the Quicksilver Mines of Idria in Elyria. 343 



iu addition to the above establishments connected with the 

 preparations of mercury, there are the following : 



A fine glass-work provides the bottles and wnidow glass ne- 

 cessary for the various establishments, besides exporting a con- 

 siderable quantitv. . , . 



A pottery also supplies all the earthenware required. A 

 tannery prepares the sheepskins for the packages : and a rope- 

 work furnishes the ropes for the machinery, and the smaller cords 

 for packing the quicksilver. ^ 



There are also mechanists, engineers, blacksmitns, carpenters, 

 coopers, cartmakers, metal-founders, &c. 



The forests around Idria are under the management ot an 

 inspector, sub-inspector, six guards, and three hundred wood- 

 cutters. From this source all the wood necessary for firing, and 

 the various uses of the mines, Sjc. is derived. 



The whole administration of the mines is intrusted to a 

 council whichis composed of the heads of the various departments. 

 The president of this council is the director in chief. It meets 

 every Thursday, and takes cognisance of all the great interests 

 of the establishment. Every Saturday there is a meeting ot 

 the chiefs and sub-chiefs. At this last meeting, every chief or 

 his deputy reads an account of what has been done during the 

 week, and states the wants of the ensuing week. The complaints 

 of the workmen, petitions from widows, &c. are also heard at 

 this meeting. . 



The receipts and expenditure are under the direction ot a 

 treasurer; but he cannot make anv payment without the consent 

 of the chief director and council. The daily payments are made 

 out of a smaller treasury chest. There is also a board ot ac- 

 counts, which declares once a year the profits of the establish- 

 ment. . 



The receipts from the mines may vary considerably, as may 

 be easily supposed. For instance, if the richest ores only were 

 wrought and brought to the furnaces, it is evident that m two 

 or three years an immense quantity of quicksilver might be pro- 

 duced ; but the poorer ores, which recjuire much more trouble 

 and expense to make them productive, would remain, and se- 

 veral unprofitable years would ensue, and the proper equilibrium 



of the establishment would be lost. 



Tlie mines of Idria were managed by the French government 

 for the behoof of the order of the Golden Fleece {toison d'or) from 

 the 1st of January 1810 to the month of September 1813. 



During these four vears (wanting four months) there were 

 sublimated in the furnaces 198,176 quintals and 54 pounds of va- 



Y 4 rious 



