Velasco, a royal cédula of September 21, 1551, ordained its erection, providing an endowment of 1,000 pesos de oro,[1] which was increased by later grants and private bequests. Privileges were conferred upon it. The institution was inaugurated on January 25, 1553. In 1589 it was transferred to the site occupied till modern times on the east side of the Plaza del Volador.[2]
The Jesuit college at Mérida, Yucatan, obtained in 1662 the title and privileges of a university, but it did not long exist.[3] The only other permanent institution of the kind, therefore, in New Spain was at Guadalajara, founded by cédula of 1791 in the former Jesuit college, with incorporation of the chairs and endowments of the Seminario de San José, both of which were increased in numbers and amount.[4] The war of independence broke in upon the educational revival with which the present century opened, and where the kindled flame was not absolutely extinguished it burned low.[5] Once free, the republic became em-
- ↑ 'Vn Estudio y universidad de todas sciencias.' Puga, Cedulario, 137-8. Herrera dates an order for the founding as early as 1539, Dec. vi. lib. vii. cap. vi., dec. viii. lib. vii. cap. xiii.; and Alcedo, v. 139, lends it support by showing that Friar Alonso de Veracruz founded a university at Tiripitio, which was merged 'que despues se trasladó a México,' in that of Mexico, or moved thither. While under royal patronage the title of pontifical was added at a later date. St Paul was first adopted for patron, and Santa Catalina Mártir figured among later additions. Beleña, Recop., i., pt iii. 361.
- ↑ The studies began with seven chairs; namely, two for theologic subjects, two for law, and one each for arts, rhetoric, and grammar. The number increased rapidly till it stood at 24 at the beginning of the present century, including one for Aztec, and one for Otomí language, respectively. Villaseñor, Teatro Mex., 56; Alaman, Disertac., 216–20, 261; Calle, Mem. y Not., 52; Trat. Mex., 32. By 1775 there had graduated 1,162 doctors and 29,882 bachelors. Gonzalez Dávila names the first to pass examination. Teatro Ecles., i. 32. Laws concerning the institution may be found in Recop. de Ind., i. 191 et seq.; Reales Cédulas, MS., i. 77-9; ii. 238; Montemayor, Sumarios, 61-3; Zamora, Bib. Leg. Ult., vi. 106 et seq. See also Hist. Mex., ii. 592; Cavo, Tres Siglos, i. 159-61; Figueroa, Vindicias, MS., 68-9; Soc. Mex. Geog., Boletin, iv. 201-17; Disturbios Frailes, MS., ii. 366. Estalla, xxvi. 350-1, xxvii. 255-74, describes several features of the institution.
- ↑ Cogolludo, Hist. Yucatan, 215-16.
- ↑ Among the new professorships were those of canon and civil law, with 400 pesos a year, those of medicine and surgery, with 300 pesos; the secretary and others received 150 pesos, and the librarian and porter only 100 pesos each. Cédula Real; Cedulario, MS., i. 52-4. By-laws are given in Id., 91-114; Jal., Not. Geog., 15-16.
- ↑ Yet amid the reigning disorder the subject was not neglected, as instanced by decrees like those in Córtes, Diario, xxi. 11-21, xxii. 17-18, directing the governors to establish new schools and promote existing ones.
