SIX MONTHS IN MEXICO. 157 



per machinery, were admirably calculated to 

 drain the mine; and on consulting Mr. 

 Goulde, the American engineer at the mine 

 of Mr. Wilcox, he fully confirmed my con- 

 jecture, and offered to construct the required 

 mill-work at a moderate expense, as the 

 necessary iron-work for the machinery and 

 pumps had been brought by him from New 

 York. An inquiry into the former products 

 of the mine, among several of the people who 

 had worked in it, confirmed me in the deter- 

 mination if possible to possess it ; and on my 

 return to Mexico I consulted Don Lucas 

 Alaman, minister of state, on the propriety 

 of doing so, and was advised to apply to 

 government for a letter of naturalization, to 

 enable me to denounce it according to the law 

 of the country; by his interest an Act of 

 Congress was passed in a few days for the 

 purpose, and now, accompanied by my 

 friends, Mr. W. M. Bates and Mr. Snyders, 



