A letter from Archbishop Serrano to the king (July 25, 1625) reports the arrival of the new governor, Fernando de Silva, and the auspicious beginning of his rule.  The persecution of the Christians in Japan is increasing in severity, and Serrano therefore tries to prevent any further passage of missionaries to that country; but the zeal of the friars outruns their discretion, and some have gone to Japan.  Serrano asks the king to interpose his authority, and restrain the friars.  The bishop of Nueva Segovia is dead, and Serrano has placed an ecclesiastic in charge of that diocese.  The officials of the Philippine government should be officially inspected, for which duty he recommends one of his own subordinates, Juan Cevicos.  He asks the king to aid the Jesuit college at Manila.

The accession of Felipe iv is celebrated at Manila (January, 1623) with “royal festivities”—­bull-fights, games, decoration of the streets, etc., which are described in picturesque and enthusiastic terms by a citizen of Manila.  Fernando de Silva, appointed successor to Fajardo, notifies the king (August 4, 1625) of his arrival in the islands, and reports the condition of affairs there, and various events of interest.  He complains that the Audiencia arrogates undue authority to itself, and he has already annulled their action in assigning encomiendas.  Geronimo de Silva has been deposed by them from the military command, and some of them have made illegal appointments to army and navy offices; the governor has annulled these also.  Hostile Dutch ships are menacing the rich trading vessels that ply to Nueva Espana; Silva has taken measures of defense and precaution against them.  A powerful Dutch fleet has already reached Ternate; he hopes to obtain some ships, provided by the missionaries, to defend the islands against the foe.  The royal treasury and magazines are, however, empty; and he has had to send a cargo to Japan to buy supplies.  But the persecutions of Christians in that country lead to great restrictions on the commerce of Spaniards there; and the embassy sent from Manila was not even received by the Japanese.  The rebellion in Cagayan will be punished as severely as possible; and Silva will endeavor to improve the condition of affairs in the Moluccas.  He recommends that the captive Ternatan king be restored to his own country.  The attempt to work the Igorrote gold mines has been abandoned.  Silva has sold certain municipal offices, but recommends that hereafter these be conferred on deserving citizens.  The export duty on goods sent to Nueva Espana should be lowered.  The governor complains of the lawless conduct of the religious, who pay no heed to the civil authorities and do as they please with the Indians; and he asks for more authority to restrain them.  More troops are needed in the islands; and Silva desires to check the Dutch who are getting a foothold in the island of Formosa.  Complaint is made that the treasury officials of Mexico exceed their rights in auditing the accounts sent them from Manila.  Silva closes by recommending to the royal favor certain of the Spanish citizens of Manila, and asking for his wife permission to absent herself from the islands in case of his death.