[73] The Ensayo de gramática Hispano-Tagala (Manila, 1878) by the Recollect, Fray Toribio Minguella de la Merced. Retana says of this book (Biblioteca filipina, p. 149): "In my opinion the method of this book is the most suitable for study by Spaniards, who do not haze any knowledge of Latin, studied after the ancient method." Minguella published in 1886, Methodo práctico para que los niños y niñas de las provincias Tagalas aprendan á hablar castellano (Practical method for boys and girls to learn to talk Castilian). This latter book received a reward in public contest. [74] The author of this book is Castor Aguilera y Porta. [75] Its author is Ramón Irureta Goyena. [76] By Benito Francia. [77] This law is dated Nov. 27, 1623, q.v., VOL. XX, pp. 260, 261. [78] In 1867 the college of San Juan de Letran was declared a college of secondary education. See Montero y Vidal, iii, p. 485. [79] This college was considered as the Institute of the university (note on MS.). [80] The pupils of the schools directed by nuns are girls. [81] Throughout the first portion of this document, by "pupils" must be understood "girls." [82] See this decree in VOL. XLV, pp. 184-186, where it is dated June 20, 1686. [83] Tomás G. del Rosario, cited often in these notes, says (Census of Philippines, iii, pp. 594, 595): "A decree of the general government, issued October 6, 1885, provided for a competition to be followed by prizes for the best grammars written in Visayan, Cebuano, Ilocano, Bícol, Pangasinán, and Pampango, there being one already in Tagálog. Naturally these grammars, which were written in different dialects and taught in the public schools, made it more difficult (and that was the object) for the Spanish language to become general. Matters reached such a stage that teachers were punished and threatened with deportation, and some were actually deported, for teaching Spanish." Speaking on the same subject, LeRoy ("Friars in Philippines," in Political Science Quarterly, for December, 1903, p. 673) says: "In proclaiming the law of 1893 [the Maura law], Governor-general Blanco instructed the municipal councils to employ 'the most practical means for the diffusion of the Spanish language.' The common assertion that the friars did teach the natives Spanish is contradicted by these provisions and by the numerous decrees from 1585 on; those who frankly admit that they did not spread Spanish, and who hold that it is impracticable to make the natives accept either Spanish or English, have a fair argument to present." [84] See this decree in VOL. XLV, pp. 184-186. [85] This is given by Barrantes, Instrucción primaria, pp. 69-71. [86] For this and following citations of the regulations, see ante.