The Philippine Islands, 1493 to 1898 by Various

V >> Various >> The Philippine Islands, 1493 to 1898

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I have also heard that one of the things by which my exchequer is
most defrauded, and the inhabitants of the islands most wronged,
is to be found in the lading and despatch of the ships for Nueva
Espana with merchandise; for the governors, for several years, have
appointed to that duty various personal dependents and friends, who
have succeeded through illicit means in lading the ships with their
own goods and even those of their relatives, friends, and others;
and all the cloth which is shipped beyond the general apportionment
goes without paying the duties. To remedy this it would be expedient
that hereafter the allotment of freight be made in the presence and
with the supervision of the governor and other persons appointed for
it--an auditor and a royal official, appointed each year in turn,
beginning with the oldest ones; and that immediately after the said
apportionment the royal official make a copy of it. The persons to
whom the said cloth is allotted should go with their inventories in
order to value the goods and pay the duties in the presence of my
officials, who would give in return a permit for lading. One or two
of the officials should be present in the port of Cavite, the place
where the ships are laded. Likewise the lading of the ships ought to
be witnessed by the freighters who are usually appointed, and by an
auditor, in order to prevent the lading of goods not included in the
apportionment and for which no permit was given by the said officials,
as an acknowledgment that the duty was paid. Since it is not right to
allow opportunity for the irregularities and fraud which are reported
to have occurred, and of which the citizens have complained, I charge
and command you to restore order and to employ the remedy which most
fits the occasion, appointing for the allotment of the merchandise
and the lading of the ships persons in whom great confidence can be
placed. You will see that all this be done according to equity, by
being yourself present at times, if that seem best, and you will take
the necessary measures that my royal rights be in no manner defrauded.

I have heard that the ordinances are disregarded in assigning
encomiendas of Indians, and that some persons who are enjoying
encomiendas for life relinquish these, in order that they may be
bestowed on others whom they choose, and influence the governors to
assign the encomiendas to those persons. Since through many decrees of
the emperor and king, my sovereign, it is decreed and ordained that
no such relinquishment and renunciation of Indians be made, and that
encomiendas of this sort may not be allotted, I command you to observe
and strictly carry out what is ordered by the instructions sent to the
governors your predecessors, regarding the equitable manner in which
the Indians of those islands must be allotted to the persons who are
most deserving, and have rendered most service therein. Again I order
and command you not to confer relinquished encomiendas, or assign them
again, without notifying me of it, so that I may order what seems
best to me. In case you shall have disposed of such encomiendas,
I order that such allotment be null and of no effect.

I have been informed that it has become the custom in these islands to
grant at the cost of my treasury the wine for the celebration of mass
to the priests of the orders--not only to those in the encomiendas
allotted to my crown, but to those in private encomiendas; and that
there is no obligation to grant this aid to the doctrinas in private
encomiendas. I therefore command you to give orders that no wine
for the celebration of the mass be granted on the account of my
treasury to the secular priests, or to those who give instruction
in private encomiendas, for it is the duty of the encomenderos to
provide the wine.

Orders were given that for just reasons, and for the welfare and
preservation of that commonwealth, the governors your predecessors
were to name and appoint a certain number of regidors from trustworthy
men; but I have been told that the said governors have, through bribes
and other means, appointed to these offices certain persons who have
not the requisite and desirable qualifications therefor. I therefore
charge and command you to make a thorough investigation of the matter,
and to remove the regidors whom you find to have been appointed through
questionable means, or who are unfit for the office. You will replace
them with men possessing the necessary character and ability. Let
there be only eight regidors, which seems to be a sufficient number
for a city of that population. You will inform me of the men whom
you appoint, and of their qualities.

