EOYAL AUDIENCE. 



155 



as it has done in the different vacancies which have since oc- 

 curred. Between the above intermission of the vice-regal au- 

 thority, and the one occasioned by the return of the prince of 

 Esquilache to Spain, in 1621, there were not less than five. 

 In every similar instance, it has not only preserved the king- 

 dom in the most tranquil state, but has been enabled, by 

 a skilful and prudent diredlion, to remit to his Catholic Ma- 

 jesty, from the royal treasury, specie to the amount of six 

 millions one hundred and twenty thousand eight hundred and 

 seven ducats. In consequence of the death of the viceroy, 

 Don Martin Henriquez, in 1 583, and that of the Count of 

 Monte-Rey, in 1606, the audiencies of Charcas and Quito re- 

 sumed the government of their respedlive distridls, on pretext 

 that the royal schedules of March 1550, and February 1577, 

 by which it was provided that the audience of Lima should 

 govern in the absence of the viceroys, had been dispatched 

 prior to their establishment ; but his Majesty, in a schedule 

 dated in November 1606, disapproved of this pretension, and 

 gave dire6lions that the authority of the audience of Lima 

 should extend to every part of the vice-regal dominions. 



The instru6lion for the establishment of regents for the au- 

 diences of the Indies, in which the prerogatives and faculties 

 of that distinguished employment are specified, bears the date 

 of the month of June 1776, since which time the audience has 

 not undergone any material change. From what has been 

 precedently said, it may be colle6led, that the viceroy, in vir- 

 tue of his office, constantly presides over this high judicial 

 court, which is filled by eight judges, together with several 

 fiscals and other subaltern officers. 



X 2 



HISTO- 



