165 
On the Mines (^Mexico, 
to extract it. The consequence was, that Mexico, which for- 
merly supplied four or five millions sterling of silver a-year, has 
not, since 1811, averaged more than half that quantity. The 
aid of foreigners was thus strongly called for ; but there existed 
throughout all Spanish America a regulation of serious import 
to English capitalists, we mean the prohibition of any foreigner, 
except a Spaniard, holding mines in property, either separately 
or in partnership. It was only in the last and present year that 
the Mexican Congress rendered it lawful for foreigners to hold 
property in mines. This may be regarded as the commencement 
of a new era ; for no two countries can render each other more 
substantial service than England and Mexico^ the one abound- 
ing in mineral treasure, the other possessing the means of ex- 
tracting it from the bowels of the earth, and applying capital, 
science and machinery, to the requisite processes in every stage. 
This view of the relative situation of the two countries has 
already been taken by the persons most competent to form an 
opinion. Mr John Taylor of London is well known as an en- 
gineer particularly conversant with mining business, and, from 
the remarks prefixed to his lately published Selections from 
Humboldt,” we find that he has long been struck ‘‘ with the 
richness of the Mexican mines, with the breadth of their lodes 
or metallic veins, the great productiveness of certain portions of 
these veins, and, in particular, with the amount of profit obtained 
from them under management of the rudest and most expensive 
kind.” A beginning in the application of English machinery in 
Spanish America was made several years ago, steam-engines 
having been sent out to the mines of Potosi and Peru, and found 
to answer extremely well, until their operation was suspended 
by the political disorders of the country. At present there are 
in London no less than three associations formed, “ for aiding 
in working the mines of Mexico.” One of these originated in a 
proposal of Don Lucas Alaman, a well-known public character 
in Mexico, who having, when in Europe, resided chiefly at 
Paris, was desirous that the first proposal for a mining company 
should be issued in the French capital. But our southern neigh- 
bours, whatever may be their prowess in the field, or their fame 
in theory, discover very little enterprize in mercantile specula- 
tion. The attempt having failed at Paris, was renewed under 
