No sooner did the alcaldes mayores see these military posts put into an effective state, than they determined to take them under their own control; and an officer is now annually sent for that purpose to each station, with orders to draft a certain number of natives for its service. The officer regularly keeps these men at work on his own farm, or obliges them to purchase, with money, an exemption from this labour, leaving, generally speaking, the post completely abandoned. This is every way a severe hardship on the adjacent inhabitants, and proves the truth of Señor Solorzano's observation, that whatever is done with a view to benefit the Indians, by some means or other is converted to their prejudice. The conquest of the islands of Carolinas and Palaos having been suspended from the time of the Conde de Lizarraga, began again to attract the notice of government [3]. There had arrived at the Marianas two vessels out of four, which in passing from one of the Carolinas to a neighbouring island, had met with a gale of wind, and were driven on our coasts, without knowing what had become of their companions. The Governor of Marianas determined to take these Indians to their own country, having in view, at the same time, a more accurate examination of the islands in question. Accompanied by the Jesuit Cantova, he accordingly proceeded on his voyage of discovery with these vessels; but being unable even to find the islands, he pursued his voyage to Manila, where he persuaded the Governor to accede to his undertaking this object. In the year 1730 he returned to the Marianas with the permission he had solicited, and reiterated his attempt, in company with the Jesuit Friars Cantova and Victor, eleven soldiers, and eight seamen, taking with him as a guide an Indian of Palao, who had been baptized, and who, they presumed, would be able to conduct them in safety to their destination. They discovered the island of Moymoy, and erected a military station in that of Talalap, where they built a church and a house, baptized some children, and instructed some adults in the first duties of religion, by which they were vain enough to believe that the conquest was completed, and they began to think of despatching the vessel for additional aid, to enable them to subdue the remainder of the islands. The Friar Cantova, with some soldiers, took up their residence there, while Friar Victor with the remainder, and some of the islanders, who had expressed a wish to accompany them, sailed on their return to the Marianas, but not being able to make them, bore away to Manila, where one of the Indians was baptized, the Governor standing godfather. The Friar Victor embarked in a patache, with the necessary succours, to his companions; but arriving at Talalap, he found that the church and the house of Friar Cantova had disappeared, and from one of the natives he understood that the whole party had been murdered. Convinced of the difficulty attending