310 



The principal of these is the Tribunal of 

 Audience, or Royal Senate, whose' decision is 

 final in all causes of importance both civil and 

 criminal, and is divided into two courts, the one 

 for the trial of civil, and the other for that of 

 criminal causes. Both are composed of several 

 respectable judges called auditors, of a regent, 

 a fiscal or rojal procurator, and a protector of 

 the Indians. All these officers receive large sa- 

 laries from the court. Their judgment is final, 

 except in causes where the sum in litigation ex- 

 ceeds ten thousand dollars, when an appeal raajr 

 be had to the supreme council of the Indies. 

 Justice, as has been already observed, is uni- 

 versally agreed to be administered by them with 

 the utmost impartiality. The other supreme 

 courts are that of Finance, of the Crtizada, of 

 Vacant Lands, and the Consulate or Tribunal of 

 Commerce, which is wholly independent of any 

 other of that kind.. 



Tlie provinces are governed by Prefects, for- 

 merly called Corregidors, but at present known 

 by the name of suh-dcle gates ; these, according 

 to the forms of their institution, sliould be of 

 jroyal nomination, but, owing to the distance of 

 the court, they are usually appointed by the 

 captain-general, of whom they style themselves 

 the lieutenants. They have jtirisdiction both of 

 civil and military affairs, and their emoluments 

 of office depend entirely upon their fees, which 