By a clause of the ordinance establishing the Audiencia there, it
is provided that its president and two auditors at the beginning of
every year audit the accounts of the officials of my royal exchequer,
and settle them in the course of two months, for this allowing each
auditor twenty-five thousand maravedis. This was done also in the
time of the previous Audiencia, and an accountant was appointed
who received another fifty thousand maravedis. I have learned that
afterward Governor Gomez Perez Dasmarinas, without any orders,
created for that purpose a position of accountant-in-ordinary, with
a salary of five hundred pesos, and a secretary with two hundred
and fifty pesos. This could have have been avoided by pursuing the
former method, with no other expense than the said hundred thousand
maravedis. It has seemed best to me to refer this matter to you,
as I do, in order that you may examine it and apply such remedy as
you think best. You will inform me of the steps you take in the matter.

I understand that the office of clerk of the regimiento in Manila has
been filled by the secretaries of the governors, and that on this
account justice is no longer sought for certain injuries inflicted
not only on the Chinese but on the citizens. I also learn that it
would be best to sell this office to a person who is not a servant
or a relative of the governors. Since it is not befitting that this
office should be filled by any secretary or follower of yours, or of
an auditor or an official of the Audiencia, you will not allow any
such appointment. You will nominate three from deserving men of those
islands, who in your estimation possess the necessary qualifications
for the office, and will send me their names, in order that I may
elect the one who seems best to me. In the meantime you will make
arrangements for the suitable performance of the duties of that office,
and so that no difficulties will arise. With this I shall order to
be sent you copies of two clauses of a letter, in which are proposed
two expedients which may benefit my exchequer in recompense for the
expenses which are incurred by it in those islands. One of these
relates to the cloves which could be obtained from the Malucas,
carrying thither the produce of the island of Panay in exchange;
and then bringing the said cloves to Nueva Espana on my account. The
other proposal suggests that a monopoly be established in the raw
silk brought from China--allowing each ship to carry only a certain
quantity of it, and that to be carried to Nueva Espana on my account
and not for any other, as you will understand more fully from the said
clauses of a letter, which I have thought best to send you. Thus after
you have discussed the matter with my royal Audiencia, and heard the
opinion of my royal officials and of such persons of experience and
intelligence as you think best, you can ascertain what can be done
in the matter, the benefit and advantage which may result from the
said measures, and the difficulty or facility which they offer. You
will send me a detailed account of all, with your opinion.

I have understood that, by way of remedy for the illegal acts committed
by the magistrates, and the wrongs which the Indians suffer, it would
be of great importance to have the official inspection of affairs in
those islands--which according to the ordinances constituting the
Audiencia there, and to my orders, the auditors ought to make in
turn. The latter have refused to do so, on acount of the expenses
and danger which they incur. Since it is necessary that the said
inspection be made, I charge and command you to cause it to be made
in the land which has been pacified, and where there is no obstacle;
and that in this inspection the auditor who is selected in turn,
conformably to the said ordinances, be accompanied by no soldiers
or other people who might prove to be burdensome or injurious to the
Indians. You will endeavor to make the said inspection bring about the
good results for which it is intended; and will give the auditor to
whose lot it falls a vessel of fair size with which to sail from those
islands of Luzon to the others, at the expense of my treasury. As for
the additional pay or gratuity which should be allowed to the said
auditors beyond their salary, and beyond what is granted them by the
ordinances and decrees, you will send me a report, with your opinion.

I have heard that the said islands contain many poor and needy
persons, to whom on account of their services and those of their
fathers a remuneration is due out of the profits of the land and
appointments to offices; but that as these sources of revenue are so
few, and the governors confer them on their relatives, servants, and
followers, as I have heard they have done, the others have remained
without anything. It is not just that there should be opportunity
for such appointments; therefore I order you to observe and fulfil
in this matter exactly what is enjoined by the decrees, provisions,
and instructions sent to the governors, preferring the most deserving
and the older inhabitants of the land, who have best and most served
the country without having been yet rewarded.

