VOYAGE TO NEW SOUTH WALES. 
part, that they might live in a lefs confined air. To every 1787. 
houfe there is a balcony, with lattice-vv'ork before it ; and 
the fame before all the windows. 
The churches are very numerous, elegant, and richly de- 
corated ; fome of them are built and ornamented in a 
modern ftile, and that in a manner which proclaims the 
genius, tafte, and judgment of the architeds and artifts. 
Two or three of the handfomeft are at this time either un- 
finifhed or repairing ; and they appear to go on but very 
flowly, notwithftanding large fums are conftantly colledling 
for their completion. As they are eredled or repaired by 
charitable contributions, public proceflions are frequently 
made for that purpofe ; and the mendicant friars, belong- 
ing to them, likewife exert themfelves in their line. At 
thefe proceflions, which are not unfrequent, perfons of every 
age and defcription aflift. They ufually take place after it 
is dark, .when thofe who join in it are drefled in a kind of 
cloak adapted to religious purpofes, and carry a lanthorn 
fixed at the end of a pole of a convenient length : fo that 
upon thefe occafions you fometimes fee three or four hun- 
dred moving lights in the ftreets at the fame time ; which 
lias an uncommon and a pleafing efFed. Confiderable fums 
I 3 are 
o 
