The liberty of the cabildo of the city, and due secrecy for matters discussed there are very necessary; and if any secretary or regidor has failed in this matter, it would be highly desirable that your Majesty command that he be punished.  If this be not done, your Majesty cannot be informed, or right matters.  For the love of God, will your Majesty favor in all matters the city and cabildo, and not leave this matter of favoring them to the governors and auditors; for it is clear that these persons will not be pleased that there should be anyone who can have power to advise your Majesty, or oppose them.  I beg your Majesty to be pleased to issue your royal decree so that the city may rent out the privileges of the commission exchange, which they hold by your Majesty’s favor; and that provision be made for them to rent it to the Chinese.  Further, this concerns the trade of the Chinese, as there is no other trade here, and nothing else for which the said exchange could serve.  These men, too, are in great need of aid, both for the marriages of their daughters and for the payment of their debts to the Chinese.  Your Majesty should command that permission be given them to have all their money brought from Mexico, as it has remained there these two or three years—­which is a great pity, in the condition in which this city is, and with the impaired credit of the Spaniards in their relations with the Chinese.  The Chinese merchants, too, are being ruined, because the Spaniards are not prompt with their payments.  They weep, and say:  “If we owe anything to the Spaniards, we are straightway thrown into prison until we pay; and if the Spaniards owe us anything, we cannot collect it.”

By my other letter and accompanying documents, as well as the letters of others, your Majesty will see how necessary it is that this country should always be in a state of defense.  For not only do we fear the Japanese, but the Chinese also seek to disturb our peace.  Don Pedro de Acuna is a good soldier, and God will aid him; may your Majesty be pleased to command the viceroy of Nueva Espana to aid with troops, powder, munitions, etc.  In case of the removal of Don Pedro, and always, it is necessary that a good soldier should come here as governor; and if he were that, and supported, not by many powerful persons in Hespana, but by his own valor and virtue alone, it would be a great advantage.

The great church of this city is without ornaments, and greatly needs to be repaired, lest it fall to the ground.  The services of worship there may cease, for there are only four salaried prebends who are obliged to come to the services of the said church, for the offices of the canonical hours, and to be vested at the altar, and to say the high masses and those for your Majesty.  Even these four possess very little; and, if one of them should become sick, services could not be properly carried on.  Your Majesty has already been advised of all this by way of the cabildo, and, I believe, through the royal Audiencia.  I beseech your Majesty to have it remedied.