CHAP. x. MIDDLE AGES. 289 



Two other mines were worked in Sweden in 

 1711, one at Mont d' Argent Oriental, the other 

 at Mont d' Argent Occidental, in the parish of 

 Norberk. These are stated to have yielded 

 half a ducat of pure gold to each quintal of 

 silver; and Jars also states, that many other 

 mines of silver were formerly worked in the 

 same vicinity. The silver mine of Kongsberg 

 in Norway was scarcely known before 1623. 

 Since that period, much expense has been in- 

 curred and many mechanical experiments tried ; 

 but the variations in the product have been very 

 great, and the demands for fresh capital very 

 frequent. After sixty years' working and great 

 expenditure, the disbursements and the produce 

 were brought to balance each other. In some 

 years between 17 10 and 1767 the mines paid a 

 large profit, but in some others occasioned a 

 heavy loss to the crown, who is or was the pro- 

 prietor. The works had been suspended on ac- 

 count of some great requisite demands for new 

 shafts, but it caused so much distress in the 

 immediate neighbourhood that the Storthing 

 in 1815 again decreed the working, with what 

 success is unknown. According to traditionary 

 reports, the mine was very productive in remote 

 ages. 



It is not impossible that some of the gold 

 which was found among the Danes and Nor- 

 wegians in ancient times might be the produce 



VOL. i. u 



