166 On the Mines of Mexico. 
better auspices in London, and a capital of L. ^40,000 was 
speedily subscribed, the company taking the name of The 
United Mexican Association.’" 
Posterior in point of time, but nearly equal in amount of ca- 
pital, is the Company called Real del Monte, from the district 
containing their mines, which is situated about sixty miles north 
of the city of Mexico. This Company is composed chiefly of 
proprietors of English mines, and is less open to the public at 
large, than the third and greatest of the three, the Anglo-Mexi- 
can, whose capital is a Million Sterling. Most of the mines 
taken up by this Company are in Guanaxuato, a district of great 
metallic wealth, but of which the name was hardly known in 
Europe, until the appearance, fourteen years ago, of Humboldt’s 
well known work. Contracts of partnership, in several of the 
mines in that district, were made in Mexico by individuals, and 
transferred in London to this Association. 
On hearing of several associations formed for a common ob- 
ject, it is natural to suspect the existence of rivalship or jealousy 
among them. But all who have had experience in mining busi- 
ness are aware, that any feeling of this nature would be mis- 
placed : the market for the produce of mines is unbounded ; and 
if, in a district so narrow as that of the Cornish mines, jealousy 
has totally ceased, much more ought it to disappear in Mexico, 
where the field is so wide, and the number of mines, great and 
small, is computed at no less than 3000. Besides, the uncertain- 
ty, inseparable from mining, and the unforeseen difficulties oc- 
curring in a new country, are powerful reasons for a cordial co- 
operation with each other ; and we learn with satisfaction, that 
they are considered in that light by the different associations. 
Objections are frequently made to the probability of their suc- 
"cess, from the unsettled state of Mexico, in a political sense. 
While we readily allow, that the Mexicans may be termed tres 
nouveaux dans tout ce qui regarde V administration^ and that 
the sway of a Washington, during the ensuing twenty years, 
would be to them the greatest of boons; we must, on the other 
hand, maintain, that political dissensions are not likely to oppose 
any serious obstacle to the success of speculations which, tending 
directly to benefit both the public and individuals, have a claim 
to the favour of all parties. A public depredator could gain 
