CHAP. X. 



MIDDLE AGES. 279 



by instalments as the work advanced, and to 

 receive one half the profit of the mine. 



Lady Mary departed from Madrid for Gua- 

 dalcanal, to which miners and engines had been 

 sent from England at her expense, and at that 

 of her relation Mr. Gage, who accompanied her, 

 and of her father the marquis. The instalments 

 were paid regularly by the company, and the 

 draining of the mines proceeded simultaneously, 

 when disputes arose. The Spaniards insisted that 

 the lady had engaged to clear away the mud, 

 whilst she contended that she had only con- 

 tracted to clear the mine of water. A lawsuit 

 was instituted, and the payments of the company 

 were suspended. 



Her ladyship now prosecuted the work on her 

 own account, and advanced to a depth in which 

 the richest minerals were supposed to be ; when 

 she presented a judicial request that a portion 

 of the ore should be taken up, smelted in the 

 presence of the court, and its value ascertained 

 and attested. A decree was issued appointing the 

 examination. Ore of the weight of forty pounds 

 was taken from one of the galleries, which pro- 

 duced ten pounds thirteen ounces of pure silver. 

 This specimen, which was handed about in a 

 very ostentatious manner and shown to the king, 

 who happened at that time to be at Seville, 

 seemed to justify beyond all doubt the reputation 

 of the mine for great riches. It was, however, 



