In my letter of last year, of which I enclose a duplicate herein, I informed your Majesty of the disputes of the auditors and fiscal with myself in regard to preeminence in office, they wishing to enact certain measures of government and war outside of their jurisdiction; and that because of this lack of harmony greater hindrances were resulting to the service of God and of your Majesty, in a land so new and so distant from your royal person.  I resolved to allow them to do as they wished, and to let go my right and the preeminences of my office, until your Majesty should order this remedied and provided for—­believing that, in so acting, I serve you better.  Affairs here are in this condition, and I shall make no innovation until receiving your Majesty’s orders.  Through my overlooking and tolerating this, and through the arrival of the licentiate Don Antonio de Rivera, auditor of this Audiencia, those differences have ceased, and we are all in accord.  Justice is being administered with the authority, custom, and system of the audiencias of Castilla, and those well regulated in the Yndias.

Captain Francisco Gali, who was sent by the archbishop and governor to discover the route for the return to Nueva Spana from these islands, as well as the islands and ports lying in the course, died as soon as he reached this country.  Pedro de Unamuno succeeded to his command, with instructions not to go to China, or to its coast, because of the great difficulties that would result.  Because the said governor charged me urgently to make him fulfil his instructions, and because I was informed that, beyond all doubt, he was intending to go to Macan to invest great sums of money brought by himself and the officials of the ship, I ordered him, under severe penalties, to observe his instructions, and not to touch at or sight the country of China.  But he, notwithstanding this edict, deviated from his straight course and went to Macan.  Contrary to the will of the commandant and the Portuguese, and the orders of the viceroy of Yndia, he entered the port, where they arrested him and hid his cargo.  He has remained there one year, and the expedition has been broken up.  Because the Portuguese believed that he would not return to Nueva Spana, and because he had a crew made up of different nationalities (among them one Frenchman and one Englishman)—­all excellent sailors, and all in rivalry—­fearing lest they would become pirates, and commit some great damage, the commandant, the cities, and the chief men wrote to me to send for those vessels, men, and property of your Majesty, so that no act of insolence displeasing to God and your royal crown might be committed.  Therefore I despatched a man and vessel for them, and am expecting them now.  I shall inform your Majesty of the result.