Since the foundation of the confraternity of the Santa Misericordia,
their financial board maintained the management of many poor Spanish
orphan girls who were reared in Santa Potenciana, and in private
houses; but having bought an edifice in which to gather them, the
foundation of this school was accomplished at the end of the year
1632. It is in the immediate charge and care of the purveyor. The first
rules for its government were made in 1650, and they were retained
with some slight alterations until 1813. In that year they were
entirely revised, and these latter are the ones which are observed
at present. It has a chapel which is kept very neat and clean, which
is dedicated to the Lord of the treasury.
The girl pensioners contribute sixty pesos per year for their fees. In
addition, there are some poor young women who are known under the name
of supernumeraries [agregadas], who are maintained through charity.
The rectress is the superior of the school, and is subordinate to
the purveyor. In grave cases which arise, she consults the financial
board, and if that board is not created with power to take action, she
convokes the brotherhood and in general council the advisable action
is agreed upon with the assistance of theologues and jurists. This
school contains:
Scholars with beca 51
Free orphan girls 18
Idem boarders 14
Abandoned 7
Supernumeraries 12
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Total 102
There are also at present for the interior service of the house one
chaplain, one physician, twelve maid servants, and eight man servants;
these last do not live in the school.