Caracas as a Place of Resort. 361 



unvisited. Dr. ERNST, the present Librarian and Cura- 

 tor, is always anxious that visitors should inspect the 

 National Collections. The room set apart tor the relics 

 of SlMON BOLIVAR, and other worthies, is as jealously 

 guarded as NELSON'S in the Painted Hall at Greenwich. 

 The University, the Hall of Congress, the National 

 Gallery, the Mint, and the " Panteon Nacional" are all 

 fine buildings. In the latter SlMON BOLIVAR is buried, and 

 near at hand rest the remains of several English and 

 Irish officers who fought against Spain for Venezuelan 

 Independence. The National Gallery contains a paint- 

 ing, "The Signing of Independence," by a native artist. 

 This, which is a work of some merit, will bear much 

 inspection, and has been favourably commented upon. 

 The Mint, organised by GUZMAN BLANCO, is compara- 

 tively a new institution, and is under a perfect system. 

 For those who have never visited a coin-making estab- 

 lishment, the Mint is well worth the undertaking. The 

 Venezuelan coin is exceedingly pretty. 



Caracas boasts of two theatres — one small, and the 

 other styled the " Grand Theatro de Guzman Blanco." 

 The latter is chiefly used for the opera, and the Govern- 

 ment gives a subvention to attract troupes from France 

 and Spain. It is a large building, well adapted for the 

 climate, and tastefully decorated. On a full night one 

 might fancy that one is in a similar place of entertain- 

 ment in Europe. The Amateur Philharmonic Society 

 generally uses one or other of the theatres, when the 

 opera season is over, for their concerts ; and admirable 

 concerts they are. Many of the artistes show what the 

 Conservatoire in Paris and other places have done for 

 them in training them efficiently. 



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