act of the secretary, to have those powers extended
and enlarged to those [possessed by the colleges] of Lima and Mexico,
even though his Holiness had not reduced them to the form, limits,
and branches of knowledge, referred to in the said bull--to whose
tenor and decision one must submit without therefore giving undue
significance to the word academia used therein. For, without now
raising any question as to the effects thereof, the burden of this
treatise simply states that whether a college be a university or not
depends on the will of him who is empowered to grant it after inquiry
into the fundamental grounds of the matter. In the said lawsuit,
the truth was established; accordingly it is neither expedient nor
fitting to discuss new points, as whether the term academia, or that
of university, or something else be used. Besides, as already stated,
the city of Manila did not petition for a university as alleged
by the opposite party. The petitioner to that effect in the paper
referred to was the said college itself, which secured the grant with
limitations as in the decree. Wherefore, even if the said bull had not
been secured, there would have been no cause for complaint, inasmuch
as they paid the said two thousand pesos with your Majesty's consent;
nor could a new petition at any time be presented, one already having
been granted, even though they had not obtained the bull.

But without calling in question the matter which is already
settled, or his other representations which he insists on and firmly
maintains--without appearance, however, of abandoning his claim in
case of its rejection--the point that now may be discussed relative
to a regular university and general studies is as follows: Has the
college of Santo Tomas the needed requisites therefor? or are there
new conditions by which their claim can be supported, and which would
deprive your Majesty of all ground [for refusing it], although you do
not support it? In case a new foundation should be deemed advisable,
this more suitably should be established in the said college of San
Ignacio, for the reasons to be gathered from the acts of the said
trial, from the reports that have been made in favor of the Society,
and from the excellent progress which, as is proved by experience, has
resulted from their learning and teaching in those islands, with the
general applause and approval of their inhabitants and citizens. All
this [the writer] again brings forward i