nually expended, the cost of which, in the colonies, has been estimated at one-fourth of a million sterling. The greater part of this quicksilver has been lately furnished by the mine of Almaden in Spain, and that of Istria in Carniola, the celebrated quick-silver mine of Huancavelica in Peru having greatly fallen off in its produce, since the sixteenth century, when it was highly flourishing. The prosperity of the silver mines, both in Mexico and Peru, therefore greatly depends on the supplies of quicksilver from Spain, Germany, and Italy; for such is the abundance of the ore in those kingdoms, that the only limit to the quantity of silver obtained there, is the want of mercury for amalgamation.

In taking a general view of the riches of the other provinces of America, Mr. Humboldt, who has supplied these details, remarks that, in Peru, silver ore exists in as great abundance as in Mexico, the mines of Lauricocha being capable of yielding as great a produce as those of Guanaxwato; but that the art of mining, and the methods of separating the silver from its ore, are still more defective than in New Spain. Notwithstanding this imperfect system, the total amount of the precious metals annually furnished by America, is estimated at upwards of nine millions and a half sterling—the gold being in proportion to the silver as one to forty-six. From 1492 to 1803, the quantity of gold and silver extracted from the American mines has been equal in value to 5,706,700,000 dollars; of which immense sum, the portion brought into Europe, including the booty made by the conquerors of America, is estimated at 5,445,000,000, giving an average of seventeen million and a half of dollars yearly. The annual importation being divided into six periods, appears to have been constantly augmenting, and in the following progressive ratio. From 1492 to 1500, it did not exceed 250,000 dollars. From 1500 to 1545, it amounted to three millions of dollars. From 1545 to 1600, to eleven millions. From 1600 to 1700 to sixteen millions. From 1700 to 1750, to twenty-two millions and a half. And, lastly, from 1750 to 1803, to the prodigious sum of thirty-five millions three hundred thousand dollars, nearly equal to eight millions sterling.

The first period was that of exchange with the natives, ar of mere rapine. The second was distinguished by the

Conquest and plunder of Mexico, Peru, and New Grana da, and by the opening of the first mines. The third began with the discovery of the rich mines of Potosi ; and in the course of it the conquest of Chili was completed, and various mines opened in New Spain. At the commencement of the fourth period, the mines of Potosi began to be exhausted; but those of Lauricocha were discovered, and the produce of New Spain rose from two millions to five millions of dollars annually. The fifth period began with the discovery of gold in Brazil; and the sixth is distinguished by the prodigious increase of the mines of New Spain, while those of every other part of America, with the exception of the Brazils, have been constantly improving.

The GOLD MINES of BRAZIL are very productive. Those called GENERAL are distant about seventy-five leagues from Rio Janeiro, which is the staple and principal outlet of the riches of the Brazilian territory. They yield to the king, annually, for his right of fifths, at least one hundred and twelve arobas [weighing twenty-five pounds each] of gold. Their yearly produce may, therefore, be estimated at upwards of eight hundred thousand pounds sterling; and that of the more distant mines at about one third the

sum.

The gold drawn from them cannot be carried to Rio Janeire, without being first brought to the smelting houses established in each district, where the right of the crown is received. What belongs to private persons is remitted in bars, with their weight, number, and an impression of the royal arms. The gold is then assayed, and its standard imprinted on each bar. When these bars are carried to the mint, their value is paid to the possessor in coin, commonly in half-doubloons, each worth eight Spanish dollars. Upon each of these half-doubloons the king gains a dollar. by the alloy and right of coinage. The mint of Rio Janeiro is one of the most beautiful in existence, and is furnished with every convenience for working with the greatest celerity. As the gold arrives from the mines at the same time that the fleets arrive from Portugal, it is necessary to accelerate the operations of the mint, and the coinage proceeds with surprising quickness.

In AFRICA, the kingdom of MOZAMBIC abounds in gold,

which is washed down by the rivers, and forms a chief part of the commerce of the country. The kingdoms of MONOMOTAPA and SOFALA likewise furnish considerable quantities of gold; and the Portuguese who reside in the latter territory, report that it yields annually two millions of metigals, equal to somewhat more than a million sterling. The merchants export from Mecca, and other parts, about the same quantity of gold. The soldiers are paid in gold dust, in the state in which it is collected; and this is so pure, and of so fine a yellow, as not to be exceeded, when wrought, by any other gold beside that of Japan. Gold is likewise found on the island of Madagascar. The gold coast is so denominated from the abundance of gold found among the sands: it is not, however, so productive as has been generally supposed, 'owing to the intense heats, which, in a great measure, prevent the natives from prosecuting their researches.

