UNIVERSITY OF ST. MARK. 



of his newly acquired dignity. This being done, a Latin ora- 

 tion is pronounced in his praise, and a theme proposed to him 

 for the exercise of his talents. 



The number of do6lors is not limited. At this time (in 1 791) 

 there are one hundred and thirty-four in the faculty of theolo- 

 gy'; in that of laws, one hundred and sixty-four ; in that of 

 medicine, twelve ; and six masters of arts. If, in former 

 times, the number was still greater, the establishment may 

 now boast, that it reckons among its members many indivi- 

 duals of pre-eminent merit and distinguished qualities, em- 

 ployed in the discharge of the most important and honourable 

 fun6tions of church and state. Of these, it will be sufficient 

 to cite the names of his excellency Don Antonio Porlier, coun- 

 sellor of state, and first secretary of the general dispatch of 

 justice and indulgences of Castille and the Indies ; his excel- 

 lency count Castillejo ; the count Del Puerto, eldest son of 

 the latter, and nephew to the duke of San Carlos ; Don Bal- 

 thazar Companon, archbishop of Santa Fe, &c. &c. 



The dire6lion and government of the academy belong en- 

 tirely to the re6tor, who is annually ele6ted, by secret votes, 

 on the 30th of June. His age must exceed thirty years ; and 

 he must have been received into the community of lay brothers, 

 and have taken the second ecclesiastical degi-ee. The chapter 

 is at liberty to re-ele6l him on the following year, but not for 

 a longer time, it being the privilege of the viceroy, as vice 

 patron, to continue him for a third year, if that should be 

 deemed essential to the prosperity of the establishment. 



The other ministers and officers, ele6led in the same man- 

 ner, are the two principal counsellors, the one who filled that 

 office the preceding year having the title of vice-re6tor, to sup- 



z 2 ply 



