3 83 
Present Condition of Chile . 
[July, 
£4,082, 195, the value of the gold and silver coin and guano 
exported, that of the latter amounting to about £105,000. 
The mineral exports doubled between 1844 and 1852 (rising 
from 3,618,987 dollars to 7,807,106), up to which last named 
year the mines of Atacama and Coquimbo had been but 
partially worked. In 1857 they had doubled again, and 
have since gone on increasing in value, with some variations, 
but not in the same rapid proportion. The mining pro- 
vince of Atacama, and, in particular, the district of Copiapo, 
from which nearly two-thirds of the Chilean mineral pro- 
duce are derived, is said to show of late marked signs of 
exhaustion. In the most northern district of this province 
is situated the group of silver mines known as La Florida. 
These mines, which are of recent discovery, extend over a 
zone some twelve kilometres, and according to the latest 
accounts are of exceeding richness. At the great copper- 
smelting works at Guayacan the monthly out-turn of bar- 
copper exceeds £60,000 in value; and of nearly equal 
importance are the smelting works at Lota, south of Con- 
cepcion, nominally belonging to the Lota Coronel Company, 
but in reality the property of the Cousino family. At Lota, 
too, the same family owns the largest coal mines as yet 
worked in Chile. Coal is found in many parts, espe- 
cially in the southern coast districts, but unfortunately 
owing to its inferior quality, and to the heavy cost of ex- 
traction, the Chile coal must, for some years to come, 
compete at a great disadvantage with that brought from 
Great Britain at nominal freights by sailing vessels in quest 
of return cargoes. The value of the coal exported between 
1844 an d I S73 was about £1,064,200. 
Concluding Remarks. — Mr. Rumbold not unfairly expresses 
a hope that the observations contained in his Report will 
convey the notion of a sober-minded, practical, laborious, 
well-ordered, and respeCtably-governed community, standing 
out in great contrast to the other States of kindred origin 
and similar institutions spread over the South-American 
continent. The blessings which Chile enjoys she owes to 
the pure traditions implanted in her administration by the 
founders of the Republic ; to the preponderating share taken 
in public affairs by the higher and wealthier class ; to the 
happy eradication of militarism ; to the nearly entire absence 
of those accidental sources of wealth (gold, guano, and 
nitrate) so lavishly bestowed by Providence on some of her 
neighbours ; to the consequent necessity for strenuous 
labour rapidly repaid by a bountiful soil ; above all, perhaps, 
