Hobth Abbas, G. H. 44, 45 ; I. 44; J. 44, 35; Hobtii East Centeab Galleey, I. 44.

This collection is chiefly remarkable for the abundance of the raw materials and produce it contains. Thesamples exhibited will, however, at the best, only convey a very imperfect idea of the vast mineral resourcesof this productive country.

Spain possesses, in many portions of her territory, enormous fields of pit-coal. The most productiveand the most celebrated of these occur in the province of the Asturias , and among the interior faces of themountains themselves. The pirice of Asturias pit-coal at the port of Gigon (the only point at which it canbe shipped) is about 3 reals per quintal of 800 Castilian lbs. each. But at the pit mouth the price is fullyone-third less; its cost on the coast being much enhanced by the difficulties of inland carria°-e. The cokethat is manufactured from it, in the open air, fetches three, four, and sometimes as much even as six reals perquintal. The pit-coal raised in the Siera and the Lagrao mines is chiefly exported. The coal dug in Mieres andat Leria is consumed in that country by the furnaces for smelting their iron, steel, &c.

Several companies of Spaniards,—of foreigners,—and of Spaniards and foreigners associated,—have beenformed, who devote themselves with great ability, some to the improvement of the methods of mining, others tothe construction of common high roads as well as of tramways, for facilitating the carrying of this coal. TheMining Associations of the Yalley of Santullan, in the province of Palenpia, situate about two leagues from thegrand route of Santander, and five leagues from the canal of Castile, are anxiously looking for the execution ofthose projected lines of railroad that are to connect Alen with Santander, and Madrid with Valladolid, as offeringa cheap and enormous outlet for their very abundant supplies. The supplies of coal raised by the PolentinaLeonesa Company, in a very extensive district, that is peculiarly rich in iron ore—of the province of Leon—willfind a most profitable vent by the lines of railway communication now intended to be laid down. These bedsof coal are very numerous, and of an average thickness of from two to three metres. The Spanish collectioncontains a sample of pit-coal from Guadita, in the province of Grenada ; another of brown jet; and a third ofpiolished jet from Oviedo . Out of this material small articles are manufactured, which are sold at moderateprices in the Asturias. The collection contains moreover some lignite from Guipuzcoa , which is now beingdug near the village of Iquelzoputzuco-Ondos, and it is much used in the mines of that country.

The fields of pit-coal must extend themselves over a much wider area in the direction of the Mediterranean ;for at the last Exposition at Madrid there was exhibited a sample of pit-coal from the Adeline Mine in theprovince of Valencia , where this coal is worked by a private company. The price—6 reals, or 1 franc and COcents, (about Is. 4 \d English ) the quintal.

Spain also possesses almost every species of the metals which are the object of industrial labour, as maybe ascertained, although but imperfectly, from an examination of the species contained in the Spanish collection.Among many others, gold, incrusted in quartz, has just been discovered in the province of Gerona . There isa specimen of it in the collection.

The various substances coming within the class of Stones and Earths, of which Spain has transmitted specim ensto the Great Exhibition, —are but a very inadequate exponent of the riches, of an analogous description, thatshe really possesses. In this respect the soil of Spain is, undoubtedly, as rich as it is in metallic products;for it offers all that can be desired for giving to various classes of industrial occupation, that make use of themin their processes, the means of an incalculable development and perfection. One cannot take a single step inthis boldly-featured region without coming upon enormous masses of marble, serpentine, alabasters, puzzolanos,kaolins, hydraulic chalks, refractory freestone, plastic clays, and very many other primary matters, toonumerous for recapitulation here.

There is a tolerably rich collection of marbles, alabasters, clays, and serpentines, from different regions ofSpain. In addition to this, a still more comprehensive collection has been transmitted from Madrid , anil which