On the completion of the Spanish conquests in America, these were divided into two vast governments; the northern one being subject to the Viceroy of _New Spain_ [_Mexico_]; the southern to the Viceroy of _Peru_. The former, with which this work has no concern, comprised all the provinces to the north of the Isthmus of _Panamá_. Under the latter were comprehended all the Spanish dominions in South America. It was so inconveniently extensive that some of its districts were separated by more than two thousand miles from _Lima_. Owing to the distance from Spain at which these respective governments lay and the difficulties of communication within them, it was inevitable that much inconvenience should arise. This inconvenience, however, became intolerable as time advanced. The population in the provinces remote from the seat of government complained with reason of their being subjected to a ruler whose residence was placed so far away as for practical purposes to be inaccessible; whilst the authority of the Viceroy over such districts was necessarily feeble and ill-directed. As a partial remedy for these evils, a third Viceroyalty was later established, in the year 1718, at _Santa Fè de Bogotá_, the capital of _New Granada_, the jurisdiction attached to which included that over the provinces of _Quito_, _Popayan_, _Choco_, and the region called _Tierra Firma_. The Viceroys not only represented the person of the Sovereign, but likewise possessed the full regal prerogatives within the precincts of their respective governments. The external pomp with which they were surrounded was suited to their real dignity and power, their courts being formed upon the model of that of Madrid. The Viceroy had his horse-guards and his foot-guards; his household regularly established; a large number of attendants; and altogether such magnificence as hardly to retain the appearance of delegated authority. The Viceroys were aided in the discharge of the functions appertaining to their rank by officers and tribunals similar to those in Spain, some of whom were appointed by the King, and others by the Viceroy, but all subject to the latter and amenable to his jurisdiction. The administration of justice was vested in tribunals called _Audiences_, formed on the model of the Court of Chancery in Spain. In the entire Spanish dominions of America there were eleven _Audiences_, of which seven were established in the southern division of the continent,--namely, at _Lima_, _Panamá_, _Santa Fé de Bogotá_, _La Plata_ or _Charcas_, _Quito_, _St. Iago de Chili_, and _Buenos Ayres_. The number of judges in each Court of Audience varied according to circumstances. The station was no less honourable than lucrative, and was, for the most part, filled by persons whose merit and ability invested the tribunal with much respect. Both civil and criminal causes came under its cognizance; and for each peculiar judges were set apart.