284 



GENERAL OBSERVATIONS ON 



5. In CorriAval], the greatest difficulties are, the 

 subterraneous streams, which, in a humid climate 

 and in a flat country, so influence the plan of 

 operations, that the art of mining in Cornwall 

 is the art of draining, not on a general principle, 

 but adapted to the geology of the country. In 

 South America, as it never rains at Uspallata, and 

 seldom rains in Chili, and as the winter showers, 

 instead of sinking into the earth, rush down the 

 precipitous sides of the mountains in which the 

 lodes are situated, there is but little water ; and 

 therefore the Cornish plan of operations, and, 

 consequently, the experience which the Cornish 

 miner has gained, is inapplicable, for the difficulties 

 which he has learnt to overcome do not exist; 



attention has been directed to a particular object, and in propor- 

 tion as he is intelligent upon that point he is ignorant of all 

 others. 



By a division of labour, which is now so well understood in 

 England, we have goldsmiths, silversmiths, tinsmiths, copper- 

 smiths, whitesmiths, and blacksmiths, who are all ignorant of 

 each other's trades ; and if this is the case, why should a man 

 whose life has been spent in working copper ores, be supposed 

 able to search in any country for silver ores ? There is cer- 

 tainly a much greater difference and variety between the ores 

 than there is between the metals. 



