SIX MONTHS IN MEXICO. 91 



to prepare themselves by prayer, in silence 

 and solitude, for the sacraments and other 

 duties required by the Catholic religion, may 

 retire, free of expense, for the space of eight 

 days. The building appropriated for this 

 laudable purpose is admirably calculated to 

 withdraw the mind from human affairs, and to 

 fit it to receive divine inspiration, by the ab- 

 straction from all sublunary and temporary 

 concerns; and it has been amply endowed 

 with revenues greater than those of most of 

 the charitable institutions of Europe. The 

 structure itself is magnificent, and of larger 

 dimensions than any of the palaces of Great 

 Britain. It encloses two squares, one having 

 a fine garden, into which the windows of the 

 apartments occupied by the penitents open. 

 Each person has a comfortable room, contain- 

 ing a small well executed crucifix, and other 

 emblems of religion, a wooden bedstead, chair, 

 and table. I noticed seventy-one apartments, 



