DETENTION AT URES. 
439 
Ures (pronounced Oo-ress) was originally a mission- 
ary establishment, and among the earliest in the State. 
Not many years before the expulsion of the Jesuits, 
they commenced here the erection of one of the largest 
churches in the country •, and when that event took 
place, the walls had been raised about half their in- 
tended height. The thirty years’ neglect, however, 
which it has suffered since that time, has reduced it to 
a mass of crumbling ruins. Adjoining it are the re- 
mains of a smaller edifice, which is now being rebuilt. 
A prison, or house of correction, a plain adobe struc- 
ture, is as yet the only public building in the place. 
About a mile from the town an Alameda^ or public 
park, has lately been laid out and planted with trees ; 
but so primitive is its appearance, that one would 
hardly recognise it as any thing more than an ordinary 
field and garden. 
During my residence here. Governor Aguilar resign- 
ed his ofihce, and his successor, Don Francisco Cubillas, 
was installed into his place. Like his predecessor. 
Governor Cubillas is an accomplished gentleman. He 
has spent many years in Europe and the United States, 
has a highly cultivated mind, and speaks the English 
language with fluency. He manifested much interest 
in the objects of our commission, particularly in the 
scientific investigations, which I told him we were mak- 
ing. During my illness, he extended to me many at- 
tentions, for which I shall ever hold him in kind remem- 
brance. To get my party off, and support myself, 
while at Ures, of course required considerable money. 
This he kindly proffered to me to any amount, although 
I could see no way of repaying him under many months. 
