CHAP. XXV. OF VARIOUS MINES. 233 



the revolution) to two million eight hundred and 

 seventy-seven thousand two hundred and thirteen 

 marcs of silver, and eight thousand one hundred 

 and nine marcs of gold. At Zaccatecas the 

 difference appears to have been inconsiderable, 

 amounting only to a decline of two million one 

 hundred and sixty thousand nine hundred and 

 sixty- three in the fifteen years of convulsion, as 

 compared with the immediate period of the same 

 length which preceded it 1 ." 



The mines of Sombrerete declined in produce 

 from five hundred thousand to three hundred 

 thousand annually. The produce of the mines 

 of Catorce, which was second only to that of 

 Guanaxuato in the amount of silver raised, being 

 nearly three millions of dollars annually, was so 

 reduced as to yield, on the average of the fifteen 

 years from the commencement of the insurrec- 

 tions, no more than five hundred and ninety-nine 

 thousand four hundred dollars. The produce of 

 the Biscaina vein at Real del Monte in seven 

 favourable years before the revolution was six 

 million of dollars, or eight hundred and fifty- 

 seven thousand and forty-two per annum ; and 

 from 1809 to 1823 it only yielded, in all, two 

 hundred thousand dollars, or at the rate of 

 fourteen thousand two hundred and eighty-five 

 on the average of the period. 



1 See Ward's Mexico, vol. ii. p. 19. 



