What I saw on the west coast of South and North America, and at the Hawaiian Islands.: By H. Willis Baxley, M.D.

HALLS OF CONGRESS AND JUSTICE.
its members; who, doubtless, will feel very much gratified, as
well for reasons of personal comfort as national pride, when tihe
new capitol near by-which seems to have dragged its slow
length along to a resting-place-shall have been completed.
On the east side of the plaza stands thie Ilall of Justice; a
low, stuccoed, and pilastered building. Thie ostentation of an
inexplicable wooden balustrade on the top lifts it above its legislative neighbor; though the decisions of its inner courts may
not be considered as preeminent by that revolutionary and not
very deferential confre're.
It is needless even to name twenty-five or thirty inferior
churches, most of which are but coarse imitations of the worse
features of the few more conspicuous and in better taste. A
fact in reference to them of singular uniformity is their unfinished condition; and it is the more remarkable in view of the
characteristic devotion of Catholics, and the liberality with
which they contribute to uphold the dignity and extend the influencee of their profession. The reason assigned by some for
this defect, seems to a charitable interpretation of human motive incredible; but if it be true that it is, as surmised by some
persons, a priestly device, the more frequently and speciously to
appeal to parishioners for contributions, which are diverted from
the purpose designed to the sensual and luxurious gratifications
of the clergy themselves, then is their perfidy doubly wicked;
for, while it shakes and endangers, by discovery and reprobation, the faith of proselytes, it would also defraud Divinity
of the willing tribute of Ihis simple-minded but sincere worshippers.
The finest of the churches of Santiago are lot equal, either
in architectural design and finish, or in embellishment and furniture, to the grandest in Lima. A certain sameness exists in
both cities, growing out of the imperious requirements of countries subject alike to earthquakes; but beyond this, Peru exhibits more church grandeur and general opulence of decoration,
especially in altar-furniture, than Chile. This may be accounted
for by the accessible wealth in precious metals of Peru at the
time of its conquest, and for a while after, and which was rapaciously and ruthlessly seized by the invaders, wherever found,
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