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solidate a government more adapted to the wants and interests of the people; -how far it may succeed, and with what measure of wisdom and moderation, I do not pretend to foresee. A failure in produce, similar to that experienced in the mines of Cornwall 60 or 80 years ago, before the application of the steamengine, had already given a considerable check to the prosperity of the mines; and in the year 1810, at the commencement of the civil commotions in Mexico, they experienced a fatal blow by the interruption to industry produced by internal war. The proprietors no longer received their usual revenues, and the mines becoming full of water, the whole country was impoverished, and at the return of better times the necessary capital for renewing the works did not exist. This is the cause of the application to other countries on the part of the Mexican proprietor, and the reason of his willingness to alienate a part of his interest in a mine for the sake of that assistance which he bargains for in return.

The state of affairs is then changed since M. de Humboldt wrote; and it might be ex

pected that in now laying before the public a revised Selection from his works, some alteration in those parts relating particularly to the effects of the Government should have been made: but upon consideration this was not deemed advisable; the reader will therefore bear in mind that the descriptions relate to a former period, and not to the present one.

A writer in one of our newspapers has commented on the extraordinary spectacle of a vast country, teeming with the precious. metals, applying to the inhabitants of a northern island, comparatively barren in native wealth, for assistance in the extraction of its treasures. It is, indeed, a striking proof that the richest gifts of nature are useless without the industry and intelligence requisite to bring them into action, and that such industry and intelligence are only to be looked for where property is secure and rational liberty is enjoyed.

I had occasion, again, about the year 1819, to consider some circumstances connected with the Mexican mines, owing to the intention of a respectable house in London to send out

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a steam-engine to be employed in one of them. A number of interesting papers were then submitted to me, some of them warranted by the name of Don Fausto d'Elhuar, formerly President of the College of Mines at Mexico, and now resident at Madrid. My opinion of the benefits to be expected from such undertakings was much confirmed, and I saw a disposition to favour them on the part of the resident proprietors. I then advised the necessary measures to be taken: an engine was constructed and sent out, accompanied by a miner from Cornwall, Robert Phillips; and this was, I believe, the first equipment of the kind that reached this part of Spanish America. Owing to several circumstances, the engine was not sent to the mine it was intended for, and considerable delay occurred before it reached the place of its ulterior destination ; but it is now erected in the mine of Conception in the Real Catorce. I had lately a letter from Phillips, who was in good health and spirits; and the undertaking, as far as I can learn, is likely to be a very successful one.

At the present moment the difficulties I b

have alluded to arising from the policy of the former Spanish Government are removed, and it seems probable that the New Government, whatever form it may assume, will follow the direction of its own interests and of the wishes of the people, and will give encouragement to foreign aid in working the mines. The property in them, like that of mines in England, is private; the contracts are therefore made with individuals, many of whom have considerable influence; the State only interferes in taking a duty on the metals when exported, which has lately been lowered with respect to silver from 291 per cent. to 6 per cent.

Various commercial establishments from this country have been made of late in Mexico, and English gentlemen are resident there; a channel of communication has thus been opened, through which negotiations with England have been carried on for grants or shares in some of the principal mines, and abundant capital has been raised to work them with effect.

The first Company seems to have originated with a proposal from Don Lucas Alaman, a

1

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leading minister in the Mexican Government. It was first promulgated in Paris, under the title of the“ Franco-Mexican Company;" but not succeeding there, it was transferred hither, and after some time, and some alteration in the original plan, is now established under the name of the United Mexican Association, with a capital of 240,000l. in 600 shares of 40%. each. The object of this Company is said to be principally to purchase ores and smelt and refine them; it also, according to the prospectus, meditates the working mines, but it does not appear to have yet actually engaged any.

I should think the establishment of a Company to purchase ores of the smaller mines, and to refine them upon a well-conducted system, a promising undertaking; but as I am unacquainted with the details of the plan, I of course refrain from giving any further opi

nion.

The Company next established is called the "Anglo-Mexican Association," which having actually contracted for some of the b 2