177*.
A ugust . capitania of Funchal, which is divided into twenty-fix
parifhes. The other three are in the capitania of Maxico,
which confift of feventeen parifhes; thefe towns are called
Maxico, San Vicente, and Santa Cruz.
The governor is at the head of all the civil and military
departments of this ifland, of Porto-Santo, the Salvages,
and the Ilbas Defertas, which laft only contain the temporary
huts of fome fifhermen, who refort thither in
purfuit of their bufinefs. At the time when I was at
Madeira, the governor was Don Joao Antonio de Saa Pereira.
He was efteemed a man of good fenfe and temper, but
rather referved and cautious.
The law department is under the corregidor, who is
appointed by the king of Portugal, commonly fent from
Lifbon, and holds his place during the king’s pleafure.
All caufes come- to him from inferior courts by appeal.
Each judicature has a fenate, and a Juiz or judge, whom
they choofe, prefides over them. At Funchal he is called,
Juiz da Fora, and in the abfence, or after the death of the
corregidor, adts as his deputy. The foreign merchants
eleft their own judge, called the Providor, who is at the
fame time, colleftor of the king’s cuftoms and revenues,
which amount in all to about one hundred and twenty
thoufand pounds fterling. Far the greateft part of this
fum is applied towards the falaries of civil and military
officers, the pay of troops, and the maintenance of public
buildings.
buildings. This revenue arifes, firft from the tenth of all
the produce of this ifland belonging to the king, by
virtue of his office as grand matter of the order of Chrift ;
fecondly, from ten per cent, duties laid on all imports,
provifions excepted ; and laftly, from the eleven per cent,
charged on all exports.
The ifland has but one company of regular foldiers of
a hundred men : the reft of the military force is a militia
confifting of three thoufand men, divided into companies,
each commanded by a captain, who has one lieutenant
under him, and one enfign. There is no pay given to
either the private men, or the officers of this militia, and
yet their places are much fought after, on account of
the rank which they communicate. Thefe troops are
embodied once a year, and exercifed during one month.
All the military are commanded by the Serjeante Mor. The
governor has two Capitanas de Sal about him, who do duty
as aides-de-camp.
The fecularpriefts on the ifland are about twelve hundred,
many of whom are employed as private tutors. Since the ex-
pulfion of the Jefuits, no regular public fchool is to be found
here, unlefs we except a feminary where a prieft, appointed
for that purpofe, inftrufts and educates ten ftudents at
the king’s expence. Thefe wear a red cloak over the
ufual black gown, worn by ordinary ftudents. All thofe
who intend to go into orders, are obliged to qualify
them