number I have been unable to ascertain, although I am told that it exceeds three thousand.  Accordingly, in a council of all the estates called by the governor about two months ago, in which he asked whether it would be advisable or not to go out to fight the enemy then in the mouths of this bay—­who had seized them with nine very strongly armed ships, while the governor had four ships (two of them powerful galleons) and four galleys—­the city forbade him to go out under any circumstances.  Among other reasons it was said that if the governor went out, he would leave the city of Manila unprotected in his absence, and exposed to the will of so great a number of enemies, composed of Chinese and Japanese.  That argument was not the one of least weight in the council in determining that our fleet should not sail against the enemy.  I think that there has been neglect and laxity in the matter of not driving out the Japanese.