Perez, Elizalde, Casares, Garcia, Toledo, Iraola, Billinghurst, Castro, and Pereyra the funds were mostly raised by subscription. The premises adjoin the Provincial Government-house at the corner of Moreno and Perú, having been ceded by the Legislature for this express purpose: there are three large halls and others smaller, capable of accommodating 300 pupils. More than 1,000 youths have been educated here in the last eleven years, and a large proportion of these afterwards passed through the University. The studies include-Latin, English, French, German, mathematics, history, geography, drawing, music, and gymnastics. At first there was no charge for pupils, the institute being supported by voluntary subscription, but it became necessary to alter this, and the following scale of fees now rules-boarders, $500; externs, $100; externs with breakfast, $150 per month. The Municipality maintains thirty free schools, for boys and girls, in the various city parishes and suburbs, which are attended by about 2,000 children of all ranks in society. The masters receive a salary of $2,000 a month, assistants $1,000, and mistresses $1,300 (besides which the children's parents usually give them something). The expenditure entailed by these schools is set down at $834,000 per annum. The Department of Schools was established in 1852, under the direction of Dr. Barros Pazos, then rector of the University in 1855 it was entrusted to Don Domingo Sarmiento, who established in five years as many as seventy public schools. There are at present 142 municipal and state schools in the city and province of Buenos Ayres, at which 8,000 children are educated. There are also 125 private schools in the city; the best of these are English, at which the usual fees are, for boarders $500, externs $100 a month. The Sociedad de Beneficencia, composed of charitable ladies, has charge of seventeen free schools for girls in the city, and forty-five in the country districts. The Diocesan Seminary, directed by the Rev. Canon Brid, is situate in Calle Victoria, close to the English cemetery. The Jesuit College in Calle Parque, corner of Callao, is a large building with grounds covering the whole «cuadra.» There is another lay college at the Balvanera, directed by French priests who are called Padres Bayoneses. Besides the day schools in connection with the English, Scotch, American, and German churches, there are boardingschools attached to the Irish convent, Calle Rio Bamba, and the French convent, Calle Cochabamba; also a day school kept by French nuns in Calle Rivadavia.

CHAP. IV.

CHURCHES AND CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS.

CHURCHES.

THE city is divided into eleven parishes, and contains some fine churches. Besides the Cathedral, there are fifteen churches, six chapels of ease, and four Protestant churches.

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The Cathedral is situate in Plaza Victoria, with a massive colonnade and fine front. Its dimensions are spacious, rendering it one of the grandest temples in this continent. Don Juan de Garay, in 1550, first marked out the site, and there is a tradition that the first bricks made in the country were devoted to this church. The Jesuits commenced a larger structure in 1621, but it fell in A.D. 1752, and was rebuilt by the architect Rocha, in the form that now exists, excepting the façade. In 1822 Señor Catellin was entrusted with the completion of the work, but this was paralysed during forty years of civil war, being only finished in 1862. The interior is imposing, the nave presenting a brilliant spectacle on feast days, when crowded with a congregation numbering some thousands, and the roof hung with flags taken in the wars against Spain and Brazil. The high altar stands nearly under the dome, which, with the cupola, rises to a height of 130 feet. There are twelve chapels in the aisles, possessing little in the way of fine arts. A proper organ is much wanted, and the choir is inferior. The Archbishop's throne is on the right of the high altar; the seats for the canons are of carved wood. The sacristy and baptistery are beyond the

right transept, and have a few paintings; one was a picture of merit and an artist took it away, leaving the copy in its stead. This side of the church communicates with the episcopal palace. The Archbishop officiates on all great feasts: the last Mass on Sundays and holidays is at 1 P.M. On the left side, are the halls for use of the Chapter, and here are the portraits of all the prelates from Dr. Carranza down to Bishop Medrano, eighteen in number. Four were natives of Buenos Ayres (including the brothers Arregui), five never took possession of the sea, and six were removed or died abroad. On May 12th, 1622, Fray Pedro de Carranza, Bishop of La Plata and Apostolic commissioner, raised this church to the rank of cathedral, and was its first prelate. In 1866 the see was created an archbishopric, under Dr. Mariano Escalada. The chapter consists of nine canons and four honorary canons; besides ten chaplains, and a dozen choristers and sacristans.

The Merced, at the corner of Calles Cangallo and Reconquista, was built in 1768, and had formerly a convent of nuns attached. The convent is now in charge of the Sociedad de Beneficencia, who use it as an orphanage an annual bazaar is held for its support, the articles of needlework being admirable. The church tower is used as a city observatory.

San Ignacio, corner of Bolivar and Potosi, is usually called the College church, because formerly belonging to the Jesuits, whose college was alongside. Although the Jesuit order was expelled in 1767, they are still allowed to keep schools in Buenos Ayres; but their college has long been expropriated by the State, and is now a secular school, with a good staff of professors. The exterior of the church is very fine, with two lofty turrets: the interior is rather sombre.

San Francisco, corner of Potosi and Defensa, belongs to the Franciscan monastery, and is remarkable for richness of decoration. The first mention of Franciscans in this city is about the year 1594, and it seems their convent was established in 1601. In the suppression of religious orders, in 1822, this community escaped; but the convents of the same order at the Recoleta and San Pedro were suppressed. The community now consists of thirty mendicant friars. The sacristy possesses some curious old pictures. The cloisters and corridors are finely vaulted.

