Page:The Philippine Islands, 1493-1803 (Volume 08).djvu/278

 the pretext of being merchants; but that only certain workmen who are mechanics may remain, and that, when their merchandise is sold, they shall return home. The bishop and all the friars say that they cannot thus be deprived of the liberty of coming and settling here, and that no such commands or decrees can in conscience be made for them. From the pulpits they say that the governor is going to hell, because the Chinese have their laws, and we cannot dictate to them unless we first govern ourselves according to the laws and customs which we found among the Indians of this country, because it was and is theirs. In regard to what I have said concerning the trade of these Chinese, I am doubtful on only one point—namely, if this trade be abandoned, your Majesty will lose the royal duties which this commerce brings in, on the arrival and departure of the merchants. These must amount to thirty or forty thousand pesos yearly, lacking which, your Majesty would have to supply it from your royal treasury in Mexico, or elsewhere, order to maintain the army here, and for other very pressing expenses. I have set all this before your Majesty, so that, having considered it on both sides, your Majesty may inform me of your will.

The bishop is about to go to Spain, and is so wrought up over what touches his individual inter-