# The Present State of Peru/5f

​ The above are the principal and most important benevolent establishments in the capital of Peru, in referring to which, the learned Murillo asserts, on the authority of father ​Calancha, that "there is not a city in the world in which so many-alms are distributed." If this be an elogy, it is likewise an historical fact; and the sincere relation of heroical actions is in itself a panegyric. Without reckoning the innumerable oratories, hermitages, and internal sanctuaries in the convents, monasteries, and private houses, most sumptuously erected, and adorned with exquisite taste, curiosity, and riches, Lima is embellished by fifty-six great temples, magnificent on account of their majestic fabric, their spacious extent, the splendour of their worship, and the pomp of their solemnities. Of these, the largest and most superbly ornamented is the cathedral church. In addition to these large sacred edifices, there are twenty-six public chapels, many of which, on account of their size, might be properly denominated churches.
The above cited Murillo, taking Ulloa as his guide, reckons no more than nineteen convents of regulars in Lima. He can, however, have paid but little attention to the subject; since, however they may be at present applied to other purposes, the four colleges, or religious houses of San Pablo, Desamparados, Noviciado, and Cercado, are of that description, independently of the nineteen others, four of which belong to the Dominicans, three to the Franciscans, three to the Augustins, three to the Mercedarios, or friars of the order of Mercy, one to the Minims, two to the Ministers of the Sick, one to the hospitallers of San Juan De Dios, and two to the ​Bethlemites. Besides these convents, there are four hospitals belonging to the Benedictins, the Geronims, the Franciscan missionaries attached to the college of Ocopa, and the minor brothers who collect alms for the holy places of Jerusalem. The monasteries belonging to the nuns are fourteen in number; and to these may be added the five receptacles for devotees who have not taken the veil. One of these establishments is for Indian women of noble extraction. Among a great variety of confraternities, there are five principal congregations of seculars. Next follow two colleges for females, namely, that of la Caritad, for the education of young girls, and that of Santa Cruz, for female orphans. Each of these establishments has not only sufficient funds for its support, but is likewise enabled to portion off those who are on the foundation, according to the condition of life they may think proper to embrace. At a small distance from the receptacle for the support and education of orphans, there is another for women, in which they are gratuitously lodged. There are also four establishments for the exercises of St. Ignatius, three for men, and one for women.
Peralta reckons eleven hospitals only in the city of Lima, including the hall of St. Louis, situated in the interior of the magnificent infirmary of the great convent of Franciscan monks, and destined for the maintenance and cure of sick and disabled domestics. Without, however, taking this establishment into the account, there are at this time fifteen hospitals, open for the reception of the sick. That of St. Andrew is destined for Spaniards and their immediate descendants; that of St. Ann, for Indians, with two separate infirmaries, ​one for men, the other for women. That of Santa Maria De La Caridad, for Spanish women, and those who approach the nearest to that class. El Espiritu Santo, for seafaring persons of every description. San Bartholeme, with two distinct buildings, for men and women of the negro cast, and their immediate races. San Juan De Dios, for Spaniards. The Bethlemites, for Indian men within the cloisters of the convent, and, in front of the church, for women of that nation. The Refuge, for incurables, within the convent for men, and, in its vicinity, for women. St. Lazarus, for lepers of both sexes, in separate infirmaries. And, lastly, las Camilas, for women labouring under any infirmity, and of every condition.
To these great establishments may be added four colleges for public instruction, three of them for the higher faculties of the arts, civil and canonical laws, and theology; and the other for Latinity and polite literature. And, finally, many public schools for reading and writing, the masters belonging to which are, as well as the pens, ink, and paper, at the charge of the community. An incredible number of large funds have been collected, to portion off, annually, young girls of virtuous and sober manners, either for the cloisters, or for a wedded state. The benefices and anniversaries, or yearly obits, are as numerous as the endowments designed to celebrate, with the utmost pomp and magnificence, the sacred festivals of Jesus Christ and the Saints. With the exception of the cathedral church; of the chapel of the palace; and of the ​college of Ocopa, for which Lima is indebted to the munificence of the sovereigns of Spain; of the two jails built by the city; of the chapel of the Inquisition, constructed by the noblemen who compose that tribunal; of that of the university, erected at the expence of its illustrious chapter; and of the spittal of the Escurial, the work of the present enlightened and zealous administrator of its rents: all the other edifices are glorious monuments of the piety and benevolence of native Peruvians. This is the more deserving of consideration, because these edifices having been repeatedly damaged or destroyed, by the frequent earthquakes that have occurred; and their funds, embarked in real properties, either deteriorated, or entirely lost, by the violence of the earthquakes themselves, or by other accidental causes; they have all of them been reedified, repaired, and improved by public alms, arising not only from the large donations of the rich, but from the contributions of the half reals of the poor. Without prejudice to these immense largesses, incredible sums of money are collected; for the purpose of redeeming christian captives; for the ransom of the places where our own redemption was wrought; for the shrouds and interment of those who die; for religious communities; for criminals under sentence of death; and for the support of indigent and decayed families.
We cannot conclude better than by citing the expressions of count De La Granja, in the preamble to his heroical poem on the life of Santa Rosa. "In this territory (Peru), not less favoured by Apollo and Minerva, than by Ceres and Pomona, there happily prevails among the inhabitants a gentle temperament which renders them connatural with humanity and liberality. All are compassionate; all generous;—not only those ​who abound in riches; but those who, by the sweat of the brow, and the labour of the hands, can scarcely procure what is necessary to the purposes of life, are equally merciful and charitable."
* ↑ The nomenclature of the different churches, inserted in the original, would not, any more than those of the chapels, monasteries, &c. be interesting to the English reader.
* ↑ Wherever there is an establishment for each of the sexes, two distinct hospitals are reckoned.