398 RECAPITULATION: 
To conclude our brief account of Humboldt’s Po- 
litical Essay on New Spain, it may be useful to pre- 
sent a few of the more interesting facts in the form 
of a recapitulation. 
Physical Aspect.—Along the centre of the coun- 
try runs a chain of mountains, having a direction 
from south-east to north-west, and afterwards from 
south to north. On the ridge or summit of this 
chain are extended vast table-lands or platforms, 
which gradually decline towards the temperate zone, 
their absolute height within the tropics being from 
7345 to 7873 feet. The declivities of the cordilleras 
are wooded, while the central table-land is usually 
bare. In the equinoctial region the different climates 
rise as it were one above another from the shore, 
where the mean temperature is about 76°, to the 
central plains, where it is about 62°. 
Population.—The whole population is estimated 
at 5,840,000, of which 4,500,000 are Indians, 
1,000,000 creoles, and 70,000 European Spaniards. 
2. The Bolanos Company, Captains Vetch and Lyon, directors, 
with a capital of £150,000. | 
3- Tlalpujahua Company, Mr De Rivafinola, director, with a ca- 
pital of £180,000. 
4, Anglo-Mexican Company, Mr Williamson, director; capital 
£800,000. . 
5. United Mexican Company; directors, Don Lucas Alaman, 
Mr Glennie, and Mr Agassis; capital £800,000. 
6. The Mexican Company. 
7. Catorce Company, Mr Stokes, director ; invested capital not 
above £60,000. ; 
At this period nearly three millions sterling of British capital 
were invested in the Mexican mines, or had been expended in en- 
terprises immediately connected with them. The sudden change 
of feeling with respect to these adventures, which took place in 
England in 1826, had nearly put a stop to the operations com- 
menced with so much energy; but confidence having been in some 
measure restored, it may be hoped that the mining companies will 
yet prove of great advantage both to Britain and to Mexico. 
