CHAP. XXV.

MINES IN PERU.

249

made by joint-stock companies in England to workmines of the precious metals in Columbia. Theydo not appear to have had any effect in increasingthe products, nor are the prospects of futureoperations more cheering than the retrospect ofthe past transactions.

The ancient Spanish viceroyalty, now the re- Peru ,public of Peru , was highly productive of gold andsilver up to the troubles which agitated the country.These commenced in 1810, but were not severelydisastrous till 1814, when the mines graduallysunk till 1820. Then a kind of revival was per-ceived, till the operations carried on from Chiliunder the direction of General San Martin andLord Cochrane created fresh sufferings. After-wards, the invasion from Columbia by Bolivarseems to have renewed the distress and diminishedthe products of the mines. Not only the failureof the mines, but the banishment of the mostwealthy, active, and intelligent inhabitants, theold Spaniards, contributed to deprive the countryof that capital without which mining can be butfeebly conducted.

The banishment of the proprietors was carriedto such an extent that, though they were happyto escape with their lives and the wrecks of theirproperty, there was exported from Peru in thesix years between 1819 and 1825 double thequantity of gold and silver which the mines hadyielded in those years.