376 Mr Witham on the Lead Mines of Spain. 



est stimulus to the lead trade, but would also enable those who 

 have latoly discovered valuable iron mines near Marbella (25 

 miles south-west from Malaga, and not 4 miles from the sea), 

 to ruin a branch of trade almost exclusively in our hands, name- 

 ly, the construction of iron-hoops for barrels, &c. for which, in 

 a wine-country, there is a great demand. It is certain that there 

 are now in England agents employed for the purpose of pur- 

 chasing machinery for the owners of these mines, who are only 

 waiting for its arrival, and for that of an Englishman to super- 

 intend it, to commence their projected manufactory. Having 

 stated this much, I may now ask, how far we might be justified 

 in refusing the introduction of machinery to a country, which 

 rigidly prohibits almost every article of British manufacture, 

 and charges the few that are permitted with such exorbitant 

 duties, ihat they can only be smuggled into it ? Should the 

 prohibition of machinery be deemed expedient under the above 

 circumstances, it would be necessary to prevent any being sent, 

 as it now is, when intended for Spain, to Gibraltar, under the 

 idea of this being an English and a free port. Every one knows 

 that there are neither mines nor manufactories on the rock of 

 Gibraltar ; it is therefore absurd to make use of such a pretext 

 for the introduction of machinery into Spain, thereby enabling 

 that country to rival us in interesting branches of our commerce. 

 I am of opinion, that the captain of this port, who is now a Ma- 

 gistrate, and is empowered to visit every ship in the bay, ought 

 to be directed to seize any machinery he may discover ; for, as 

 it cannot be intended for Gibraltar, nor for English interests, it 

 is evident, that its being put into the bill of lading as destined 

 for that portj is a mere stratagem ; and it no sooner arrives there, 

 than it is transferred to another vessel, to be landed at some 

 place along the coast. Political economists will perhaps say, 

 that if our machinery enriches Spaniards, they will purchase 

 more of our articles. As a general principle, this I admit ; but 

 when we know that almost every British article of trade is strict- 

 ly prohibited (even coals, although there is not a single coal- 

 mine wrought in the Spanish Peninsula), I cannot help think- 

 ing, that such prohibitions on their part should be followed by 

 similar prohibitions on ours, with respect to articles so likely to 

 operate to our immediate disadvantage, and that they call for 



