The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1824-10-01 00:00:00

MEXICO.

The fo!lowingtopographieel sketch of the city of San
I.l:is Potosi, anti the mines of San Pedro, in the Itiesican
Federation, is copied from the Louiaiuna (;:nithe :
This city Is situated fit leagues N.W. from the city of Itlexleo,
ft is built en a level plain, near a rugged chain of ininttitains on the
reeds, aid indeed the prosreet is bounded on all sides by moun-
tains. The lend adjacent to the city is a barren sandy soil, and
the fruits and vegetables are brought ironic distance to market, al-
though in the suburbs there are several fine gardens, some walled'
others. fenesd in with a plant ealhal orgimus, which grows about ten
feet high, with little or no variation in its diameter. It is equi-
lateral, ,haring four, five, and sometimes six sides, the antic.; of
'which are adorned with thorns. It diameter is generally about four
inches, and it het the amiceranee of common fence rails, set perpen-
dicularly, except that its velour is green. The street., are generally
straight, and arc not raved, except the side walks. There are four'
churches, a enstom-house, and tri asury, and about sixty dwelling_
busses, built of stone. 'l'llc remainder of the city is built of mud,
and cut stone, sail plastered on the outside ; the buildings arc but
ore story high. There is a very conalderable share of mercantile
bylines, done in this city, on account of its proximity to several
mining towns I and the provinces west of it are mostly supplied
here with dry goods. They also manufacture here IX ukets, coarse
flannel*, boots, shoea, saddles, &c. and yet this city is full of beg-
girl. Its popitlatien is about thirty thousand About fifteen mils
cast of this edy, ore situated the mutt-Panted mines of St. Pedro,
from which has been taken upwards of one hundred millions of
dollars.; but Nome few years ago the richest vein caved in, and bu-
ried in its ruins some hundreds of the persons that were employed
to wink it. The entrance to the principal vein is on the north-
east side of the mountain, about a quarter of a mile from its base.
For convenience they have made a gap, or cut, in the mountain,
shout the entrance, thirty feet square. 4hi this spot is a house for
oho keeper of the mine to live in, and they 21140 heft' deposit their
ore, when it is first brought oat or the mine. Betbra you enter the
mine, it Is mei-miry to procure two or three persons to accompany
you, with lighted torches, as some accident might happen to eltin-
gidah your light, if you had but one, which would render your re-
turning rather dangerous. The cavity is about eight feet high and
six feet wide, and on opening the gate a Wearer:able air proceeds
from it, which, with its gloomy appearance, creates rather 1.• plea-
sant ideas in the mind on entering. In following the veiu, yoo
sometimes ascend, at others descend, sometimes inclioing to time
right, at Other', to the left. The arch-way varies in ha height and
width, with such irregularity, that you are doubtful where you are
pnietwding you eau walk erect two hiindral and fifty paces, it
then becomes so low it is necessary to ctawl on your hands and
knees one hundred and fifty pares more, Wrote you arrive at the
ain't where they now dig out the ore. The adore is in a lime-stone
r wk. Three &levee:al other vein. in this mountain, some of gold,
°threat:Widen.. Hut in VW, there weir not more than 2511periOns
employed in these 11l i l tee. After the ore is taken out of the moon-
tido, it is carried on the bails, about two miltw, where there are fur-
naces to refine it. Ilia on asuaiont of the seareity of wood there, the
ore is first pounded line, and thou mixed with clay and quicksilv,r.
the metal is then collected.

This mountain is as barren as it is possible to form an idea rd.
not • single bush to be scat, nothing but rocks piled on rxks, and
here are there • crevice cut in the side, by the rains, which gives to
the place an awful rn 1 ferbidding split:ant:we; but the sauth-west
side of the mountain, near its base, is covered wi:h the nopal tree,
and annuatie shrubs and herbs, which till the uir with their
fr.u,nar.ce,

!'rum information gathered from the miners, it appears that he
reins of gold keep ascending, until they are l.e aurang the rocks;
sod the silver ones either outdone horisontal, or dr.cend.
They appear to use no ingenuity whatever is working tliernlors,
either in digging or contriying the ore, or relining it, Mit, on the
contrary, employ twice as much force as is necessary, was they sup.
plied with proper utensils, and knew bow to use thew.

A report prevailed in the City yesterday, that 3 frigates
and .2 corvettes had Piled from Coronae with troops and
stores for South America.

The Journal des De!mils contains an ostler from the King
of :slain, tlat.d kladrid, Beptetnber la, which directs the
augmentation of the corps of Royal Volunteers, and calls
on the Municipal audits of the kingdom to take the neces-
sary nrasutes foe increasing their 1111 l Tiber, improving their
discipline, and ascertaining the loyalty of those who way
be admitted into their ranks.

The (;wrette of Stuteard stigmatism as false and calum-
nious, a letter, dated Carlsbad, September 1, and inserted
in the Quoti,flame, relative to the pretended divorce of the
Prinetsv Catherine of Wittenberg, from her husband
Jerome Ilmutpartc.
Thule are letters in town from Trieste, dated the 10th,
and front F•oreuce, the 13th of Scptemb:r, which repeat
the accounts already given of the partial destruction of the
Tu-kisla Sect before Samos. None of them, however,
communicate details which enable us to pronounce a con-
fident opitt'on as to the correctness of the report.
Front Rome, under the date of the 7th a•ptember, we
are told that the Pope has issued an Ordinance, dated
August 2;, on the method to be observed in the Herlesiss-
deal States to unite studies with piety. To etket this the
exercises of students are to be directed by a connulasion of
Cardinal.