e oldest royal official, according to the terms
of the above cited royal provision. For the other business, there
are a secretary and a chief notary who receive salaries, besides four
other notaries who receive no salary, but only the fees for business
transacted by them. The publications in these islands are made every
two years. The day fell at the beginning on October 28, but since
1736 the publication was transferred to the first Sunday of Advent,
by order of the commissary-general, so that the publications might
occur at the same time in all the kingdoms and seigniories of Espana.

The brotherhood of the Santa Misericordia of Manila forms another
tribunal composed of the flower of the community. It has its purveyor,
twelve deputies, one secretary, one chaplain, and other officials. In
their charge is the administration of the charitable funds which are
connected with that holy institution. The Misericordia was erected
in imitation of the one founded in Lisboa in 1498 by the most serene
queen of Portugal, Dona Leonor, widow of Don Juan the Second, by the
advice of a Trinitarian religious, named Fray Miguel de Contreras. The
circumstances attending that foundation will be given later.

The first brothers built a church with the title of "Presentacion
de Nuestra Senora" [_i.e._, "Presentation of our Lady"], and near
it the seminary and house of Santa Isabel, in order that Spanish
orphan girls might be reared there with a good education in doctrine
and morals. They have a rectoress to govern them, a portress,
and several virtuous women of mature years. Thence go forth the
girls with sufficient dowries for the estate [of marriage] to which
they naturally tend--for which this Santa Misericordia applies the
sum of sixteen thousand pesos. The girls attending the seminary
usually number sixty, besides some pupils, six slave women, and
other serving-women. For their expenses and that of their chaplains
ten thousand eight hundred pesos are set aside annually. Many of
the inhabitants and people of the community send their daughters
to that seminary, so that they may learn good morals, because of
the great improvement that is recognized in those who have been
reared there. The said congregation is governed by special rules,
whose observance does not impose the obligation of mortal sin. [74]
It enjoys many privileges, indulgences, and favors conceded by the
supreme pontiffs. By his Majesty's decree, dated Sevilla, March 25,
1