In ASIA, the ISLAND OF JAPAN is most productive of gold, which is found in several of its provinces, and is, in by far the greater proportion, melted from its ore. It is likewise procured by washing the sands, and a small quantity is likewise found in the ore of copper. The emperor claims a supreme jurisdiction, not only over the gold mines, but over all the mines of the empire, which are not allowed to be worked without a licence from him. Two thirds of their produce belong to him, and the other third is left to the governor of the province in which the mines are situated. But the richest gold ore, and that which yields the finest gold, is dug in one of the northern provinces of the island of Niphon, a dependency of Japan, where the gold mines have been highly productive until latterly, though they have much fallen off. In the Japanese province of Tsckungo, a rich gold mine, having been filled with water, was no longer worked: as it was however, so situated, that, by cutting the rock, and making an opening beneath the mine, the water could be easily drawn off, this was attempted. At the moment of commencing the operation, so violent a storm of thunder and lightning arose, that the workmen were obliged to seek shelter elsewhere; and these superstitious people imagining that the tutelar god and protector of the spot, unwilling to have the bowels of the earth thus rifled, had raised the

storm to make them sensible of his great displeasure at such an undertaking, desisted from all further attempts, through the fear of incurring his displeasure.

THIBET, a mountainous country of India, contains a great abundance of gold, which is traced in the rivers flowing from that territory into the Ganges. In Hindostan there are not any mines of gold; but in the Irnada district gold is collected in the river which passes Nelambur in the Mangery Talui, a Nair having the exclusive privilege of this collection, for which he pays a small annual tribute. Silver is in general rare throughout the oriental regions, and there is not any indication of this metal in India; but in Japan there are several silver mines, more particularly in the northern provinces, and the metal extracted from them is very pure and fine.

Turning to EUROPE, DALMATIA is said in ancient times to have produced an abundance of gold. Pliny reports that in the reign of the emperor Nero, fifty pounds of this precious metal were daily taken from the mines of that province; and that it was found on the surface of the ground. It is added that Vibius, who was sent by Augustus to subdue the Dalmatians, obliged that hardy and warlike people to work in the mines, and to separate the gold from the ore.

BOSSINA, in SCLAVONIA, contains many mineral mountains, and has rich mines of gold and silver. The district in which the latter are found is named the Srebrarniza, being derived from the word srebr, which signifies silver in all the Sclavonian dialects. Their produce resembles the native silver of Potosi, and is found, combined with pure quartz, in small, thin leaves, resembling moss.

The kingdom of NORWAY formerly produced gold; but the expense of working the mines, and procuring the pure ore, being greater than the profit, these have been neglected. There are, however, silver mines, which are extremely valuable, and give employment to several thousands of persons. The principal of these is at Konigsberg, and was discovered in 1623, when the town was immediately built, and peopled with German miners. In 1751, forty-one shafts, and twelve veins, were wrought in this mine, and gave employment to three thousand five hundred officers, artificers, and labourers.

The silver ore is not, as was at first imagined, confined to the mountain between Konigsberg and the river Jordal, but extends its veins for several miles throughout the adjacent districts, in consequence of which new mines have been undertaken in several places, and prosperously carried on. One of the richest and most ancient of the mines, named "Old God's blessing," has sometimes, in the space of a week, yielded several hundred pounds weight of rich ore. The astonishing depth of this mine, which is not less than a hundred and eighty fathoms perpendicular, fills the mind of the beholder with amazement; and the circumference at the bottom forms a clear space of several hundreds of fathoms. Here the sight of thirty or forty piles, burning on all sides in this gloomy cavern, and continually fed to soften the stone in the prosecution of the labours, seems, according to the notions commonly entertained, an apt image of hell; and the swarms of miners, covered with soot, and bustling about in habits according to their several employments, may well pass for so many infernal spirits; more especially when, at a given signal when the mine is to be sprung in this or that direction, they exclaim aloud: "Berg-livet, berg-livet!" Take care of your lives.

The gold mines of CREMNITZ lie forty miles south of the Carpathian hills; and twenty miles farther to the south, are the silver mines of SHEMNITZ. These are called mining towns; and the former is the principal, its rich ores being found in what is styled metallic rock. Its mines also produce a certain proportion of silver. Hungary is beside enriched by a mineral peculiar to itself, or one, at least, which has not hitherto been discovered elsewhere, namely, the opal-a gem preferred to all others by the oriental nations. The opal mines are situated at Ozerwiniza, where they are found in a hill consisting of decomposed porphyry, a few fathoms beneath the surface. Their produce is of various qualities, from the opake-white, or semi-opal, to the utmost refulgence of the lively colours by which this noble gem is distinguished.

TRANSYLVANIA and THE BANNET contain numerous and valuable mines, consisting chiefly of grey gold ore, and white gold ore. The finest gold is found at Olapian, not far from Zalathna, intermixed with gravel and sand. The