PUBLIC BUILDINGS. 



109 



cha, that -*' there is not a city in the world in which so many 

 alms are distributed." If this be an elogy, it is likewise an 

 historical fa6t ; and the sincere relation of heroical actions is 

 in itself a panegyric. Without reckoning the innumerable 

 oratories, hermitages, and internal sanctuaries in the convents, 

 monasteries, and private houses, most sumptuously ere6led, 

 and adorned with exquisite taste, curiosity, and riches, Lima 

 is embellished by fifty-six great temples, magnificent on ac- 

 count of their majestic fabric, their spacious extent, the splen- 

 dour of their worship, and the pomp of their solemnities. Of 

 these, the largest and most superbly ornamented is the cathe- 

 dral church*. In addition to these large sacred edifices, there 

 are twenty-six public chapels, many of which, on account of 

 their size, might be properly denominated churches. 



The above cited Murillo, taking UUoa as his guide, reckons 

 no more than nineteen convents of regulars in Lima. He can, 

 however, have paid but little attention to the subjedl ; since, 

 however they may be at present applied to other purposes, 

 the four colleges, or religious houses of San Pablo, Desampa- 

 rados, Noviciado, and Cercado, are of that description, in- 

 dependently of the nineteen others, four of which belong to 

 the Dominicans, three to the Franciscans, three to the Au- 

 gustins, three to the Mercedarios, or friars of the order of 

 Mercy, one to the Minims, two to the Ministers of the Sick, 

 one to the hospitallers of San Juan De Dios, and two to the 



* The nomenclature of the difFerent churches, inserted in the original, would 

 not, any more than those of the chapels, monasteries, 2cc. be Interesting to the 

 English reader. 



Bethlemites, 



