106 



BOGOTA'. 



silence. Their power fast decreases, and 

 they are fully conscious of it. The natives 

 grow more enlightened by intercourse with 

 foreigners, and by the strong natural good 

 sense and perception which they possess. 

 The government curtails the expenses of the 

 clergy to the extent of its power, by keep- 

 ing vacant most of the archbishoprics and 

 bishoprics, and by appropriating a consider- 

 able portion of the revenues of the church 

 (which report states at two-thirds of the 

 expenditure of the state) towards defraying 

 the expenses of raising and supporting the 

 newly organized troops. There are, how- 

 ever, some priests who have openly espoused 

 the cause of the independent government, 

 and strive to improve the minds and mo- 

 rals of the people by active exertions and 

 strenuous endeavours; and ultimately the 

 old bigotted part of the clergy will bo to- 

 tally driven from a country which they have 

 so long tended to keep in ignorance, and 



