de Bay, which is three leguas away, and in which I maintain him because of a petition to that effect from the provincial and religious of St. Francis, who are the ministers in charge of those missions).  They have assured me that they have not had an alcalde-mayor for many years who has given more satisfaction in that province.  Since La Laguna, whence are brought the timbers for the shipbuilding at Cavite, depends greatly on the religious, and without the latter the Indians would do nothing, and it is important to me to have there a person of great exactness, so that the cutting and sending of wood may not cease, and consequently, the building and repair of the ships; and since there are so few methodical men in this country, when there is one, I try to retain him in office all the time.  In regard to appointing lawyers to judicial offices, I have made no innovation, for my predecessors have done the same; and such men can be not less suitable for those offices than soldiers.  Here, Sire, there is very little for the lawyers to do, and they starve to death.  Since they are citizens and have married in the country, they must be supported, at least so that the governors may have someone with whom to consult in regard to the doubts which arise with the auditors.  That is the reason for the ill-will that the latter show toward them.

Whence arises the opposition of the auditors to the concession of the winepresses which have been granted to the seminary for orphan boys.

7.  The fifth point is that they talk of the concession of the Sangley winepresses which have been conceded to the seminary for orphan boys.  For justification of that, I refer to a section of the letter which I am writing on this matter in the letter regarding government affairs, and to the papers which are cited in that letter, which are clear enough.  I know that the opposition shown to this is managed by Licentiate Marcos Capata, who, as he has but lately been invested with authority, has been actively engaged in attacking these winepresses, as he thought that he was performing a great service to the community; and as it has been made clear that the disadvantages of the matter are not of the importance that he imagined, he is somewhat piqued.  I beseech your Majesty to consider this point and not to allow any ill-will to disturb so excellent a work as is the completion of the seminary for these boys, without any cost to the royal revenues and without any damage to the community.

Report on the permission to gamble which is given to the Chinese during their festival.

8.  The sixth point is that they speak of the permit which is given to the Sangleys to gamble during the fortnight of their festival. [10] They allege that it is a pernicious thing for the community.  I, Sire, have been even more strict in this than were my predecessors, who introduced it at petition of the Sangleys themselves, in order to keep them quiet and in order to avoid greater troubles, as that nation