PUBLICATIONS IN HISTORY
BERKELEY
1919
[iv]
PREFACE
It seems proper to say at the outset that a generalstudy of the Spanish colonial system convinced me of the need of anextended investigation of the audiencia, which was the centralinstitution in the colonies. It was, however, the circumstance of mybeing situated in Manila for some years and thus having at my disposalthe original documents bearing upon the history of the audiencia whichwas situated there that led me to study this particular tribunal. Atfirst sight it may appear that something of direct applicability toSpanish-American conditions, which would have been gained by the studyof the Audiencia of Mexico, or Guadalajara, or Lima, has thus beenlost. Nevertheless, if it is borne in mind that the audiencia systemwas common to all the Spanish colonies, and that the laws by which itwas constituted and regulated applied to the different politicaldivisions of America as to the Philippines, the assumption will notseem wholly unjustified that the Audiencia of Manila may be taken as atypical legal and political institution.
A large part of the time expended in collecting the materials uponwhich this book is based was spent in the various depositories inManila. The most notable group of documents there is to be found in thePhilippines Library, and it is with pleasure that I express here myobligations to Dr. James Alexander Robertson, the librarian; for notonly did Dr. Robertson place at my disposal all the resources of thelibrary, but he contributed generously from his adequate knowledge ofPhilippine history and afforded continual inspiration during the courseof my lab