Politically, the republic is divided into twenty-two departments, two of which, Moquegua and Tumbes, known as littoral provinces, consist each of a single province only. The departments are subject to the authority of a prefect, who is appointed by the executive, receiving his instructions from the minister of government. The departments are subdivided into one hundred and one provinces, governed by sub-prefects, and the provinces are again subdivided into eight hundred and one districts, under the authority of governors. By this arrangement the supreme government maintains immediate control of the national interests in every part of the republic, the prefects, sub-prefects, and governors having direct supervision of primary instruction and the police service within their respective jurisdictions. The recent reorganization of the police system has brought notable improvements into the service, which is conducted in conformity with modern regulations. The ecclesiastical authority is exercised in accordance with the national constitution, which states that Roman Catholicism is the established religion, freedom of worship being permitted to non-Catholics. The church territory is divided into nine dioceses: the archbishopric of Lima, and the bishoprics of Trujillo, Chachapoyas, Huaraz, Huánuco, Ayacucho, Cuzco, Puno, and Arequipa. These are again divided into curacies, of which Lima has sixty-six, Trujillo one hundred and three, Chachapoyas forty-three, Huaraz forty-seven, Huánuco fifty-seven, Ayacucho ninety-two, Cuzco eighty-two, Puno fifty-two, and Arequipa seventy-one, making in all six hundred and thirteen, in charge of curate-vicars, who receive their instructions from the bishops of the diocese to which they are appointed. Every village in the republic has its church or chapel and religious instruction is given to every citizen, the churches being open at all hours of the day to admit anyone who wishes to consecrate a few moments to devotions. [Illustration: DR. CARLOS WASHBURN, PRESIDENT OF DR. PARDO’S CABINET.]