1823. February 1--Free distribution of one thousand three hundred twenty copies of [books of] grammar, orthography, and reading-lessons, for popular use. February 15--The society bestows a gold medal on Don Doroteo Punzalan Estrella, for opening a channel which gave a new and more convenient direction to the river of Tondo; and another of silver on Don Agustin Campuzano and Pedro Antonio for other and similar services rendered, to the benefit of the country. March 1--The society resolves to give two hundred fifty pesos annually to endow in this island a chair of agriculture; and it appoints a prize for the best memoir which should be written "on the causes which hinder the development of the agriculture of the country." October 8--Translation and printing by the society of the book entitled, Guide for the Lancasterian Mutual System of Education, [224] which manual was distributed gratis, by decision adopted on March 9 of the following year. December 2--Establishment of a school of drawing; the first examinations for graduation from the said school took place April 9, 1828. The society resolves to send to India, on its own account, an intelligent person to study the method of dyeing the cambaya fabrics; and to order from North America three machines for hulling rice. 1824. March 9--Offering of prizes for the best pieces of cloth woven in Filipinas in imitation of those from China, and for the most successful experiments in dyes for cambayas; the prizes were awarded on September 22 of the same year. September 22--It is agreed to pay the cost of instructing eight Indians in the art of dyeing, in order to extend this knowledge through the country; on October 6, 1825, the first dyers from the society's school are examined and approved. 1826. February--Orders are given to reprint a manual presented by Don José Montoya on the cultivation and preparation of indigo. 1827. April 24--Printing of a memoir on the cultivation of coffee. October 30--The society votes the sum of eight hundred pesos for aid of the hospital for the poor in this capital. 1828. November 26--The society orders the printing of a manual of the elements of drawing. 1829. November 8--Machines for hulling rice are received, sent by the Economic Society of Cádiz. December 13--The society supports the government's project for establishing a bank in this capital. 1830. March 21--Reorganization of the Mercantile Register. [225] 1833. August 13--The society discusses and reports on the project of cultivating the poppy and making opium in Filipinas. 1836. June 30--Voluntary donation of five hundred pesos in behalf of the necessities of the State, on account of the war in España. 1837. June 27--The society awards a prize of one thousand pesos to Don Pablo de Gironier [226] for what he had done in exhibiting a coffee plantation of more than sixty thousand trees, in readiness for its second crop.