ed--poor Spaniards who are unwilling to ask
alms, and prisoners, and masses for the blessed souls--so that it
is estimated that this holy house has given 3,448,506 pesos in alms
from the year 1599 until that of 1726. That sum has been produced
by the pious bequests that have been left for charitable purposes
by the inhabitants of Manila. To this should be added the advances
that have been made to the general fund of these islands, in cases
of extreme necessity and invasions by the enemy, in the years 1646,
650, 653, 663 to 668, and to that of 1735. The total, according to
an accurate computation, amounts to 1,069,099 pesos.

557. The Misericordia takes care of the financial affairs of
twenty-nine collative and of ten laical chaplaincies; and, in the
royal college of San Joseph, of two fellowships.

558. It is governed by its own special rules, and their observance
imposes the obligation of mortal sin. It has remarkable and
venerated reliquaries. It enjoys many privileges from the supreme
pontiffs, and innumerable indulgences. It is under the immediate
royal protection by a royal decree of his Majesty, dated Sevilla,
March 25, 1733, countersigned by Don Miguel de Villanueva, the king's
secretary. Concession was granted in that decree to place the royal
arms in their church and college; to go out as a corporation on Holy
Thursday to make the round of the stations; and entire credit is to
be given in all the tribunals to the instruments of the secretary of
the executive board.

Other charitable institutions

559. There are other charitable institutions in Manila in emulation
of that of the holy Misericordia, although not so wealthy: in the
cathedral church, in the seraphic tertiary order of the convent
of Manila, in that of the convent of Dilao, in [the convent of]
St. Dominic, in their convent of Binondoc, in their beaterio, in the
convent of the calced Augustinian fathers, in that of the discalced
Augustinians, and in that of the Society. All of them serve as a refuge
for the poor; for from them is obtained money in proportion to good
securities, and on pledges of gold and silver, at moderate rates of
interest, for the trade of merchants, with which the poor Spaniards
engage in business and increase their wealth. Their returns are used
for the various charities purposed by the founders who placed their
money there--such as divine worship; alms for the orders; dowries for
poor Spanish, Indian, and mestiza girls,