ií36 A VOYAGE TO Book VIIT. 



The churches are small and mean ; the same may be 

 said of the Franciscan, Augustine, and Dominican 

 convents, as well as those belonging to the fathers of 

 jMercy : but the college of Jesuits is not wholly desti- 

 tute of elegance, being well built and of a tolerable 

 architecture. 



The political government of this city consists of 

 a corregidor, nominated by the king, and who is at 

 the head of the ordinary alcaldes and the regidores. 

 During the vacancy of this post, the duty is per- 

 formed by the president of Chili, who is governor, 

 and captain-general of the whole kingdom, and 

 president of the audience of Santiago, on which, as its 

 capital, Conception is dependent. The court of au- 

 dience was originally established in the latter, and 

 continued there from the year 156/, to 1574; but 

 the danger and disturbances, occasioned b^ the fre- 

 (juent revolts of the Indians, caused it for a while 

 to be suppressed, and afterwards to be removed to 

 the city of Santiago. The president is, however, 

 obliged to reside six months of the year at Concep- 

 tion, that he may attend carefully to the military 

 concerns of the frontiers, see that the forts be in a 

 good condition, and well provided with every thing, 

 in order to keep the Indians of Arauco in awe, and 

 that the military forces are in good order, and well 

 disciplined, and always in readiness to repel any at- 

 tempts of the Indians, provided they should ever 

 abandon their dread of the Spanish troops. During 

 the other six months, when the governor resides at 

 Santiago, he acts in a very different character; 

 hearing complaints, redressing grievances, and ad- 

 ministering justice, that this tribunal may receive 

 the greater dignity from his presence. Here is also 

 a chamber of finances, at the head of which, is an 

 accountant and treasurer. Besides, which Conception 

 has likewise all the other courts and offices usual in 

 the cities of South America. 



3 As 