I have been informed that the ships which go to those islands from
Nueva Espana carry each year, without a merchandise register, a large
quantity of money from that country and Piru--which is not found on
reaching the port, on account of the care with which they hide it;
and that it was necessary to make investigations and inspect the
said ships before their reaching port. Since I understand that there
is some foundation in this, and that many irregularities occur in
this respect, I charge and command you to prevent and correct this
evil in a fitting manner; and to see that the fiscal shall go with
the officials of my exchequer to inspect those ships, at such place
as they find convenient. Let the penalty be rigorously enforced in
connection with what is found and discovered to be brought without
register and against orders, adjudging to the informer the share
which may seem to be best to my royal Audiencia of those islands.

Since I have learned that the office of treasurer of my exchequer in
those islands has very little work attached to it, since its duties
consist mainly in those of factor and accountant; and that therefore
there is no need of the said treasurer, and that office could be
fused with that of factor and the latter could act as treasurer, as
was done before--I command you to send me a report of what would be
expedient in this matter; also, of the duties of the said treasurer,
and if, as it has been said, dispensing with the office, the factor
and the accountant could take sufficient care of the administration
of my exchequer.

I have learned that the governors, your predecessors, have often
interfered in the affairs pertaining to the administration of my
exchequer, which is entrusted to its officials; and that, contrary
to the orders given them, they have not allowed the said officials
suitable freedom in the exercise of their offices. Since in matters
of this nature it is right to keep in mind the necessary security
of my exchequer, I order you to observe and cause others to observe
the ordinances and decrees which were issued in regard to this. You
will maintain friendly relations with the officials of my exchequer
in everything, and will give them the favor and aid necessary in
the exercise of their offices, so that they may fulfil their charge
and see that nothing is lacking to my service, and to the security,
accounts, and order of my exchequer.

The accountant and the treasurer of my exchequer have written to
me that my storehouses in the city of Manila have been in charge of
the factor, who placed over them a man with the title of "lieutenant
of shipping," whose duty was to keep an account of the receipt and
distribution of what came under his supervision, thus relieving the
work of the factor. A few years ago, on account of an information sent
against the factor, it was ordained that each of the said officials
should have his own key, and a person at the said storehouses in order
to have all transactions pass through three hands, and that two hundred
pesos a year should be paid to each person. They complained of this,
saying that they were unable to furnish a man for this on account of
their small salaries, which they needed entirely for their own support;
and they besought me to free them from this obligation. Since I desire
to be informed of the facts and occurrences therein; and how and under
whose charge, and on whose account, the said storehouses have been
usually kept; and the reason for ordering each of the said officials
to have his own key to the said storehouses; and whether they are more
secure for that precaution; and what sort of persons are placed there
by the said officials and at what salaries--I command you that, after
having examined the orders that have been given, and obtained thorough
information of what is expedient to do, you send me an account of it,
together with your opinion about the matter.

Although, as there are so excellent judges and officials in the
Audiencia of Manila, it is reasonable to believe that justice is
administered therein, I have learned that in certain cases there
has been laxity, and especially in two--namely, when Melchor Ramirez
de Alarcon, being intoxicated in the said city of Manila, and being
reprimanded by his son-in-law, Pedro Munez, gave the latter a blow
with his fist, receiving in return nine dagger-thrusts, of which he
died; and when, in the city of Cazeres, Captain Pedro Cid killed Joan
Martin Morcillo in a duel. In spite of the gravity of these cases,
the delinquents were not sent to prison, but were set free on paying
a fine of eight hundred pesos each--a procedure which caused censure
and discontent among the people. Since it is right that similar cases
be not left unpunished, I charge and command you that, as soon as you
reach the islands, you demand and copy, without declaring your purpose,
the record of the proceedings in regard to the said two murders,
and examine it in company with the licentiate Don Antonio de Rivera,
auditor of the Audiencia; and with the consent of the fiscal; and,
if you find sufficient cause for action, you will have the culprits
seized, and will make all the investigations and efforts necessary for
ascertaining the truth. If it seem to you that the administration of
justice requires it, you will send the prisoners under arrest to Nueva
Espana, together with the records of their cases, and will inform me
of what has been done and of the investigation made. You will always
take great care that justice be done and administered in every case,
and that crimes which merit punishment receive it, so that disorders
may be repressed and justice exist and be feared, and that it shall
not set a bad example or occasion lawless conduct in the land.

