Ch. III. SOUTH AMERICA. 4% 



of that term the fovereign may prolong it. This ofHce 

 is offuch importance, that the vice-roy enjoys all the 

 privileges of royalty. He is abfolute in all affairs, 

 whether political, military, civil, criminal, or relating 

 to the revenue, having under him ofRces and tribunals 

 for executing the feveral branches of government fo 

 that the grandeur of this employment is in every par- 

 ticular equal to the title. For the fafcty of his perfon 

 and the dignity of his office, he has two bodies of 

 guards; one of horfe, confiding of 160 private men, 

 a captain, and a lieutenant : Their uniform is blue, 

 turned up with red, and laced with filver. This 

 troop confifts entirely of picked men, and all Spa- 

 niards. The captain's poft is efteemed very honour- 

 able. Thefe do duty at the principal gate of the pa- 

 Jace ; and when the vice-roy goes abroad, he is at- 

 tended l)y a piquet guard confifting of eight of thefe 

 troopers. The 2d is that of the halbadiers, confifting 

 of 50 men, all Spaniards , dreffed in a blue uniform, 

 and crimfon velvet waiftcoats laced with gold. Thefe 

 do dqty in the rooms leading to the chamber of au- 

 dience, and private apartments. They alfo attend 

 the vice-roy when he appears in public, or vifits the 

 offices, and tribunals. The only officer of this body 

 is a captain, whofe poft is alfo reckoned very emi- 

 nent. Both captains are nominated by the vice-roy 

 Befides thefe there is another guard within the palace, 

 (:onfifting of icq private men, a captain, lieutenant; 

 and fub-lieutenant being a detachment from the gar- 

 rifon of Callao. Thefe are occafionally employed in 

 executing the governor's orders, and the decrees of 

 the tribunals, after they haye received the fandion of 

 his affent. 



The vice-roy, befides afiifting at the courts of 

 juftice, and the councils relating both to the finances 

 and war, gives every day public audience to all forts 

 of perfons for which purpofe there are in the pa- 

 Jace, fhree very grand and fpacious rooms. In the 



firft. 



