The Philippine Islands, 1493-1803; explorations by early navigators, descriptions of the islands and their peoples, their history and records of the Catholic missions, as related in contemporaneous books and manuscripts, showing the political, economic, commericial and religious conditions of those islands from their earliest relations with European nations to the beginning of the nineteenth century; [Vol. 1, no. 51]

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THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS

[Vol. 51

ought to be the superior council of the royal exchequer of the islands.... This council, as
such, has very little occupation; its ministers, like all
who are employed in Filipinas, attend to their official duties only in the forenoons, remaining free during all the afternoons and evenings for employment
in a service of so great importance as this.
I am, then, of opinion that his Majesty should
deign to establish the following: That the superior
council of the royal exchequer in Filipinas constitute
a similar council for the improvement and prosperity
of the country, with the object of stimulating in every
way the Indians to work, and capitalists to undertake
enterprises. That its members hold weekly meetings
for this purpose, at such hours as the president shall
designate. That it also call in the proprietors of
lands, agriculturists, manufacturers, and merchants
of the country, listen to their views, and encourage
them to propose reforms and plans for promoting
the useful arts. That it be authorized to decide upon
the execution of projects, provisionally, until the approbation of his Majesty is secured, in all matters
which do not occasion loss to the country or injure
the interests of the treasury. That it can draw upon
the treasury of the community for a moderate amount
of necessary expenses for the encouragement and reward of enterprises, for anything which can bring a
positive and general benefit to the Indians and the
government.
Of the royal court
[Our writer notes the requirement of the laws of
the Indias that the governors and audiencias should
consult and act together in matters of government,