the royal decree to the royal Audiencia, and those
decrees which accompanied it for the archbishop and governor of Manila,
the building which (as above stated) was already begun was demolished,
and today it is used as the summer palace of the governors; and all
the orders expressed in the said decrees were carried out. On May
6, 1712, the course of arts was inaugurated in the royal seminary
of San Phelipe (for thus did his Majesty order it to be called,
and that the name of San Clemente be erased), with the bachelor Don
Bartholome Caravallo, presbyter, as master. He was appointed by decree
of the superior government, during the governorship of the count
of Lizarraga, Don Martin de Ursua. Doctor Don Francisco Fermin de
Vivar was appointed master of theology on July 5, 1714. At his death,
the master Don Ignacio Mariano Garcia, who is at present doctor in
theology, canon of this holy church, and rector of the said royal
college, succeeded to the office. After that time, they began to have
public theological theses there, with the help of the communities of
Manila. Still later, esteeming it advisable for the royal treasury,
the offices of master of arts and theology were suspended, and only
that of master of grammar is preserved. The seminarists who may
choose to continue their scholastic studies, go to the university
of Santo Thomas to hear lecturers there. That is the present course;
and the said seminarists, after being present at the service of the
cathedral church--their first duty--go to the university of Santo
Thomas for the ordinary lectures which are given to them.

Royal professorships

551. In the year 1717, his Majesty (may God preserve him) sent
three professors to the city of Manila, with suitable salaries,
to erect and conduct three professorships--of canons, institutes,
and laws: these were in fact, erected and conducted in this city, in
one of its most notable and roomy houses. In the year 1724, because
of the promotion by the king of Don Julian de Velasco, one of the
professors, to the royal Audiencia of Mexico, and as there were no
suitable persons [for these chairs] the royal Audiencia of these
islands communicated that fact to his Majesty on June 10, 1726, as
well as the small results and increased expenses that were experienced
from those professorships. Therefore, the royal Audiencia had made
provision, while awaiting a new royal order, for maintaining the two
professorships, with the same two l