PRIESTS IN SOUTH AMERICA. 



291 



how far it may be permitted to extend. The in- 

 fluence of the priests over the minds of the people, 

 is evidently fast falling to decay in many parts of 

 South America. Religious processions, the food 

 and bait of the lower order, are rapidly dwind- 

 ling away. At Buenos Ayres there are none, 

 in Chili very few ; at Lima only are they car- 

 ried on in any considerable degree : yet the 

 priests, instead of being respected, as they for- 

 merly were, have lost all their influence, and are 

 held in the greatest contempt ; their society is 

 shunned and despised by the respectable natives, 

 and they do not hesitate at openly calling them 

 a set of rogues and thieves. What all this will 

 ultimately lead to, the Lord alone can tell.'' 

 It is to be hoped that the light of the true gospel 

 may shortly spread and take root in that vast 

 city, containing upwards of one hundred thou- 

 sand souls. 



Finding in an English newspaper an extract 

 of a letter from Peru, and as it confirms so much 

 of what I have been stating I shall here quote it. 



u 2 



