Star.
London, England, 1825-03-09 00:00:00

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MEXICAN MINES.

7-77-

We extract the following from the interesting pam-
phlet of Sir William Adams, on the actual state of
these Mines:— •
" It may be almost difficult for a person,. not well-in-
formed on the subject, to comprehend the vast produce
of some of the Mexican mines, as there are no parallel
examples of the kind in the world. One of the.,
namely, the Valenciana, Baron Humboldt has very mi-
nutely described in his work on New Spain. The Ba-
ron states this mine to be the richest mine of Mexico.
It lies from eighty to a hundred leagues further in the
interior than the city of Mexico, on the mother vein of
Guanaxuato. This mine, the Baron affirms, produced
.as much silver in the year 1791 as was produced by the
whole kingdom of Peru that year, and that it yields
seven times more metal than the mines of Freiborg, and
one half as much as the whole kingdom of Saxony !!
He moreover adds, that the amount of the sales of the
raw ores at the pit's mouth (where, as in Cornwall, they
are sold weekly by auction), avet aged, during thirty-
three years, from 1771 to 1804, the enormous sum of
583,3801. per annum, while he also asserts that it
never yielded less net profit, during forty years, than
from 82,5061. to 123,7591. per annum, notwithstanding
the excessive expenses incurred, and the unscientific
manner in which every operation, as connected with the
mining department, was conducted. Some years the
net profits amounted "to 250,0001. This mine continued
'exceedingly rich up to the perioi of the Revolution in
1810, as is proved by official documents brought to
this country, which state, that up to that period it con-
tinued to produce ores to the amount of a million and a
half dollars per annum.
" The accounts which have reached this country from
the mining-districts, through different channels, as well
as the letters recently received from Mexico, fully can-
firm the favourable opinions advanced by the writer,
and it is publicly mentioned in the City, that they are
now raising two thousand mule loads of ore per week,
from the upper works of the Valenciana mine, which
quantity of ore, calculated at the value of four ounces
of silver per cwt. of ore (Humboldt's estimate), would
give a produce exceeding 50001. weekly. Such being
already the case, it is difficult to form any accurate
estimate. of what will be the value of the produce of
this mine (declared in a published letter of Captain
Garby, the chief miner sent out by the Anglo-Mexican
Mine Company, to be more valuable than all the mines
of Cornwall united), when it is freed from its water, and
in full work; and when the very rich ores contained in
its colossal pillars, er supports between the different
workings, can be reached. These pillars are estimated
by the best Mexican judges to be worth 40,000,000 of
dollars, or 8,000,0001. sterling, even if sold at the pit's
mouth ; but, from the information received, it is pro-
bable that these enormous masses of rich ore, which
constitute the pillars between the six or eight-and-twenty
horizontal tiers of workings in this mine, will produce
eight or ten times that amount, when converted by the
improved systems of smelting, or amalgamation.
" Hence, then, whenever the mine becomes exhausted
of its ores, an immense property may be realised by
the entire removal of these pillars ; while, according to
the opinions of Mr. Moyle and Mr. Garby, two-thirds
of them may, even now, be removed without danger to
the mine, by substituting props of wood, combined
with refuse stones, as is the practice in Cornwall under
similar circumstances."

A Gentleman has arrived in town from Paris, for the
purpose of purchasing various articles for the use of
the King of France, and the Royal Family, at the ap-
proaching coronation.
Last year the value of goods imported into Odessa,'
amounted to nearly eleven millions of rubles; the ex-
ports to above fourteen millions.
Letters from Madrid. dated the 20th ult. state, that
the agents of the Spanish Government had written to
their employers from Paris to announce that .they
thought the 4, loan would not go down in England."
We believe this to be a perfectly sound judgment on
the part of the agents, which has been confirmed by
their subsequent experience in this country. These let-
ters state that a very active correspondence was carry-
ing on between the Russian and Spanish Cabinets, and
add that several couriers had recently arrived there
from St. Petersburgh. It was thought that these com-
munications related to the declaration of the British
Government respecting the Independence of South
America, which had been taken in high dudgeon by
his CATHOLIC MAJESTY.

The plan of the Colombian Colonization Society has
now been made public. It appears that a law passed
the Congress of that Republic on the 11th June, 1823,
investing the Government with authority to dispose of
lands, and grant privileges for the purpose of facilitat•
ing emigration. Under this law two grants of land
have been made, in different districts of Colombia, of
which the Association has become 'possessed, amount•
ing to upwards of a million of English acres. By the
same 4aw, and for the same purpose, various privileges
are conferred on persons coming out as settlers, the
principal of which are exemptions from contributions
and tithes during six years, and from export duties on
the produce raised by them for the same period. The
Association also extends its views to the formation of
roads, and other objects not immediately connected
with colonization. Whatever the issue of it may be as
a mere medium for the employment of capital, it is
evident that the undertaking, if judiciously conducted,
will be productive of great benefits to Colombia, and
tend to advance with an accelerated pace the prospe-
rity of this rising country. Care has been taken to
provide that the settlers shall net be molested on the
score of religious belief. This new 'Company, which
came out yesterday, is called the " Colombian Asso-
ciation for Agricultural and other Purposes." Capi-
tal 1,300,0001. divided into 13,000 shares of 1001. each,
the whole of which, it is said, have been filled' up .for
some time back. At one o'clock the shares bore a pre-
Milan of 171. Another Company, under the title of
the "Patent Steam Carriage," was also launched, and
at first bore a premium of 31. but afterwards receded to
21. per share.
We understand that it is in contemplation by the
Bank lli:ectors to give some increased facilities to per.
sons who keep cash accounts with the Bank of England,
which will render the accommodation in that respect
nearly the same as at a private bank. Checks as low
as 51. will be allowed to be drawn. The Bank will also
receive the dividends for any persons who may desire
it, under a power of attorney, This latter step is said
to have been strongly recommended to the Directors
in consequence of thelate failures at the west end of
, the town.