The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1826-08-26 00:00:00

POLICE•

A MINING ADVENTURER.
ISIANMON.HOIIite.—A man, with a 'tallow complexion, an In-
valid coutrenance, and a sorrowful aspect, which seemed to have
belonged to him for no great length of tune, acme before the Lon n
II!avow, to beg his honlithip's aid in prat:ring redress from the
Directors of the Real del Monte Mining Company. He said his
name was Henry Dobell, and that it the outset of the Company he
had been engaged to go out to the mine in South America. and give
light to the concern by making candles fur them. He was a
chandler. It was agreed in his articles that, if he should find it
necessary to Icave the work, be should have 401. for his passage
home, and three months wages. He engaged to go out for IWO
dollars per annum. Min.& the-people nor the place agreed with
him. He became ill, and returned to this country, when, on ap-
plying to Mr. Taylor, the official person st the Company's office,
for his wages, ha was to.'d they knew nothing of him, nor could he
make them know. though he produced his agreement. He could
do nothing with them, and he was obliged to apply to his Lord..
ip
sh.
The LOAD Illavon asked him whether he had really been at
Real del Monte?—The workman shook his head mertanfully, as
much as to say. diet lie had indeed, to Macon.
The LORD AIAYOR as!-.ed hint how it was getting on, and whe-
ther there was a great deal of work yet to do before they got gold?
I The workman—There was plenty of work to do ; the mountain was
12,000 feet above the level of VII sea. Ile expressed his doubts,
however, whether gold would ever be seen from it.
The Loan M•von—Why, we were told not long since, as a
eemmeneement.lhat a column of gold had been found there ? The
workman could not refrain from laughing outright.
The Lonn lllaYon—What, then there was no column of gold
fund? The workman—Not a bit of it, that I ever saw, nor
heard of. _ . . . .

The Loan 31AY011 asked what was the fuel they matle use of at
the mines?—The workman said they were at much labour in pro-
curing fuel. They made charcoal, and got a sort of stuff which
was not exactly atone, but width looked like stone, and burned ex-
ceedingly well like turf.
The !Aran Mayon asked what progress had been made in clear-
ing the Mine ?—The workman said, that all the water had not yet
been got out. They slid get it out once, hut, just betbre he came,
it brot e in upon them again, and disowned 60 men.
The LORD Maroa—Wtt never heard of this before 1 Were
they Eng.ishmen? The workman—No, my lard ; none of 'em ;
they were only natives.—The word may excited much laughter
The Loan 111AYOR asked whether the natives worked well ?
The workman said, they did not "buckle too" well, and that it
required much trouble to keep them at ft.
HOBLEn observed, the natives world have belied their elm-
meter if they had worked well; for it was considered that a more in.
dolent worthless set was scarcely to be found.
The LORD Marna asked what the depth was they had yet to
go wo-knian said, they had got down RN fathoms, and had
to clear 311 fathoms more before they gained the place where it was
impposed the ore was. _
. . . .

The Leann 3IAYOII—And what reason is there for believing
that they will find it when they get there ?—The workman said
that the mine had ones before been worked. The bottom ICU now
filled tip with beams, rubbish. end water.
The Loan MAYOR—VW* tall me you have found no got: yet ?
The workman—Not a bit ; and I .lon't believe they Leer will find

slay.
The Lotto Maroo—This is erre strange. We were told not
long ago that a column of gold ha I been round. and a respectable
fr.end of mine had given as much us 1,3001. or 1,:i00/. fur two or
three of the ehave. _ _

Mr. lioni.ww—Which are now, I believe, considered worth as
much as M. The concern seems to have been as bad to sonic as the
l'oyais
The Loan MAYow asked the workmen whether he had, whilst
he was there, made any tailor. ? The workman replied in the ne-
gative.
The LOAD MAYOR—Why so? The workman—Became.
when we arrived there, we found we amid get no tallow. (M itch
laughter.)
The Loan MAYOR—No tallow ! why. there are plenty of wild
cattle there. The workman---Ay, but they are so thin and lean,
that there's no tallow to be got from them. (Increased laughter.)
The LORD MAYOR—We certainly import a considerable quan-
tity of tallow from South America. The workman—Yes, but not
from Mexico.
__ • _ . .

The LORD lllssron—Well, I don't see how they could find
gold without candles. Ills Lordship proceeded to ask what lie had
:;ot there I—The workman said, he got nothing there but a cut
in the head, and a sickness; but he was thankful that he got
away at all.
The LORD MAYOR asked him how be got the wound, which
was visible on his head ? The workman—l got it front the natives t
it was one of their Saints' days, and it was because 1 did not bow
to an image that was carried along, crowned with thorns.
The LORD 31AYOSI observed, that It was Just like our workmen.
The complainant should have learned to do respect to the belief of
the people, and to behave decorously at their ceremonies. The
workticat—But they were carrying along a terrible ugly-looking
image. what they called Judas, and were going to hang it, and I
could not help laughing at it when they pitched in upon
The Loan 3lsTort—lt a•as what might have been expected.

I presume that the quark's were frequent between you and the
natives? The workman—Yes; they are a devilish aet, that fight
with knives. They killed as many as twenty or our people. They
came behind me in their way with a knife, and cut me on the Lead.
If Cape. Lyon, who was standing by me, had nut stopped them, I
should have had the knife through my back.
The LORD ni A YOE asked the workman whether the country was
populous ?—The workman replied that it was at Ampler), on the
river Panapa, where they landed. Three were about :20,000 people.
But in general there were very few Inhabitants. There were none
at Heal Del Monte. It was quite baleen place.
Toe Loan Matoa asked him how It was that lie did not get
his money before he left ?—The workman said that Captain Lyoo
told him he would be sure to get his money 0111119 return home.
The Loan MAYOR—The Captain probably was nut aware how
scarce a thing money had become, and what a change had taken
t.ce since he left. You had not heard, I suppose. of the breaking
up of so many great concerns.
The Workmaa—M'e heard of one of 'an, Belilantith, I think
his name it, haring gone.

- - _
The Loan 3larott then looked over the complainant's ;wee-
ment, which certainly, be said, appeated to be a regular and valid
instrument. Bin there was one eareption in it,. to the allowance
which the compl 'inapt claimed, that rnigtit occasion him to regret
his sent of gravity. It was stipulated, that he should have the
allowance in question, on being compelled to leave work, provided
his doing to did not arise frill dny misconduct or impropriety on
his part. Now the Company might plead ilist he got the wound
on his held in consequence or his own namcomluct, and that lie
had tivreby forfeited his claim. On the whole, his Lordship said,
lie dal not see ih-d he could render the unfortunate workman any
assistance. Fie might meek a remedy by a civil action, but hut
Lordship recommended him to apply again to the Company, and
to state that he had been desired to do so by the Lord Mayor.
Tice wort:mon thanked his Lordship, and said he should pursue
that course.