The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898 | Page 5

galleons from Manila.
The Chinese immigration to the islands continues, the official statement
for 1606 showing that over six thousand five hundred land at Manila in
that year. On November 4 following, Felipe III sends warning to Acuña
not to allow any more of them to remain than are necessary for the
service of the community. The king also writes a letter of the same date
to the governor, commending his action in sending troops to defend

Samar from the Moros, in reducing the expenses of government, and in
various other matters; and gives directions for rebuilding the hospital
and for certain other measures.
On January 18, 1607, the request of the Jesuits for confirmation of a
grant in aid of their seminary for the Indians in Leyte is approved by
the royal council. A report is made (July 6) by the chief of artillery,
showing the number and description of pieces which are mounted on
all the fortifications at Manila--in all eighty-three pieces, of various
sizes and power. At the king's command, the Audiencia furnish (July
11) a statement of the aim, scope, and labors of the charitable
confraternity, La Misericordia, at Manila. It has one hundred and fifty
brethren; they have established and maintained a hospital for women
and a ward therein for slaves, besides their principal labors for the
succor of the poor and needy of all classes. They provide food and
water for the poor prisoners, aid to the inmates of Santa Potenciana,
and homes for orphan boys; and assist many transient persons. They
also settle many quarrels and reclaim dissolute persons.
The question of restricting trade between the Spanish colonies is
discussed by the Council of the Indias (December 18, 1607); they think
it necessary to restrict trade to some extent, but hesitate to take too
vigorous measures. At various times (1606-07) the Council of the
Indias deliberate on the question whether religious shall be permitted to
go to Japan via the Philippines. Certain objections to this are stated
(May 30, 1606); that the Japanese suspect the Spaniards of desiring to
conquer their country; that the constant flow of Mexican silver to China
should be stopped; that the Jesuits, who are already established in Japan,
desire to exclude the other orders from that country; and that the
Portuguese desire to keep out all Spaniards from both Japan and China.
The Council answer all these objections, and recommend that religious
be required to go to Japan via Manila, but to embark there in Japanese,
not Castilian, vessels. Ten months later (March 31, 1607) the same
matter is again brought forward; and, as before, the Council of Portugal
object to the entrance of Castilian religious into Japan. The Council of
the Indias oppose this view, citing the profitable commerce of the
Philippine Islands with Japan, recently begun; the successful work of
the religious orders there, and the need of more missionaries in that
broad field. They adhere to their former opinion regarding the passage

of the religious to Japan, and recommend that the Philippines be
allowed at least a moderate trade with that country. Both these reports
are discussed in the Council of State (September 7 and December 20,
1607), where complaint is made against the methods of the Jesuit
missionaries in Japan; and the king is advised to allow religious from
other orders to enter that field, and to prohibit trade from the
Philippines to Japan, The king thereupon requests from Rome the
revocation of the briefs obliging friars to go to Japan via India, and a
new one placing this matter in Felipe's hands.
An itemized statement of the "annual receipts and expenditures of the
Philippine government" (August 18, 1608) enumerates these. The
receipts comprise the tributes, by encomiendas; the royal tenths of gold,
and the ecclesiastical tithes; customs duties; and fines from the courts.
All these sources of income amount to over one hundred and twenty
thousand pesos. Then are mentioned, in order, the expenses: for salaries
of government officials, alcaldes and other local magistrates; wages of
government workmen, pilots, sailors, and others; supplies in the
ship-yards, etc., and purchases for various purposes; salaries of
ecclesiastics, and other expenses for churches and missions. To these
are added "extraordinary expenses:" the cost of embassies to
neighboring rulers; salaries paid to collectors of tribute, and others;
expenses of the soldiers and their officers; and salaries to the wardens
of forts. All these expenses amount to over two hundred and fifty-five
thousand pesos a year, more than twice as much as the income.
Felipe III writes to Velasco, the viceroy of Nueva España (September
27 1608), regarding the proposed way-station for Philippine vessels.
After summarizing a letter on this subject from Velasco's predecessor,
Montesclaros, the king approves the iat-ter's advice to choose, as such
way-station, the islands called Rica