CHAP. XXI.

AMERICAN MINES.

115

CHAPTER XXL

On the increase of metallic wealth, and the proportionate in-crease of material wealth, between the years 1600 and 1700.

In the continuance of this inquiry, as far asrelates to the produce of gold and silver from theirchief source the mines of America , the progress willbe both clear and easy. The facts and calculationsof Baron Humboldt are presented to the publicafter so much consideration, and accompaniedwith so much discrimination and impartiality, thatthey may be in most cases implicitly adopted. Hisaccount of the produce of Mexico will be followedtill the year when the documents procured by Mr.Ward, then his majesty’s minister to that country,commences. These come down to the end of theyear 1825, and being collected from official sourcesought to be and probably are the most correct thatcould be obtained. The few years that follow tothe end of 1829 are supplied from sources ofvarious kinds—some from reports to the assembliesof the republic, and some from communicationsmade by persons resident in Mexico employedby the English mining-companies. In these lastthough there are some discrepancies which it maybe difficult to reconcile, their amount is so insig-

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