I wrote about affairs pertaining to Japon last year, by way of India.  In this despatch I enclose a copy of it in the first mail.  May God bear it in safety; for, judging by what the fleets of the Northern Sea encounter, we are always in fear.  This year those of Japon have come with their ships; and the governor of Nangasaqui says in answer to my letters that the trade may be considered as open, and that the ships from both sides may go and come, and that they will be well received.  In regard to the passport [chapa] of the emperor, which is the license that they usually give for trade with their kingdoms, he says that he will arrange that.  They send one hundred and thirty lepers in these ships, who were exiled for the faith.  We believe, through the assurance that we have of the bad disposition of that race, that this action has been a sort of vengeance or contempt; but it is quite certain that, although they may have done it for that purpose, it has resulted very well for us; for we have exercised an act of charity, which I hope, God helping, will confound them.  For we received the lepers with great pomp and display of charity; and this city, aided by the religious orders, is striving to collect liberal alms for them.  Those ships have brought a quantity of bronze for the founding of artillery, besides an abundance of flour.  Since they are doing this, and we are not for the present going there securely, the matter is to be considered as more evil-intentioned than they may regard it.  I shall endeavor, as heretofore, to promote peace and cordial intercourse, and that they may obtain all satisfaction for the affair in Sian.  If they come to ask for it rightly, satisfaction will be given them, and the guilt of the commander who had charge of the galleons will be settled.

The viceroy of Nueva Espana asks me to cast him some artillery, of the calibers ordered, and it will be sent him promptly.

I wrote your Majesty, in the year that Don Geronimo de Silva died here, how superfluous was the post of general of artillery; for he does not take the field, nor is there any artillery train [to be transported], or more than a few artillerymen scattered through the ordinary presidios.  For as many as there are, it would be sufficient to have one captain of artillery; for it requires nothing else than to order a ship to be equipped, and that is done with the order of the captain-general; and with greater ease and less red-tape, orders can be given to the captain of artillery, who is the one who has to execute it, than to a general of artillery, who has to order another to do it.  Juan Bautista de Molina has served your Majesty many years, but the Filipinas do not need so many heads, nor so many to draw pay from its treasury.  I, Sire, shall not appoint anyone to the post (although it is vacant), as your Majesty orders me, for I do not desire to do a thing in which I believe that I would be doing you a disservice; and since your Majesty