Note 32 — THE COLLEGE OF SAN JOSÉ

A document in the Archivo-historico Nacional, Madrid, bearing pressmark, A. 18–26–8, from the archbishop of the Philippines, Basilio Sancho de Santa Justa y Santa Rufina, dated Manila, January 1, 1770, is as follows: “Sire: Although I have recounted to your Majesty in extenso the measures which I have considered most suitable for the erection of a general conciliar seminary for all these most excellent islanders, and of such seminary being in the college called San Joseph which was under the charge of the now expelled Jesuits, provided that I could incline the superior government of these islands to allow me to go ahead with it, until your Majesty ordered otherwise; and although hitherto seventy and more seminarists have been supported in this college, which is elevated to a seminary ad interim, who are being reared and canons for the exercise of the parish ministry, in addition to the not small number of those who have already gone forth from it to occupy themselves in that ministry, with manifest profit even in the short space of two years since its creation: yet although today, according to the new measures and plan approved by your Majesty for the fortification of this place, it is indispensable to demolish, if not entirely, yet in a very considerable part, the above-mentioned college, since its location is next the walls and in a district where, as it is more suitable and better defended, the principal gate of this city is to be opened; and in order that there may be an open and free passage to it, as it is the place of most traffic and trade, nothing else can be done than to level the site occupied by the said college. On this account, the grace which I have implored from your Majesty will be frustrated. In consideration of this, I have recourse a second time to the charity of your Majesty, and humbly petition, that since the college called San Ygnacio is left alone in this city, which belonged also to the above-mentioned expelled ones, that your Majesty will deign to admit my first petition as it was directed for this end; or should it, perchance, be your royal pleasure that the said college of San Ygnacio become a public university, which has been, until the present, maintained in the college of Santo Thomas, under the direction of the religious of Santo Domingo, those religious passing to the college of San Ygnacio because of its greater size and its better arrangement for a public university, and that of Santo Thomas be used as a conciliar seminary. The consideration that the college of Santo Thomas, besides being suitable for a seminary, is almost at the very doors of this holy church, and, consequently, best suited for the assistance of the seminarists at the choir and functions of the altar, moves me to this petition. May God our Lord preserve the holy Catholic person of your Majesty the many years that I petition, and that Christendom finds necessary.” ↑