CHAP. xxir.

AMERICAN MINES.

149

tion sprung up, who were freed from the trammelsof childhood in which their maternal ancestorshad been bound, but were by no means placedon an equality with that of their male progenitorsand others of the unmixed white race.

As new classes arose, the labours of the mineswere increased, but there was a want of capitallong felt which prevented a rapid progress. Itwas necessary in mining to pay for labour beforeits produce could yield any returns. The pur-chase of implements, especially of iron pointedwith steel, which were to be brought from Europe ,required a large outlay; and it was necessary, asfar as the practice of amalgamation extended, toprovide quicksilver, which, coming also from agreat distance, was an expensive commodity.

Mexico was then in circumstances highly fa-vourable to the growth of capital. She enjoyedinternal tranquillity; there were no popular tu-mults of the Indian inhabitants ; the creoles wereneither sufficiently numerous nor influential toform a party; and fresh supplies of Europeans were continually pouring in, who, whatever theirrank or qualifications might be, when unitedformed a kind of aristocracy, which, with occa-sional and slight interruptions, was in generalobedient to the supreme authority of Spain . Inthe wars in which Spain was engaged, especiallywith England, almost every other part of SpanishAmerica had been invaded either by extensive