256

MINING IN THE

CHAP. X.

Prussia.

The mines belonging to Prussia, besides thesmall portion in the Hartz, which is beforealluded to, are very inconsiderable as far as re-gards the precious metals. Those in the pro-vinces of Mansfeld and Rothenburg , ceded bySaxony in 1816, are said, in the thirteenth cen-tury, to have yielded yearly about thirty thou-sand ounces of silver, but we have no means ofascertaining if they were worked at any formerperiod.

The mines of Tarnowitz , in the Prussian pro-vince of Silesia, exhibit evident proofs of havingbeen worked in very ancient times, and to amuch greater extent than in more moderndays. There are records which show that, afteran uncertain suspension, they were revived bysome protestant refugees from the county ofMansfeld, about the year 1524. George Mar-

the bases of the several manufactures carried on in this moun-tain district.

The paternal government of Hanover is liberal to the poorinhabitants of the Hartz. It allows them wood for miningpurposes from its forests without payment, and stores up alarge quantity of bread-corn in seasons of abundance in a ma-gazine at Osterode , which is dispensed to them at a cheaprate, when, in the variations of years, the price advances.These notices respecting the Hartz are abridged from VoyagesMetallurgiques de Jars, vol.i.; from PlethosErdebeschreibungder Fursten Wolfenbutel; from Hassel, vol. iv.; and part arewritten from personal inquiries made by the author on thespot in 1827.