€h. II. SOUTH AMERICA. 89 



jurifdidion of a governor* with the title of lieutenant- 

 general being fuch under the prefident of Panama, 

 and the term of his poft is v;ithout any fpeci- 

 fied limitation. He is always a gentleman of the 

 army, having under him the commandants of the 

 forts that defend the harbour; whofe employments 

 are for life. 



It confifts of one principal ftreet, extending along 

 •he ftrand, with other fmaller crofling it, and running 

 from the declivity of the mountain to the fhore, to- 

 gether with fome lanes, in the fame diredion with the 

 principal ftreet, where the ground admits of it. Here 

 are two large fquares \ one oppofite to the cuftom- 

 houfe, which is a ftrudure of ftone, contiguous to the 

 quay; the other oppoiite the great church, which is 

 of ftone, large, and decently ornamented, confidering 

 the fmallnefs of the place. It is ferved by a vicar 

 and other priefts, natives of the country. 



Here are two other churches, one called Nueilra 

 Signora de la Merced, with a convent of the fame or- 

 der ; the other St. Juan de Dios, which, though it 

 bears the title of an hofpital, and vv^as founded as fuch, 

 is very far from being fo in reality. The church 

 of la Merced is of ftone, but mean, and ruinous, 

 like the convent, which is alfo decayed ; fo that, v/ant- 

 ing the proper conveniencies for the religious to re- 

 fide in, they live in the town difperfed in private 

 houfes. 



That of St. Juan de Dios is only a fmall building 

 like an oratory, and not in better condition than that 

 of la Merced. Its v^^hole community confifts of a 

 prior, chaplain, and another religious, and fometimes 

 even of lefs : fo that its extent is very fmall, fince, 

 properly fpeaking, it has no community and the 

 apartment intended for the reception of patients con- 

 fifts only of one chamber, open to the roof, without 

 beds or other neceffaries. Nor are any admitted but 

 fuch as are able to pay for their treatment and diet. 

 \ It 