San Roque is a chapel of ease, adjoining San Francisco, and set apart for the especial use of Irish residents. Canon Fahy, or another of the Irish clergy, celebrates Mass, and preaches in English, every Sunday at 11 A.M.

Santo Domingo, corner of Defensa and Belgrano, has a large nave, with aisles the high altar and side chapels are richly gilt. The Dominican convent has a prior and twenty mendicant friars. It was established in

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1591, and suppressed in 1822; but, in 1835, Fray Inchaurregui received permission from Government to re-establish the order. This church preserves rare and valuable trophies, which are hung from the dome on certain feast days: they consist of four English flags taken from Whitelocke's army in 1807—an artillery, a royal marine, and two infantry flags. In one of the belfry towers are seen twenty-four cannon shot, thrown by the English fleet from the roadstead, on the same occasion. Some of the Dominicans are very able preachers: this church is also remarkable for the splendor of its ceremonials and processions.

San Telmo, Calles Defensa and Comercio, dedicated to the patron of sailors, is a small church on a high point overlooking the roadstead: a new belfry was erected last year. Adjacent to the church are the Men's Hospital and the Residencia Lunatic Asylum. The neighborhood, during the time of Rosas, was known as «Barrio del Alto,» and bore a bad name.

The Concepcion, adjoining Plaza Independencia, is a new church, from designs by Padre Marin. It remained unfinished for some years owing to the roof having fallen in, when some workmen were killed, in 1860.

Santa Catalina, in Calle Brazil, is a chapel of ease, built in 1860, in pursuance of a pious testament, with schools attached.

San Juan, Calles Potosi and Piedras, is attached to a convent of Capuchin nuus: the order was established here in 1749, by five nuns who came from Chile; the convent was first situate close to the church of San Nicolas, but afterwards removed to the present spacious premises. The order was excepted in the decree of suppression, in 1822, and has now thirty-six nuns, who live by alms and a small pension from Government. There are, however, some ladies of fortune among the community. The convent has a large garden, covering almost the entire block, in a very valuable situation. The church is attended by French priests.

Our Lady of Monserrat, adjoining the Plaza of the same name, is a handsome new church. The parish is reputed very rich, and the interior of the edifice is elegant and tasteful.

Las Salinas is the name of a chapel situate in Calles Victoria and Sarandi, attached to the Archbishop's college: the latter is under the direction of Canon Brid, and a staff of professors, including the Rev. Mr. Dillon. Another chapel is in construction in General Guido's quinta, Calle Potosi, by the Italian residents.

San Miguel, Calles Suipacha and Piedad, stands in the highest part of the city, and an extensive view is obtained from the belfry. There is a statue of Saint Michael over the entrance. An orphanage was at first attached to this church, and the Jesuit printing-press, from Cordova, was devoted to

its support. The orphanage is now attached to the Merced. San Miguel was founded in 1727 by Don Juan Alonzo Gonsalez, during the prevalence of a great plague in which the corpses were removed for interment by being tied to the horses' tails. Gonsalez was a native of Cadiz, and after his wife's death became a priest, bringing the first convent of Catalinas nuns from Tucuman to settle in this city. His son succeeded him as director of the Institute of Charity of San Miguel, which was. suppressed in 1822: the second Gonsalez died in 1801, and there is a tasteful marble slab to his memory on the right of the altar.

The belfry

San Nicolas de Bari, Calles Corrientes and Artes, is the favorite church of Italians, but has nothing of artistic merit calling for notice. has a public clock.

La Piedad is a small parish-church at the corner of Calles Piedad and Paraná. In the neighbourhood is a remarkable pine-tree, 100 feet high. La Balvanera is a fine edifice, near the Plaza Once de Setiembre, with a college attached, under the charge of some French clergymen.

El Socorro, near the Plaza Retiro, is small and unpretending. Close to it is a garden that was formerly the British cemetery, until 1812, when Mr. Harratt purchased the present site in Calle Victoria.

Las Monjas, corner of Temple and San Martin, is a small church of some antiquity, attached to the convent of Dominican nuns, called Catalinas, whose order is very strict. The convent was founded in 1744 and was excepted from the suppression of 1822. There are forty nuns, each of whom at entering brings a small dowry; for the rest they depend on public charity: their garden occupies the whole block. The military of the Retiro attend Mass here on Sundays.

The Irish Convent of Sisters of Mercy is situate at the corner of Calles Rio Bamba and Tucuman; it has a chapel, schools, and hospital, under the patronage of St. Joseph. The community has its origin from Baggot Street Convent, Dublin. The first sisters were brought out by Father Fahy, in February 1856, under the superioress, Mother Mary Evangelist Fitzpatrick. They were first established in Calle Cangallo, till, in 1861, their countrymen built for them the present elegant structure. The community consists of about twenty sisters, of whom one-half are daughters of Irish sheepfarmers here resident. They make the three usual vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience, and a fourth for the service of the poor and sick. Their principal task, however, is the education of seventy boarders, the daughters of Irish estancieros, who pay £30 a year pension; and the gratuitous instruction of 200 poor native children of the neighborhood. They also feed, clothe, and instruct a limited number of orphans. The