from the said royal decree to your Majesty, as the relation given by the visitor was not in harmony with the acts, and as their citizens had not made any [such] agreement.  The four thousand pesos which they gave as a donation was for that time, provided that no further action should be taken regarding this duty until the matter had been discussed in the royal Council of the Yndias.  In proof of it, the visitor embarked without having made a beginning in this collection.  After many discussions, the citizens had resolved not to lade any goods at present for Nueva Espana.  I gave a copy of all this to the fiscal and the royal officials.  I resolved [not] to despatch the ships without cargoes, and even to take the boxes and bales from where they should be found and actually put them on board the ships; but the auditors and officials believed that it would be contrary to law to force the citizens.  Therefore I determined to call a meeting of the Audiencia, archbishop, fiscal, and royal officials, in order to determine what ought to be done in this matter.  All were of the opinion that the ships should be laded, even though we should postpone the fulfilment of what your Majesty lately ordered, for the damage that would ensue from the ships going empty would be beyond comparison far greater than the gain of the two per cent; and that the appeal interposed by the citizens ought to be granted, as it was apparent that the report which the visitor had made was different from what had actually and truly taken place.  In accordance with this, the city has given bonds for all the sum to which this duty can amount, now and henceforth, until your Majesty be pleased to provide what is most advisable.  In order that this may be apparent from the investigations, I enclose herewith a testimony of the acts.

In respect to my report, Sire, I declare that the three per cent which has been collected hitherto, has entered into this royal treasury, and has never been reckoned with the situado.  The same will have to be done with this two per cent, for it is all needed for the ordinary support, unless that your Majesty should be better served [by ordering otherwise].

The visitor at his departure gave me an account of all that he had done during the two years while he has been occupied in his visit.  According to the report which he gave me of accounts which had been settled, I learned that this treasury was clear of debt, and had much money besides.  But I have found by experience since then that, although in appearance he stirred up affairs, in fact the expense was greater than the gain.  For most of the settlements of which he made a parade are in litigation, and are being nullified by the acquittal of the parties [in the suit], while others in the Audiencia are even abandoned; and few reach the point of collecting [the amounts due].  Some of the new ordinances that he left suffered the same misfortune, because he did not dictate them or draw them up, but entrusted them to two clerks