Cu. III. SOUTH AMERICA. 41 



of that term the sovereig:n may prolong it. This office 

 is of such importance^ that the viceroy enjoys all iho, 

 privileg-es of royalty. He is absolute in all affairs 

 whether political, military, civil, crimina!, orrelatinjí; 

 to the revenue, havinii; under him offices and tribunals 

 for executing: the several branches of «:overnment ; so 

 that the gTanileur of tiiis employment is in every par- 

 ticular equal to the title. For the safety of his person 

 and the dignitv of his office, he has two bodies of 

 guards; one of horse, consisting of 160 private men, 

 a captain^ and a lieutenant: their uniform is blue, 

 turned up with red, and laced with silver. This 

 troop consists entirely of picked men, and all Spa- 

 niards. The captain's post is esteemed very honour- 

 able. These do duty at the principal gate of the pa- 

 lace ; and when the viceroy goes abroad, he is at- 

 tended by a piquet guard consisting of eight of these 

 troopers. The ^d is that of the halberdiers, consisting 

 of 5U men, all Spaniards , dressed in a blue uniform, 

 and crimson velvet waistc )asts laced with gold. These 

 do duty in the rooms leading to the chamber of au- 

 dience^ and private apartments. They also attend 

 ihe viceroy when he appears in public, or visits the 

 offices and tribunals. The only oñicer of this body 

 is a captain, whose post is aiso reckoned very emi- 

 nent. Both captains are nominated by the viceroy. 

 Besides these tiicre is another guard within the palace, 

 consisting of 100 private men, a captain, lieutenant, 

 and sub-lieutenant; being a detachment from the gar- 

 rison of Callao. These are occasionally employed in 

 executing the governor's orders, and the decrees of 

 the tribunals, after they have received the sanction of 

 his assent. 



The viceroy, besides assisting at the courts of 

 justice, and the councils relating both to the finances 

 and war, gives every day public audience to all sods 

 of persons; for whicli purpose there arc in the pa- 

 Juce^ three very grand and spacious rooms. In the 



first 



