Extracts from an Itinerary of a Journey in Spain. 19 
agreeably to the report of Don V. de Elbuyar, which placed the 
mineral enterprize of Spain, upon nearly the same basis as that 
adopted by the Legislature of France. 
These liberal provisions soon produced happy fruits, ad in the 
kingdom of Grenada in particular, private industry effected, in the 
course of three years, the most unexampled results. The popula- 
tion of the mountainous country of Alphajanes, which since the ex- 
pulsion of the Moors, had lived in a state of extreme misery and de- 
moralization, was suddenly aroused from its apathy, in learning that 
an odious monopoly had ceased to exist, and ardently directed its at- 
tention to the lead mines so abundant in that country. Success 
surpassed the most extravagent expectations. In a few months, 
some of the poor peasants, whom good fortune had favored, found 
themselves in possession of a handsome property. Researches 
were multiplied almost infinitely, and in 1826, more than thirty five 
hundred mines had been put in action in the Sierras of Gador and 
Lwar. In midsummer 1833, I was informed that more than four 
thousand shafts were sunk in the single Sierra of Gador. Prior to 
1820, the royal establishments, which alone, had the privilege of 
smelting the ores which they bought at the price the government 
chose to fix, produced only from thirty to forty thousand quintals, of 
lead per annum. In 1823, that is three years after the earliest en- 
terprizes, the production arose to five hundred thousand quintals. 
In 1827 the period of the greatest prosperity, the production of this 
metal rose to the enormous quantity of eight hundred thousand quin- 
tals. Since that time, it has remained nearly stationary. 
This prodigious developement of industry in so short a_ period, 
made a great sensation in Spain, and it is difficult to form an idea of 
the ardor with which all classes of society directed their specula- 
tions to mining operations. Every one seemed to think he had only 
to dig into the earth to discover an inexhaustible treasure. Unhap- 
pily, the want of knowledge, more than lack of capital baffled the 
greater number of these enterprizes. It was not with impunity that 
Spain had withstood, during thirty years, the progress of science in 
the rest of Europe. 
The sudden developement of mineral wealth in the kingdom of 
Grenada had, however, greatly enlightened the government. They 
plainly perceived it to be their interest to combat the prevailing 
ignorance, which had so long kept concealed the the source of so 
much wealth. All sorts of encouragement were given to the art of 
