234 PERU. 



rather than any doubt, has been completely dissipated by our 

 personal attendance this day to witness the draining of the first 

 pit, situated in Santa Rosa. The few instants employed in the 

 same produce a full conviction that a general drainage of the 

 mines will take place, and that their metals will be extracted 

 with the greatest facility from their utmost profundity : as 

 also that the skill of the company's partners and agents will 

 easily overcome whatsoever difficulties nature may oppose, until 

 they shall have completed all the perpendiculars and levels ; 

 and consequently that the meritorious undertakers who have 

 risked their property in the enterprise will be rewarded with 

 riches. 



" We and the whole Corporation of Miners would do but 

 little were we to erect them a monument, which should transmit 

 down to the remotest posterity the remembrance of an under- 

 taking of such magnitude and heroism ; but for the present we 

 will congratulate ourselves that our labours, co-operation, and 

 fidelity, keeping pace in perfect harmony with the exertions of 

 the agents, the company may thus attain the full completion 

 of their utmost wishes, extracting from the bowels of these 

 prolific mountains, not the riches of Amilcar's inexhaustible 

 wells, not the treasures of the boasted Potosi in its happiest 

 days, but a torrent of silver, which will fill all surrounding 

 nations with admiration, will give energy to commerce, pros- 

 perity to this Yiceroyalty and to the Peninsula, and fill the 

 royal treasury of our beloved sovereign. 



" Thus certifies this Magisterial Deputation of Yauricocha, 

 the 27th of July, 1816. 



" DOMINGO GONZALES DE CASTANEDA. 

 "JosE LAGO Y LEMUS." 



" Despatch from the Intendant Governor of the Province of 

 Tarma to His Excellency the Viceroy. 



. " MOST EXCELLENT SIB, " PASCO, 27th July, 1810. 



" Having finally conquered the great difficulties consequent 

 on the enterprise, though with immense and incessant labour, 

 and at, an enormous expense, the object has been accomplished 



