254 PERU. 



In that case no erections whatever would be wanted ; nothing 

 but about 707. worth of labourers' tools. 



" I remain, Sir, 



" Your very humble servant, 



(Signed) " EICHAED TREVITHICK." 



The foregoing undated report was written after his 

 return to England from South America. The "Viceroy 

 granted him a special passport through the country, 

 that he might give general instructions to the workers 

 of mines, with the right to claim any mineral spot for 

 his own working not under grant to others. 



He often spoke of his discovery and working of the 

 great vein of copper ore in Caxatambo, estimated to 

 contain copper worth twelve millions sterling, the 

 working of which was prevented by the frequent revo- 

 lutions and unsettled government of the country ; and 

 of residing for months with Bolivar, at that time the 

 Republican Governor of Peru. 



Bolivar's cavalry were short of fire-arms. Trevithick 

 invented and made a carbine with a short barrel of 

 large bore, having a hollow frame-work stock. The 

 whole was cast of brass, stock and barrel in one piece, 

 with the necessary recess for the lock ; the bullet was a 

 flat piece of lead, cut into four quarters, held in their 

 places in a cartridge until fired, when they spread, 

 inflicting jagged wounds. He was obliged to serve in 

 the army, and to prove the efficiency of his own gun. 

 He was never a good shot, nor particularly fond of 

 shooting ; and, after a long time, Bolivar allowed him 

 to return to his engineering and mining. Scarcely had 

 he got to work again when the Royal Spanish troops, 

 getting the best of it, overran the mines, and drove 

 Trevithick away penniless, leaving 5000/. worth of ore 

 behind him ready for sale. 



