194 BENEVOLENT ESTABLISHMENTS. 



latioii of Lima, it will be seen that the hospital, in 179Q, 

 supplied an asylum to twenty-nine poor. 



The asylum for repentant females was founded in 166^^ 

 under the viceroyalty of the count of Lemos, by father Fran- 

 cisco Del Castillo, who became the confessor. It was not an 

 institution subjedt to canonical regulations, but a voluntary 

 retreat for poor, repentant, and abandoned females, the de- 

 sign of which was in opposition to solemn vows. It afforded 

 the advantages of a monastic state to those whose situation and 

 poverty would neither allow them to remain in society without 

 a risk of their honour and salvation, nor to obtain the dowry 

 requisite to take the veil. A code of suitable constitutions 

 having been drawn up, the dress which was to be worn by 

 these females, who were denominated the protegees (ampa- 

 radas) of la Concepcion, w^as made to agree with the particu- 

 lar nature of their vocation ; and this was expressed by a sil- 

 ver medal hanging from the neck. Their occupations, and 

 the mode of life they were to lead, were pointed out ; and 

 they were subje£ted to the immediate government of a canoness, 

 whom they were themselves to ele£t. These dispositions having 

 been made, the public entry into the house which had been 

 provided for them, took place in the month of March 1670, 

 ■with all the solemnity and manifestations of joy customary on 

 such pious occasions. The ceremonies lasted for three days, 

 the viceroy, his lady, the tribunals, the nobility, clergy, &c. 

 accompanying the processions. On this occasion, which will 



be 



