PERU. 251 



and the writer being both on the committee of manage- 

 ment. 



Simon Whitbarn, of St. Day, informed the writer 

 that at Copiapo and at Coquimbo he had seen large 

 heaps of copper ore, apparently unclaimed, which the 

 people said had been raised by Don Eicardo Trevithick. 

 About 1830 a miner, returned from South America, 

 made a claim for wages for watching mineral left behind 

 by Mr. Trevithick. 



To further illustrate this history, we have a report 

 written by himself: 



* * * * 



" Memoranda regarding the Copper and Silver Mine of 



" In 1814 an arrangement was made between the miners of 

 Peru and myself for furnishing them with nine steam-engines 

 and a mint, to be executed in England and erected in the mines 

 of Pasco; and in October, 1816, I sailed from England for that 

 country, for the express purpose of taking the management of 

 those mines and erecting the machinery, being myself a large 

 proprietor of the same. The Government of Peru was at that 

 time subject to old Spain, under the immediate superintendence 

 of a Viceroy. The machinery having been erected, and its 

 sufficiency for the intended purpose of draining the mines 

 having been proved to the satisfaction of all parties, there was 

 granted to me a special passport by the Viceroy, for 'the purpose 

 of travelling through the country to inspect the general mining 

 system, and to make the native miners acquainted with the 

 English modes of working. In return for which Government 

 conceded to me the privilege of taking possession for my own 

 benefit and account of such mining spots as were not previously 

 engaged. In this way I travelled through many of the mining 

 districts, and although I met with several unoccupied spots 

 which would have paid well for working, yet, being a consider- 

 able distance inland, and requiring more capital to do them 

 justice than I could then advance, I abandoned for the time all 

 ideas of undertaking them. 