I have learned that many of the decrees and orders issued for those
islands are not being executed, and that there is laxity in this
respect, especially as concerns the ordinances about the equity with
which the positions of profit in that country should be apportioned,
and those persons who have not yet been remunerated should be
rewarded. When my fiscal demanded the observance of the decrees,
and especially in the case where the governor appointed Captain
Cerban Gutierrez de Cespedes to the office of alcalde-mayor while
he possessed an encomienda of Indians worth fifteen hundred ducados,
and the fiscal asked that the said captain be not allowed to exercise
the office until the completion of the trial, the Audiencia postponed
its final decision, and meanwhile the said Cerban Gutierrez continued
to exercise the office, and finished his term before the case was
settled. I have thought best to refer this case to you, as I do,
because in similar cases you will take suitable measures to prevent
difficulties of this sort. It is especially necessary to observe and
minutely fulfil the ordinances concerning the distribution of the
profits of the country and the grant of rewards to persons who have
not received them.

I charge and command you to examine the copy of a letter which I send
you with the present, and which was written to me from those islands
on matters concerning the Sangleys of the Parian, and on what ought
to be provided and remedied in the islands. You will inform me of
all matters and advices contained in the said letter. Meanwhile you
will provide and ordain whatever may seem necessary for the spread of
the Christian faith, and for the cessation of the troubles already
mentioned and others which may be expected, anticipating everything
as is most convenient.

I send you, besides, a copy of what has been written to me from those
islands concerning the precautions which should be taken in matters
of war and defense of the land. That letter also gives information
that the governors without any other reason but their own private
aims and interests, are wont to abolish the companies of infantry
and other offices of war, on account of which complaints arise. It
also states that they have been accustomed to appoint captains of the
number in the city of Manila, who are entirely useless, and that we
could dispense with the appointing those captains and granting their
commissions, as well as those of captains-general and masters-of-camp
which the governors have hitherto granted. You will examine all the
references made to the above-mentioned matters, and what pertains
to the garrisons and defense of the forts and fortified towns. You
will take the necessary precautions in these things, in order that
no loss or trouble may result from them; and will not fill the said
offices of captains-general and masters-of-camp--except that, when they
shall become vacant, you will appoint men to serve in these offices
until the appointments are made by me; and in the appointments of the
captains you shall consider very carefully the persons, and the need
that there is of them.

I am writing to the provincials of the religious orders the letters
which go with this, regarding the kind treatment of the Indians; and,
that the Indians must not be molested by the religious who give them
instruction. You will give them these letters and will take special
care to see how my commands are fulfilled, and that those natives
shall not receive injury from anyone. You will have great care taken
in teaching and instructing them in our holy Catholic faith.

The said Don Francisco Tello writes me that the work on the cathedral
of Manila has been stopped for lack of means to carry it on; but
that it would not take much money to build a tower and a sacristy,
which would complete the church. Although he said that he would aid
the work by various grants and imposts, and that, if any balances
should result from the auditing of accounts which he had ordered to
be made in the funds which he had set aside for that work, he would
have them collected for that purpose, I charge and order you to take
special care in helping and furthering the work on the said church
as much as you can, so that it may be promptly completed. You will
notify me in what manner this shall be done.

The said Don Francisco Tello writes to me that the two hospitals of
the city of Manila, for Spaniards and Indians respectively, are in good
and prosperous condition, and that he has taken possession in my name
of that for the Indians. He adds that the accounts of the latter have
been audited by his order, and that those of the Spanish hospital were
audited every year. This meets my approval; and I charge you always to
be attentive to the preservation and prosperity of the said hospitals,
and to notify me of the result when the accounts are audited.

