A FEW GENERAL OBSERVATIONS RESPECT- 

 ING THE \yORKING OF MINES IN 

 SOUTH AMERICA. 



When one reflects upon the immense riches which 

 have proceeded from some mineS; and the large 

 sums of money which have been lost in others, it 

 is evident that the inspection of a mine with a view 

 of immediately working it with a large capital, is in 

 any country an important and difficult duty. There 

 are, perhaps, few subjects which require more deli- 

 berate and dispassionate consideration ; for to be 

 too sanguine, or to be too timid, are faults which it 

 is easy to commit. In the former case, one builds 

 upon hopes which are never to be realised ; in the 

 latter, one loses a prize which energy and enterprise 

 might have secured ; and the passions of the mind 

 are never more eager to mislead the judgment, than 

 when the object to be considered is the acquisition 

 of what are termed the " precious metals." 



But if this is the case in civilized countries, 



T 



