It is an abuse, and a very great one, for a city so reduced as Manila
to have two universities for the small student body [estudiante
y medio: literally, "student and a half"] therein, without other
object or idea than the rivalry of the Thomist and Jesuit schools,
to the so great harm of the state, and of religion, as has been seen
in all parts, in so many clamorings and scandals. [69]
It has been said that there is a student and a half, not because there
is no more, but because I mean by that that there are eighty or ninety
(and there are no more) for the two universities.
In the beginning there was a secular university as in España, but the
two orders did not rest until they destroyed it; [70] and they, having
remained alone, scarcely furnish subjects for the eight canonries,
two raciones, and two medias-raciones, of the cathedral.
It is to the interest of all the orders that a secular ecclesiastical
estate shall not be fostered, or [even] exist; for in this manner,
since there is no one [else] to be obtained, they continue in the
possession of the curacies, and the king continues his former and
most detrimental burden of sending missionaries at his own cost,
who become there so many other enemies.
On account of the abovesaid, the two universities in great harmony and
accord have introduced the settled plan of furnishing an instruction
of mere ceremony, in order thus to disappoint even the small number
of students.
In the university of Santo Tomás there is one professorship of
institute law, and another in the university of the Society. Who
will believe that when I was in Manila there were not more than
three advocates who had graduated from those universities? namely,
Don Santiago de Orendain, Don Domingo de Aranas, and Don Luis de
Luna--the first two professors, but with scarcely any pupils.
It is a fact that the bar in Manila is superabundantly
supplied. Notwithstanding that, if advocates did not go from Mexico
to gain their livelihood the business [of the courts] would cease for
lack of defenders, notwithstanding the two universities--who through
their shrewdness and influence prevent the students from pursuing
that career, as very few are inclined to that of theology. [71]