I visited also the jesuits’ church and college of San José. On entering the gate a high flight of granite steps leads up to the church; and, turning off to the right, on gaining the ascent, takes the visitor to the door, which leads him into those portions of the building devoted to the college residences of the professors, &c.; in a long room were some small but well-executed paintings of Portuguese famed in days of yore. Among others the poet Camoens, and Alvares, the discoverer of the Brazils, could be recognized. The college was founded for a certain number of Chinese students, who were to study the Latin and Portuguese languages, so as to prepare them to proceed as missionaries into the interior provinces. They were sent to the provinces of Quang, ton, Quang, shee, and Fookien; this class was paid by the Macao Portuguese government; they were limited to ten, and the expense, defrayed by government, was twelve rupees a month to the padres, for which they were to provide the scholars with food, raiment, and lodging. Portuguese students are now admitted upon the foundation, the expenses being paid by the parents, which amount to eight dollars a month, the scholars having board and lodging, but providing themselves with clothing. The number of these is not limited; they are instructed in Latin, Portuguese, Chinese, writing, and other branches of education: the establishment of the church, &c. is supported by the government. The gardens attached to the establishment are kept in a very neat order, but present little attraction in flowers, either for butterflies or botanists. Among a number of vegetables under cultivation in one of the gardens was the _Pe, tsai_, (Pe, white; tsai, vegetable,) or kind of cabbage, used in large quantities, and held in high estimation by the Chinese. The gardens attached to this institution were planted upon terraces; in them a species of _Althæa_ with blue flowers, as well as another species bearing very large and splendid yellow blossoms; several large and apparently old trees of the _Ficus religiosa_, and lofty _Plumeria_; that beautiful species of _Dracæna_ with dark red foliage and stem; _Crotons_, with variegated foliage, imparting beauty to the gardens, were all particularly worthy of notice. The church had nothing attractive in its internal decorations, being fitted up in the usual tawdry style of Roman Catholic churches, without elegance or taste.