The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1825-09-27 00:00:00

MEXICAN MINING ASSOCIATIONS.

The following is an extract of a private letter from
Mexico. Its contents are of some interest, particularly in
reference to the progress which is making in working the
several mines belonging to the different Companies formed
in this country :

IlltXtco, Just 9.
You will express surprise, perhaps, at my not sending you mere
political news, but it is only because there in none to send. The
Congress, it is expected, will meet on the lid of next month, and
then, perhaps, we rutty find some gossip to send you. I find this
city more agreeable as a residence than any part of South America
I have been in.
I have been naturally led, since I have been here, to make wore
comparison between this country and that other section of South
(or. 1 should say, Spanish) America, of which, as you are aware,
I know the most—l mean Colombia ; and I should say, that al-
though, as regards their separation from Spain, it is as cot piste
in the one country as in the other,. yet, in point of national energy
and national feeling, altogether, Colombia is more advanced than
Mexico. Fourteen years of warfare, difficulty, and suffiring, hare
developed and matured:a national character in Colombia in a grata
degree than has occurred here, precisely because the aim! causes
have not prevailed to the Same extent. However, cauteirof a dd.
ferent kind are at work in this country now, which, it is to be
hoped, will tend every day towards its advancement in civilization.
The principal of these, and the one which now engages most eet
the public attention, is the working of the mines. You have little
idea in England of the benefit which the mining districts of Mexico
are already feeling from the putting their industry in 'limier. All
the people are employed. There is a demand every where for
horses, provisions, iron, paper, and everything that the mines want
for their operations. The three principal English companies hare
apparently taken different courses of proceeding, each and all of
which are the subject of conversation and criticism here. The Real
del Monte Company, who have got the immense mince of Court
Regis, go upon the plareof employing steam engines. Their en.
gines are arrived on the coast I hear, and it is said they expect to
get them conveyed to she mines and to have them erected and he
ready for work by next spring. The question that is propouneed
among the learned in these matters is, whether, after the engines
have got to work, and done their d'usiness by draining the mines,
the same result could not have been obtained by the means of the
country, and at less expense, and with less delay, than by steam
engines? 'rite expense oiconveying the steam engines, aunt repair.
ing the roads for that purpose, is very great.
The Anglo-Mexican Company, which has its mines principally
in Guanaxnato, has followed a different plan. They have adopted
the Mexican system of malacates, making some improvements in
them, and by means of these they are draining the great mine of
Valenciana at the rate of ten thousand tuns of water per week. I
was perfectly astonished at the power of these things. Eight of
them, I understand, are now established on the great shaft of Va.
lenciana, and are at work night and day. Each malacate takes
twelve horses, which are relieved every sex hours. The expense
must be great, but the mine is yielding ore every week. 'Both
this Company and the Real del Monte have had out a good many
Cornish miners.

The newt great Company is the United Aleecan. It seems to be
the policy of this Company, as far as I can leant, to work entirely
with the means of the country, capital and management being the
great articles they supply. They have got some very valuable
mines in Gmanaxuato, Zacatecas, and other districts. The whole
of these Companies are under excellent management. The one
lard mentioned, the United, is under the direction of Don Lucas
Alaman, Minister for Foreign Affairs, a man of great value to this
country—able, upright, scientific, and with a great turn for min.
ing. Ile is assisted by one or two London merchants, who, with
him, form a board of management here. The Anglo-Mexican is
under the direction of 51r. IV illiamsun,:who resides at Ousnazuste,
a gentleman who, some time since, undertook the working a the
King of Persia's mines, but was obliged to leave that country in
consequence of the treatment he received there. Ile is a man of
great talent, judgment, and exertion. The Real del Monte is un.
der the direction of Captain \'eitch, an officer of engineers. and son
of a physician in London of that name. Ile appears to he a very
able nom, equal to the trust reposed in him, and is very much
esteemed.

Besides these there are three or four other smalkr tempo!, n
The etTect of their several labours must be soon felt in country,
and I guess it will not be many years before it is telt in
Europe.

POATR•II* PAINTING.—Rigo, the painter, who was
among the men of science and art who accompanied the
French expedition into Egypt, fell in at Cairo with a ca-
ravan from Nubia. As the trader of the caravan had
countenance which displayed the national features in
very striking manner, Rigo resolved to paint his portrait,
but was obliged to give him a considerable sung of money
before he could induce him to comply with his wish. At
first, the Nubian seemed content with the picture; boss
soon as the colours were laid on, he uttered a loud cry cf
horror, and all endeavours to appease him were fruititsa.
He escaped to his home, where he related, that his hal
and half of his body had been taken away by the painter.
Some days after, Rigo led another Nubian into his work-
shop, who was no less struck with horror at seeing the
picture, than the man whom it represented had been ; sad
told all his countrymen, that he had seen a great ',samba
of lopped-off heads and limbs in the Frenchman's house
They laughed at him ; however, to satisfy themselves
about the matter, six of them went to visit Rico. 'hey
were seized with the same panic at the sight of his prim'
ings, and no entreaties could prevail upon them to remain
in the house.—Percy Anecdotes of Imaginati.m.
POISONOUS CHILSE.—We noticed a few days sire.: I
communication made to the Leeds r, by a bw"
lessional gentleman of respectability, of the arts used b!
certain unprincipled tradesmen to give an air of age, m.
what is generally firmed the " blue mould," to their roc'
modifies, through the insertion of common brass pins franc
various parts of a chcsse, when front the inherent moisture
of the article, acting upon the metal, an apreatiner'
beautiful certainly to the eye of the gourmand, but of de;
most deleterious quality, is produced. This system cf
adulteration is not confined to Yorkshire, a ray fine 9,
cimen having been brought to our office this morning,
which the wire being lett, no doubt inadvertently, in the
cheese, was discovered by the buyer on cutting up 13'
purchase. As it is his determination to take every wee'
sary step for tracing this nefarious practice to its source ill
this instance, we refrain front saying more on the subject
for the present.—Gk!e.
The hop picking in the vicinity of Alton and Farm_
ham is now finished, and the crop is full one-third short of
what was anticipated a month since, and will not average.
more than 14 cwt. per acre ; ed. per cwt. has been refus‘,,l
fir Farnham hops, and much higher prices arc expected'
duty 20,0007. The accounts from Kent, Sussex, &eel.
and Worcester are worse, and prices full 30s. per cen•
higher than last week.