42 A VOYAGE TO Book VIL 



first, which is adorned with the portraits of all the 

 yiceroys, he receives the Indiaas aiTd other casts. 

 In the second, he gives audience to the Spaniards; 

 and in the third, where under a rich canopy are plac<pd 

 the pictures of the kir-g- and queen then reigning, he 

 receives those ladies who desire to speak to him in 

 private without being known. 



The affairs relating to the government are expe,- 

 ditcd by a secretary of state, with an assistant, pro- 

 perly qualified for such an arduous post. From this 

 oííice are issued the orders for passports, ^hich must 

 be had from excrv corregidor in his jinisdiction. 

 The secretary has also the power of filling all juri- 

 dical empíoymenís as they become vacant, for the 

 term of two. years; as also those of the magistracy, 

 who at the expiration of their term have not been 

 replaced by others of his majesty's nomination. In 

 a word, this ofíice may be said to be the channel by 

 which ail affairs relating both to war and government 

 are transacted. 



All causes, relating to.justice, are tried iu the 

 court called the audiencia, íVom the decrees of which 

 there is no appeal to the supreme council of. the in- 

 flies, unless after notorious injustice or a second trial; 

 as the viceroy himself presides in it. The audiencia, 

 which is the chief court at Liuia, is conjposed of 8 

 auditors or Judges, and a fiscal íov civil causes. This 

 court is held in the viceroy's palace, in the 3 saloons 

 appropriated to it. in one the deliberations are h.eid, 

 and in the other t\yp, the causes are tried either pub- 

 licly or privately, the senior judge always presiding. 

 Criminal causes are tried in a 4th apartment, the 

 judges beiiig 4 alcaldes of the court, and a criminal 

 fiscal. There is also a fiscal protector of the Indians, 

 and some supermmieraries. 



Next to the tribunal of audience, is the chamber 

 ofaccounis, consisting of a commissioner; five chief 

 accomptants, two rceei\cis, and two directors* with 



otjicr 



