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force, o) Spain is indebted, in a great meafure, for the uniform tranquillity which has reigned in her American dominions.

F orm and endowments of the church in the Spanish colonies.

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The hierarchy is established in America in the fame form as in Spain, with its full train of archbishops, bifhops, deans, and other dignitaries. The inferior clergy are divided into three claffes, under the denomination of Curas, Doctrineros, and Miffioneros. The firft are parish-priests in thofe parts of the country where the Spaniards have fettled. The fecond have the charge of fuch diftricts as are inha bited by Indians fubjected to the Spanish government, and living under its protection. The third are employed in converting and inftructing those fiercer tribes, which difdain fabmiffion to the Spanish yoke, and live in remote or inacceffible regions, to which the Spanish arms have not penetrated. So numerous are the ecclefiafticks of all thofe various orders, and fuch the profufe liberality with which many of them. are endowed, that the revenues of the church in America are immenfe. The fuperftition of Rome appears with its utmost pomp in the New World. Churches and convents there are magnificent, and richly adorned; and on high festivals, the difplay of gold and filver,

o) Recop, lib, i, tit, vii, l. 55. paffim.

and precious ftones, is fuch as exceeds the conception of an European. p) An ecclefiaftical establishment fo fplendid and expenfive, is unfavourable, as has been formerly obferved, to the progrefs of rifing colonies; but in countries where riches abound, and the people are fo delighted with parade, that religion must affume it, in order to attract their veneration, this propenfity to oftentation has been indulged, and becomes lefs pernicious.

Pernicious effects of monaftick inftitutions.

The early institution of monafteries in the Spanish colonies, and the inconfiderate zeal in multiplying them, have been attended with confequences more fatal. In every new fettlement, the firft object is to encourage population, and to incite every citizen to contribute towards augmenting the ftrength and number of the community. During the youth and vigour of fociety, while there is room to spread, and fuftenance is procured with facility, mankind increase with amazing rapidity. But the Spaniards had hardly taken poffeffion of America, when, with a most prepofterous policy, they began to erect convents, where perfons of both fexes were fhut up, under a vow to defeat the purpose of nature, and to counteract the first

of

P) Voy. de Ulloa, i, 43o.

of her laws. Influenced by a mifguided piety, which afcribes tranfcendent merit to a state of celibacy, or allured by the prospect of that liftlefs eafe, which, in fultry climates, is deemed fupreme felicity, numbers crowd into those manfions of floth and fuperftition, and are loft to fociety. As none but perfons of Spanish extract are admitted into the monafteries of the New World, the evil is more fenfibly felt, and every monk or nun may be confidered as an active perfon withdrawn from civil life. The impropriety of fuch foundations in any fituation. where the extent of territory requires additional hands to improve it, is fo obvious, that fome catholick ftates have exprefsly prohibited any perfon in their colonies from taking the monaftick vows. q) Even the Spanish monarchs, on fome occafions, feem to have been alarmed with the spreading of a spirit fo adverse to the increase and profperity of their colonies, that they have endeavoured to check it. r) But the Spaniards in America, more thoroughly under the influence of fuperftition than their countrymen in Europe, and directed by ecclefiafticks more bigoted and illiterate, have conceived fuch an high opinion of monaftick fanctity, that no regulations can restrain their zeal,

q) Voy. de Ulloa, ii. 124.

r) Herrera, dec. v. lib. ix. c. I, 2. Recop. lib. i. tit. iii. 1. I, 2. tit. iv. 1. 2. Solorz. lib. iii. c. 23.

ROBERTSON Vol. III. U

and, by the excefs of their ill judged bounty, religious houfes have multiplied to a degree no less amazing than pernicious to fociety. s)

Character of ecclefiafticks in Spanish America;

In viewing the ftate of colonies, where not only the number but influence of ecclefiafticks is fo great, the character of this powerful body is an object that merits particular attention. A confiderable part of the fecular clergy in Mexico and Peru are natives of Spain. As perfons accustomed, by their education, to the retirement and indolenee of academick life, are more incapable of active enterprize, and lefs difpofed to ftrike into new paths, than any order of men, the ecclefiaftical adventurers by whom the American church is recruited, are commonly fuch as, from merit or rank in life, have little profpect of fuccefs in their own country.

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of the feculars;

Accordingly, the fecular priests in the New World are ftill lefs diftinguifhed than their brethren in Spain, for literary accomplishments of any fpecies; and though, by the ample provifion which has been made for the American church, many of its members enjoy the ease and independence which are favourable to the

s) See NOTE JLVII,

cultivation of fcience, the body of fecular clergy has hardly, during two centuries and a half, produced one author whofe works convey fuch ufeful information, or poffefs fuch a degree of merit, as to be ranked among thofe which attract the attention of enlightened nations. of the regulars.

But the greateft part of the ecclefiafticks in the Spanish fettlements are regulars. On the difcovery of America, a new field opened to the pious zeal of the monaftick orders; and, with a becoming alacrity, they immediately fent forth miffionaries to labour in it. The first attempt to inftruct and convert the Americans, was made by monks; and, as foon as the conqueft of any province was completed, and its ecclefiaftical establishment began to affume some form, the popes permitted the miffionaries of the four mendicant orders, as a reward for their fervices, to accept of parochial charges in America, to perform all fpiritual functions, and to receive the tythes, and other emoluments of the benefice, without depending on the jurifdiction of the bishop of the diocefe, or being fubject to his cenfures. In confequence of this, a new career of usefulness, as well as new objects of ambition, prefented themselves. Whenever a call is made for a fresh fupply of miffionaries, men of the most ardent and aspir

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