VOYAGE TO NEW SOUTH WALES. . 
becomes putrid, ' and, in very dry hot weather, is to- 1787. 
tally exhaled. I have before obferved, that Laguna is Jl!^ 
confidered as the capital of the ifland, and added my rea- 
fons for thinking this an ill-judged diftindion. The road 
from Santa Cruz to it is a pretty fteep afcent, until you ap- 
proach the town, which is iituated at the extremity, or 
rather on a corner, of a plain three or four miles long. 
This city has two churches, one of them richly ornamented ; 
and feveral convents both of friars and nuns. It has like- 
wife three hofpitals ; two of which were originally inftituted 
for the wife, but ineffectual, purpofe of eradicating the /uef 
venerea ; a difeafe that has long been, and flill continues to 
be, very common in this ifland. I was however informed, 
that perfons afflided with other diforders are now received 
into thefe two charitable inftitutions ; and that the third is 
appropriated to the reception of foundlings. Belides the 
foregoing, there are fome other public, as well as private 
buildings, that tend to improve the appearance of the town. 
There is very little trade carried on at Laguna, it being 
rather the retired refidence of the gentry of the ifland, and 
of the merchants of Santa Cruz, which is the principal feat 
of commerce. The officers of juftice likewife refide here ; 
D fuch 
