248 PERU. 



Cornish mines are chiefly indebted I mean Mr. Richard Tre- 

 vithick. Trevithick was. induced to furnish the machinery at 

 an expense of 3000Z. sterling, upon condition of being admitted 

 a partner in the amount of 12,000 dollars in the joint stock of 

 the company, and entitled to a share corresponding to the 

 capital employed. This share was calculated at a fifth. Tre- 

 vithick, before he embarked for Peru, divided his interest in 

 the concern into 320 shares, each representing 38 dollars, and 

 these were sold in the market for 125?. sterling each ; some few 

 were sold for 100?. cash. The success of the engines gave to 

 some of the persons interested much confidence, who conceived 

 they could now do without the management of the ingenious 

 Trevithick. Every possible obstacle was therefore thrown in his 

 way by those who, from motives of jealousy, wished to get rid of 

 him. The persons to whom Trevithick's and other shares had 

 been sold in London, sent out to Lima an agent, whose duty it was 

 to look after their interests in the concern ; but as it was found 

 a much larger sum would be necessary for carrying the enter- 

 prise into effect than had been calculated, a collision of interests 

 took place ; complaints were made on all sides as to the delays 

 and expenses which those who did not comprehend the almost 

 insurmountable difficulties of the undertaking attributed to 

 mismanagement and carelessness. The greatest share of oppro- 

 brium fell unjustly upon Trevithick, who, being a man of great 

 inventive genius and restless activity, was at length completely 

 disgusted, and retired from the undertaking. He left Pasco, 

 although Abadia offered him 8000 dollars per annum, together 

 with all his expenses, if he would continue to superintend the 

 works ; on no conditions would he consent to contend with the 

 jealousies and ill-treatment of the persons with whom he had 

 to deal. He soon after entered into speculations with some of 

 the miners at Conchucos, for whom he constructed grinding 

 mills and furnaces, with the view to substitute the process of 

 smelting for that of amalgamation in silver ores, in which vain 

 pursuit he became a considerable loser." 



" MY DEAK SlK, " BODMIN, November 3rd, 1869. 



"Forty-seven years are now passed since I had the 

 great pleasure of meeting your father in Peru, and I have a 



