CHAP. XXI.

AMERICAN MINES.

125

and looking at the extensive frontier which was tobe guarded. This would make the supply amountto twelve million six hundred thousand piastres.

Brasil at that time had begun to collect gold,though not to the extent which it reachedin the following century; it may, however, besafely estimated, even then, at one million dollars.To the supplies from America may be added whatlittle the mines of Europe and the rivers of Africa contributed to the general stock, which appearsto have amounted to about one million four orfive hundred thousand dollars. Thus the sum offifteen million dollars annually, or taking the dol-lars at four shillings and two-pence sterling, threemillion three hundred and seventy-five thousandpounds, would nearly agree with the estimatewhich Humboldt has assumed.

This would give an increase to the preciousmetals in the whole century of three hundred andthirty-seven million five hundred thousand pounds.In the eighteenth chapter of this inquiry (page70) the conclusion has been arrived at that thestock in Europe applied to the purposes of moneymight amount to about one hundred and thirtymillions sterling. If the same allowance be madefor wear in the hundred years as has been beforepresumed, that coin which was in circulation atthe end of the year 1599 would in the year 1699fie reduced to eighty-seven million pounds.

In the former period it has been estimated that