Don Francisco Tello also informed me of the good condition in which
remained the Seminary of Santa Potenciana in the city of Manila,
where some young girls and other women were sheltered; and that all
were living in great retirement and offering a good example. He added
that many of them desired to remain in that seclusion, and that the
viceroy of Nueva Espana, whom he had asked to send two nuns for the
said monastery, had replied that no one of them dared to go. Since
I shall write to the viceroy about this matter, you will make the
necessary efforts that the said religious may go there; for this will
be of great importance in fully establishing the said monastery and in
completing the training of the nuns who have been sheltered there. You
will aid and heartily favor this work as being so desirable for the
service of God.

The said Don Francisco writes me that when the king my lord (may
he rest in glory) charged the governors your predecessors to found
a seminary where the children of the native chiefs of these islands
could be taught and receive instruction in the ways of civilization,
Don Luis Perez Dasmarinas, governor of the islands, made a contract
with the religious of the Society of Jesus for the foundation of the
said seminary, and assigned to it a perpetual income of a thousand
pesos yearly. To begin the work, he immediately gave them six hundred
pesos and for the income he set aside a fund in the treasury of the
fourths; but as the income was uncertain, on account of the needy
circumstances of the said treasury, and the amount of money given to
commence the work was small, and it was of great importance that the
work be begun, the said Don Francisco entreated me to be responsible
for this income, and thus make it perpetual. He also asked me to
give him permission to assign the said seminary a repartimiento of a
thousand Indians, the first one that should be vacant. Since I desire
to receive a report from you on the whole matter, I command you to
send me one, notifying me, with your opinion, of any other means,
besides the Indians, by which aid can be given to the said seminary,
and in what condition its endowment is.

Don Francisco Tello informs me that in the Parian of the Sangleys of
Manila--which was founded only for some of them to live in, and those
to be workmen, in such number as to be sufficient for the service of
the commonwealth--houses have been gradually built; and that by this
time there are more than three hundred of them, and three thousand
Sangleys who do nothing but eat up the provisions and enhance the
price of commodities in the land. He adds that this could be remedied
only by abolishing the Parian altogether, and letting the Sangleys
sell their merchandise in the streets or in their ships as they
were accustomed to do when there was no Parian. This would bring the
commonwealth a gain of more than one hundred thousand pesos a year,
and would give more security to the land; for, having no houses of
their own, the Sangleys would frequent that country less, and would
endeavor to sell their goods as soon as they reached the islands;
they would also sell at a moderate price, and there would be no
hucksters. He ends by saying that he was considering the necessary
steps to take in this regard. Since this is a matter whose importance
and consideration ought not to be overlooked, I charge and order you to
examine and discuss the question with the Audiencia and the prelates;
and to inform me of your opinions, decisions, and agreements before
taking any decisive action or making any changes--taking care in
the meantime, as I have already charged you, to see that all be done
prudently and for the security of the land.

The said Don Francisco Tello notified me that he had erected buildings
for the cabildo, and had placed thereon the coat-of-arms which was
granted to the city of Manila. This is well done; and, if my royal
coat-of-arms is not placed on the said house of the cabildo, you will
cause this to be done, placing it above the coat-of-arms of the city.

The said Don Francisco Tello writes that because he did not carry with
him the instructions which were given to him, he did not execute
what he was therein ordered to do when passing by the Ladrones
Islands--namely, that he was to provide for the religious instruction
of those Indians, leaving there such persons as he should select. He
said that, with the consent of the Audiencia, he wrote to the viceroy
of Nueva Espana, requesting him to fulfil that command by ordering the
officers of the ships which were to sail for those islands last year,
sixteen hundred, to leave there two religious, with ten soldiers for
their guard. He added that this work would prove of great service
to God, as those islands were thickly settled with Indians who were
docile, and inclined to receive instruction; and that, if religious
should enter that region, there is reason to expect that they would
convert many of the natives. And because this means no less than
the salvation of so many souls, I charge and order you that, if the
viceroy has not fulfilled the above order, you yourself shall do so,
in accordance with the orders regarding it which were given to the
said Don Francisco in his instructions. You will notify me of what
is being done in this matter.

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