gy2 ULLOA's VOTAGE TO SOUTH AMERICA. 



The viceroys, whofe power extends over all Peru, ufually refide at Lima : but the 

 province and audience of Quito has been lately detached from it ; as we have obferved 

 in our account of that province. This government is triennial, though, at the expira- 

 tion of that term, the fovereign may prolong it. This office is of fuch importance, that 

 the viceroy enjoys all the privileges of royalty. He is abfolute in all affairs, whether 

 political, military, civil, criminal, or relating to the revenue, having under him offices 

 and tribunals for executing the feveral branches of government ; fo that the grandeur 

 of this employment is in every particular equal to the title. For the fafety of his per- 

 fon, and the dignity of his office, he has two bodies of guards ; one of horfe confift- 

 ing of one hundred and fixty private men, a captain, and a lieutenant : their uniform 

 is blue, turned up with red, and laced with filver. This troop confifls entirely of picked^ 

 men, and all Spaniards.- The captain's pofl is efteemed very honourable. Thefe do 

 duty at the principal gate of the palace ; and when the viceroy goes abroad, he is at- 

 tended by a piquet-guard confiding of eight of thefe troopers. The fecond is that of 

 the halberdiers, confifting of fifty men, all Spaniards, dreffed in a blue uniform, and 

 crimfon velvet waiflcoats laced with gold. Thefe do duty in the rooms leading to the 

 chamber of audience, and private apartments. They alfo attend the viceroy when he 

 appears in public, or vifits the offices and tribunals. The only officer of this body is a cap- 

 tain, whofe pofl is alfo reckoned very eminent. Both captains are nominated by the 

 viceroy. Befides thefe, there is another guard within the palace, confifting of one 

 hundred private men, a captain, lieutenant, and fub-lieutenant ; being a detachment 

 from the garrifon of Callao. Thefe are occafionally employed in executing the go- 

 vernor's orders, and the decrees of the tribunals, after they have received the fandion 

 of his affent. 



The viceroy, befides affifting at the courts of juftice, and the councils relating both 

 to the finances and war, gives every day public audience to all forts of perfons ; for 

 which purpofe, there are in the palace three very grand and fpacious rooms. In the 

 firft, which is adorned with the portraits of all the viceroys, he receives the Indians and 

 other cafts. In the fecond, he gives audience to the Spaniards ; and, in the third, 

 where under a rich canopy are placed the pictures of the King and Queen then reign- 

 ing, he receives thofe ladies who defire to fpeak to him in private without being 

 known. 



The affairs relating to the government are expedited by a fecretary of ftate, with an 

 affiftant, properly qualified for fuch an arduous poft. From this office are iffued the 

 orders for paffports, which mufl be had from every corregidor in his jurifdi6lion. The 

 fecretary has alfo the power of filling all juridical employments as they become vacant, 

 for the term of two years ; as alfo thofe of the magiflracy, who, at the expiration of 

 their term, have not been replaced by others of His Majefty's nomination. In a word, 

 this office may be faid to be the channel by which all affairs relating both to war and 

 government are tranfadled. 



All caufes relating to juftice are tried in the court called the Audiencia, from the de- 

 crees of which there is no appeal to the fupreme council of the Indies, unlefs after no- 

 torious injuftice, or a fecond trial ; as the viceroy himfelf prefides in it. The audiencia, 

 which is the chief court at Lima, is compofed of eight auditors or judges, and a fifcal 

 for civil caufes. This court is held in the viceroy's palace, iji the three faloons appro- 

 priated to it. In one the deliberations are held, and in the other two, the caufes are 

 tried either publicly or privately, the fenior judge always prefiding. Criminal caufes 

 are tried in a fourth apartment, the judges being four alcaldes of the court, and a 



X criminal 



