20 A Journey in Spain [Jan. 



mercury for the precious mines, became depreciated in the 

 quality of its product, and thus a new stimulus was afforded 

 to those of Almeyda. But these intervals of prosperity 

 seem to have been the mere flickerings of the flame before 

 it expired, for war raged in the Peninsula, America as- 

 sumed its independence, and the industry of Spain was 

 almost extinguished. In this condition Spain remained till 

 1820, when political events changed in some measure the 

 state of affairs. 



The inhabitants of the mountainous country of Alpujarras, 

 who had lived, from the time of the departure of the Moors, 

 in a wretched and immoral state, roused themselves from 

 their lethargy, on the intelligence of the destruction of the 

 odious monopoly, and began to work their lead mines. In 

 the course of a few months these poor men were compari- 

 tively wealthy, for by 1826, no less than 3500 mines 

 were in activity in the Sierras of Gador and Lujar ; and in 

 1833, M. Play ascertained that 4000 shafts had been opened 

 in the Sierra of Gador alone. Before 1820, the royal works 

 which had the sole power of smelting ores, produced annu- 

 ally only thirty or forty thousand quintals of lead. In 

 1823, however, the product was increased to 500,000, and in 

 1827, to 800,000 quintals. 



This prodigious increase in industry created a great sen- 

 sation in Spain ; and all classes of society, directing their 

 attention to the mines', conceived that they had only to turn 

 up the soil, in order to acquire endless treasures. 



The government, at the same time, gave its countenance 

 to the labours of the people, by forming two mining schools, 

 the one at Madrid, the other at Almeyda, and by sending 

 several young men to study the art of mining at Freiburg. 

 M. Vallejo, who had been banished during the political 

 disturbances, and had improved his time by studying at 

 Paris, returned to his native country, and is at present 

 engaged with a geological description of Spain. Erlorza 

 also, an artillery officer, having visited the iron works of 

 England, Belgium, Hartz, Piemont, and France, has in- 

 troduced the most approved smelting system of these 

 countries, into the neighbourhood of Marbella and Pe- 

 droso in Andalusia. By his advice the iron works of Gal- 

 licia have been altered ; and speedily his improvements 



