CHAP. XXI. AMERICAN MINES. 115 



CHAPTER XXL 



On the increase of metallic wealth, and the proportionate in- 

 crease of material wealth, between the years 1600 and 1700. 



IN the continuance of this inquiry, as far as 

 relates to the produce of gold and silver from their 

 chief source the mines of America, the progress will 

 be both clear and easy. The facts and calculations 

 of Baron Humboldt are presented to the public 

 after so much consideration, and accompanied 

 with so much discrimination and impartiality, that 

 they may be in most cases implicitly adopted. His 

 account of the produce of Mexico will be followed 

 till the year when the documents procured by Mr. 

 Ward, then his majesty's minister to that country, 

 commences. These come down to the end of the 

 year 1825, and being collected from official sources 

 ought to be and probably are the most correct that 

 could be obtained. The few years that follow to 

 the end of 1829 are supplied from sources of 

 various kinds some from reports to the assemblies 

 of the republic, and some from communications 

 made by persons resident in Mexico employed 

 by the English mining-companies. In these last 

 though there are some discrepancies which it may 

 be difficult to reconcile, their amount is so insig- 



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