300 MARIANO PAZ SOLDAN. Chap. XVIII. 



subjects, such as toleration, the marriage of the clergy, and 

 independence of Eome, cannot be expected to make any- 

 rapid progress at present, but he is confident that a future 

 generation will appreciate his works, and introduce the 

 measures which he advocates. One of his strongest convic- 

 tions is that priests will never lead virtuous lives until they 

 are humanized by family ties : and that, while now they live 

 for the Church — that is for themselves and their order — they 

 ought to live for their flocks. 



While the learned and amiable Vigil represents the literary 

 men of Peru, Mariano Paz Soldan is one of the best specimens 

 of the men of action. His benevolent mind was shocked 

 at the wretched condition of the prisons in Peru, and he has 

 displayed an amount of energy and ability in endeavouring 

 to remedy this evil which goes far to vindicate the Peruvian 

 character from the charge of indolence and procrastination. 

 In 1853 Paz Soldan published a very able and detailed 

 report on the prisons of the United States ; and in 1856, by 

 dint of unceasing representations, he obtained the necessary 

 grant from the Government for the erection of a penitentiary 

 on the most improved principle at Lima. The. work was at 

 once commenced with vigour. The foundations, basement, 

 and first story are built of a veiy hard porphyritic stone, 

 brought from the hills about two miles from Lima, where a 

 quaiTy was opened for the first time by Paz Soldan, with a 

 trami-oad dhect to the works. The entrance is by a flight 

 of four steps, cut out of a single block of this porphyritic 

 rock. The second stoiy is of brick, and all the ii-on for 

 gratings, doors, bolts, and roofing came out ready made from 

 England. The wards for men, women, and childi'en are 

 separated, each with its large well-ventilated worki'oom, 

 exercising yard, and cells ; and everything is arranged pn 

 the best English and American models. It will hold 52 

 women, 52 boys, and 208 men. This great public work will be 



