(with the exception always of a hostile movement on the part of Spain,) that could again disorganise the great mass of the population; and it is this alone that the Companies in general have to apprehend. Partial disturbances indeed may, and probably will occur; but these are of little moment, and could hardly exercise any very prejudicial effect upon the Mining interests of the country, from which so large a portion of the Mexican community derives its subsistence at present, and to which, consequently, they are not less interested than the foreign Adventurers themselves, in affording protection.
The same observation holds good with regard to an increase of duties on the part of the Government, (of which I have heard great fears expressed here,) as soon as the mines begin to become productive anew. Upon this subject it is impossible to give the Adventurers any other security than that which they may derive from the reflection, that this increase of duties must weigh as heavily upon the Mexican proprietors, as upon themselves. The mines are private, not public, property; and the produce, (according to the terms of the contracts,) after the repayment of the capital invested by the Companies in the first instance, is to be divided equally between the Adventurers and the Mexican proprietors.
In order to favour the attempt to work the mines anew by the assistance of foreign capitals, the duties formerly paid on the Silver raised, (seventeen per cent.,) were reduced to about five and a half. There
