SECTION III.
WHETHER THE LARGE CAPITALS WHICH HAVE BEEN REMITTED TO MEXICO, AND INVESTED IN THE MINES BY BRITISH SUBJECTS, AND ON BRITISH ACCOUNT, ARE LIKELY TO BE PRODUCTIVE OF ADEQUATE RETURNS TO THE ADVENTURERS; AND WITHIN WHAT PERIOD IT MAY REASONABLY BE EXPECTED THAT THESE RETURNS WILL BECOME SUFFICIENTLY CONSIDERABLE, TO MAKE THE GENERAL PRODUCE OF THE COUNTRY AGAIN EQUAL, OR ULTIMATELY EXCEED, THE ANNUAL AVERAGE AMOUNT DERIVED FROM THE MINES BEFORE 1810.
It will be seen that this Section embraces two distinct subjects of inquiry: —
1st. The returns likely to be made by the different Companies to the Adventurers engaged in them; and,
2ndly. The probability of the general produce of the country being so increased by these returns, (or by any other causes,) as to equal, or ultimately to exceed, the average annual produce before the year 1810.
With regard to the first of these points, I shall submit to my readers the opinions of such of the Directors of the different Companies as have ventured to enter upon this part of the subject in their communications with me, (which some, from a very natural disinclination to commit themselves, did not,) and state, succinctly, in how far these opinions coincide with my own: — Upon the second point, I shall hazard a calculation myself, founded upon the general tenour of the information, which I have been labouring, during the last two years, to collect. I must, however, premise, that the data upon which any such calculation must be founded, in the
