1866. | Mining, Mineralogy, and Metallurgy. 593 
* The premonitions conveyed by these unfortunate results cast a 
gloom over all mining operations; but, unfortunately, those 
interested in the mines cannot be persuaded to adopt the only step 
by which they may mitigate the evil under which they groan. At 
present the supply of tin and copper ores is beyond the require- 
ments of the smelters, and therefore they purchase only at the 
lowest prices. These prices are not renumerative, consequently 
nearly all the mines are now working at a loss. Yet they struggle 
on, because the managers and the mines would be thrown upon 
the cold mercies of the world if the works were abandoned. Thus, 
our tin mines, especially, are producing far more tin than is 
wanted, and a glutted market necessarily compels low prices. 
This state of things cannot long continue: slowly, reluctantly, one 
mine after another is suspended, and real distress is staring a most 
industrious population in the face. Our young and able miners 
are emigrating ; our older men suffer without murmuring, and hope 
for better days. (Since the above was written there has been an 
advance in the price of tin ore to the extent of 77. 10s. the ton, 
and a small advance upon copper. The natural result of this is to 
induce a more cheerful spirit. It is also satisfactory to note that 
the miners instead of emigrating are now seeking and finding 
employment in the colliery and other districts.) 
The quantity of tin ore raised in 1865 was 15,686 tons, from 
which 10,039 tons of metallic tin were obtained; within the same 
period we imported, principally from the Dutch settlements in the 
Eastern Archipelago, 5,699 tons of tin and 639 tons of tin ore 
and regulus. 
There were 203 copper mines in the United Kingdom sending 
copper ore to market during 1865. ‘These produced 198,298 tons 
of ore, from which were smelted 11,888 tons of copper of the 
value of 1,134,644/. It appears, however, from a table given in 
the ‘Mineral Statistics, that the price at which the ore sells, and 
the produce of the ores raised, have for many years steadily declined. 
There has been, for some considerable time, no important discovery 
of any new deposits of copper, we may therefore infer that copper 
mining in these islands has seen its best days. Our importations of 
copper in 1865 were very large. From our Colonies and Foreign 
parts we received 82,562 tons of copper ore, 39,686 tons of copper 
regulus, and 7,026 tons of copper in bricks and pigs. If we 
were to draw our conclusions from the statements given of the 
public sales of copper ores, we should naturally say that the 
imports were steadily declining. The Foreign and Colonial ores 
sold in 1856 being 28,997 tons, against 16,3532 sold in 1865, 
but it must not be forgotten that 66,230 tons of copper ore passed 
into the hands of the smelters by private contract purchases. This 
is, in many respects, an unfortunate state of things; the only benefit 
