60 



INTRODUCTION. 



interest from the inhabitants, they are forbidden Ho 

 marry, enter into commerce, or to hold property in 

 the country; and are even restricted in their social in- 

 tercourse. The obvious effect of this law, if rigid- 

 ly observed, must be to prevent them from enter- 

 taining much affection for the countries under their 

 jurisdicticm, or regard for its happiness and pros- 

 perity. To make amends for this, they are the faith- 

 ful executors of the king's will, as expressed in the 

 council of the Indies. The fidelity of the viceroys 

 has sometimes been suspected; but as far as I can 

 learn, this has never been the case with the audiencia. 

 This body has at times been regarded by the people, 

 as the defenders of public liberty; standing between 

 them and the absolute authority of the viceroy. 

 They have control over all other tribunals of justice, 

 civil and ecclesiastical. The audiencia is composed 

 of a regent, and three oydores, with two fiscals, (at- 

 torney generals) one for civil, and the other for crimi- 

 nal matters; a reporter, and an alguazil mayor. It 

 has the right of corresponding directly with the 

 king; and it is its duty, to inform the council of the 

 Indies of the state of the colony. To it are also con- 

 fided, all important commissions, with the exception 

 of the military. One of the most important preroga- 

 tives of the audiencia, is that of succeeding to the vice- 

 roy, in case of his decease, and until the appointment 

 of another by the king. In this case, the regent or 

 eldest oydore represents the head of the vacated ex- 

 ecutive power. 



In order to form a correct idea of the internal, or 

 domestic government, it is necessary to attend to the 

 manner in which the Spanish settlements are gene- 



