Under such circumstances, loss, at all events, either of capital, or of a return upon it, much exceeding any ordinary interest, can hardly be apprehended; for, although mining cannot be subjected to fixed calculations, it is a fact universally admitted in Mexico, that the chances of loss diminish, in proportion to the extent of the operations carried on; and that, although many a poor miner has lost his little all upon one ill-chosen spot, few instances have occurred, in which a district of known richness has disappointed the hopes of those who have possessed the means of exploring it in every part.
The Report of Mr. Williamson, Director of the Anglo-Mexican Association, (dated June 1826,) after stating the progress made, and the probability of concluding the drainage of the Valenciana mine in eighteen months, proceeds to give the average annual produce of Guanajuato before 1810,[1] which appears to have been, on a term of fifteen years, 5,572,206 dollars; two-thirds of which, or 3,714,804 dollars, actually proceeded from the mines now working by the Company.
Mr. Williamson expects, that in two years, (i. e. in 1829,) he shall be enabled to bring the produce of the mines again to this standard; nor do I see any reason to question the possibility of his doing so, now that the reductions mentioned in the pre-
- ↑ Vide Table, No. 7, annexed to preceding Section.
