614 'Spanish High-ways and By-ways. [JuNE, 



which it had been originally supported, had in many places given way, 

 so that our further search became too hazardous to persevere in. I then 

 employed myself in collecting specimens from the solid mine, pieces of 

 copperas from the walls, and some of the coloured christals, of which I 

 have spoken. This mountain seems to be one mass of copper ore, which 

 yields, as they inform me, between 70 and 80 per cent, of pure metal. 

 Having satisfied myself of the nature and value of this mine, we 

 proceeded to visit the water mine, which is a subterranean cavern, 

 through which the springs of the mountain are conducted. Long troughs 

 or cisterns are placed across this running stream, in which iron bars are 

 transversely fixed; on these bar's the copper with which the water is com- 

 pletely impregnated adheres, and at the end of every fifteen days the 

 workmen strike off the incrustation, until the bars are consumed and 

 replaced by others. I collected some specimens of this singular working, 

 and transmitted them, with the others, to my correspondent at Bristol. 

 These inexhaustible mountains of ore have been partially worked from 

 time immemorial. They were not unknown to the Romans, the remains 

 of whose labours are visible about a mile distant from the present mine. 

 Their method of working was simple ; they sunk a shaft, from which they 

 continued to drain as much ore, as by manual labour they could draw 

 to the surface, until checked by water, or other natural impediments, 

 when they abandoned the old workings and proceeded to a new one. I 

 was told that there are upwards of two thousand of these small shafts, and 

 that many Roman coins have been discovered near the spot. The copper 

 produced by these mines is cast into plates, and sent to Seville and 

 Segovia ; that to the former place, prepared for the purpose, to be cast 

 into cannon to the latter, of pure metal, for coinage. The object of my 

 journey being now accomplished, I willingly turned my horse's head 

 towards Madrid, to render an account of my mission. 



PALL-MALL POETRY. 



TO : . 



THE world has long pronounced you sensible, 



Young, gay, and fair. Your intimates confess, 

 With envy not less certain than ostensible, 



Your mastery in all things but your dress. 

 Extremes, they say, are ever reprehensible, 



That elegance exists not in excess. 

 They may condemn / shall not in the line, 

 My heart thus humbly dedicates to thine. 



I own with shame it has been promised long; 



I must confess your patience has been great ; 

 And also that your double note was strong 



In terms, concerning it, you should not state 

 So forcibly. However, right or wrong, 



I owe you this, and will at once narrate ; 

 So, in the dearth of something stern and stately, 

 I'll sing a circumstance which happened lately. 



