VI

PREFACE.

had already taken place, seemed to Mr. Huskissonan interesting subject for investigation.

My own attention had been early directed to thetransatlantic possessions of Spain . By the desire ofMr. Pitt, during the short administration whichpreceded the death of that eminent statesman, andduring the administrations which followed till thetime when Spain was at peace with England, Ihad means furnished to me of acquiring someknowledge of those countries. My correspond-ence and conversation with Mr. Huskisson thusnaturally and frequently fell into that channel, andnourished the feelings of interest on the subjectwhich had been created twenty years before.

About ten years ago the expected return tospecie payments by the bank made the collectionof any information respecting the produce of themines a consideration of some importance. Anintimation, from one to whose friendship I feltmost highly indebted, had the force of a command;and I then, at Mr. Huskisson’s suggestion, frameda comparison between the actual produce of themines of Spanish America from the years 1800 to1810, and from 1810 to 1820. It was deliveredto Lord Liverpool, and also communicated toMr. (now Sir Robert) Peel, and to Mr. David Ricardo .