1829-30,  says,  in  reference  to  the  present  metropolis
of  tins  (tountry :  "  lima  is  said  to  be  the  most  corrupt
dty  on  the  continent;  so  much  so,  that  along  the
whole  coast,  as  I  am  told,  the  name  is  a  proverb  of  sin.
The  walks  of  the  Avenue,  as  we  drove  through  the
gate,  exhibited  some  specimens  of  the  morals  to  be
expected  within.  Several  intoxicated  officers,  and  thiee
or  four  Dominican  friars  in  the  garb  of  their  Order,
were  in  very  familiar  conversation  with  women  of  very
equivocal,  or  perhaps  I  should  say,  of  unequivocal
appearance,"  &c.  "Instead  of  the  splendid  city  which  I
expected,  I  found  mud  houses,  of  one  low  story,  with
large  doors  and  grated  windows,  exhibiting  many  sad
pictures  of  filth  and  poverty.  These  dens  were  inhab-
ited by  negroes  and  mulattoes,  thronging  in  gaping
and  half-naked  crowds  about  the  doors."

While  it  remained  under  the  Spanish  despotism,  Peru
continued  to  sink  lower  and  lower  into  the  abyss  of  vice
and  corruption.  Since  the  independence  of  the  country
was  proclaimed  in  1821,  the  annals  of  Peru  axe  little
more  than  a  record  of  tumult  and  bloodshed.  The
people  have  become  too  corrupt  for  self-government.
DISCOVERER    OF    THE     MISSISSIPPI.      251

and  too  disorderly  to  submit  to  the  restraints  of  a  lim-
ited monarchy.  For  many  years  to  come,  therefore,
ihey  will  be  in  a  state  of  vibration  between  anarchy  and
despotism.
Such  are  the  results  which  must  ever  follow  from
any  attempt  to  propagate  Christianity  with  the  sword.
