PROGRESS TO THE MINES. 
137 
they might have taken both the flota and galleons, and mcide themselves 
masters of the Havanna into the bargain, if they had not been chained up 
from doing it. All this moderation, our peaceable ministry showed even at 
a time when the Spaniards were furiously attacking Gibraltar, and taking all 
the English ships they could, both in Europe and America, to the great and 
everlasting reproach of the British nation. That some of the ministry, be- 
ing tired out with the clamours of the merchants, declared their opinion for 
war, and while they entertained those sentiments they pitched upon him, 
Col. Spotswood, to be governor of Jamaica, that by his skill and experience 
in the art militar)^ they might be the better able to execute their design of 
taking the Havanna. But the courage of these worthy patriots soon cooled, 
and the arguments used by the South Sea directors, persuaded them once 
again into more pacific measures. When the scheme was dropped, his 
government of Jamaica was dropped at the same time, and then general 
Hunter was judged fit enough to rule that island in time of peace. After 
this the colonel endeavoured to convince me that he came fairly by his place 
of postmaster-general, notwithstanding the report of some evil disposed 
persons to the contrary. The case was this, Mr. Hamilton, of New Jersey, 
who had formerly had that post, wrote to Col. Spotswood, in England, to 
favour him with his interest to get it restored to him. But the colonel, con- 
sidering wisely that charity began at home, instead of getting the place for 
Hamilton, secured it for a better friend : though, as he tells the story, that 
gentleman was absolutely refused, before he spoke the least good word for 
himself. 
2d. This being the day appointed for my departure from hence, I packed 
up my effects in good time ; but the ladies, whose dear companies we were 
to have to the mines, were a little tedious in their equipment. However, 
we made a shift to get into the coach by ten o’clock ; but little master, who 
is under no government, would by all means go on horseback. Before we 
set out I gave Mr. Russel the trouble of distributing a pistole among the 
servants, of which I fancy the nurse had a pretty good share, being no small 
favourite. We drove over a fine road to the mines, which lie thirteen mea- 
sured miles from the Germanna, each mile being marked distinctly upon the 
trees. The colonel has a great deal of land in his mine tract exceedingly 
barren, and the growth of trees upon it is hardly big enough for coaling. 
However, the treasure under ground makes amends, and renders it worthy 
to be his lady’s jointure. We lighted at the mines, which are a mile nearer to 
Germanna than the furnace. They raise abundance of ore there, great 
part of which is very rich. We saw his engineer blow it up after the follow- 
ing manner. He drilled a hole about eighteen inches deep, humouring the 
situation of the mine. When he had dried it with a rag fastened to a worm, 
he charged it with a cartridge containing four ounces of powder, including 
the priming. Then he rammed the hole up with soft stone to the very mouth ; 
after that he pierced through all with an iron called a primer, which is taper 
and ends in a sharp point. Into the hole the primer makes the priming is 
put, which is fired by a paper moistened with a solution of saltpetre. And 
this burns leisurely enough, it seems, to give time for the persons concerned 
to retreat ■ out of harm’s way. All the land hereabouts Seems paved with 
iron ore ; so that there seems to be enough to feed a furnace for many ages. 
From hence we proceeded to the furnace, which is built of rough stone, 
having been the first of that kind erected in the country. It had not blown 
for several moons, the colonel having taken off great part of his people to 
carry on his air furnace at Massaponux. Here the wheel that carried the 
bellows was no more than twenty feet diameter ; but was an overshot wheel 
that went with little water. This was necessary here, because water is 
