proper inquiry or precaution; and large sums were often paid down for mere pits, which, upon investigation, it was found impossible to work. In some cases, operations were actually commenced, and all the preliminary parts of a Mining Establishment formed, without sufficient data to afford a probability of repayment. In many of the Districts immediately about the Capital, (as Zimapàn, El Doctor, Capula, Chico, Temascaltepec, &c.) this has been the case; and although these desultory experiments have been subsequently abandoned, still, they have been a drain upon the Companies, which is the more to be regretted, because it never could have been productive of any great result. [1]
In general, the selection of Mines, amongst the first Adventurers, was determined by a reference to Humboldt. Any Mine not mentioned in his
- ↑ I do not wish to enumerate the individual instances of these failures that have come to my knowledge, but there is one very generally known, that of Mr. Bullock's Mine at Temascaltepec, which was purchased of him by the Houses of Baring and Lubbock, and upon which I should think that 20,000l. must have been expended before their Agent, (Mr. Bullock,) could convince himself of the injudiciousness of his choice. What induced him, in the first instance, to fix upon this particular spot, I am unable to state, for I have never discovered any record, or even tradition, respecting the former produce of the Mine. Certain it is, however, that it does not now contain the slightest vestige of a Vein, nor has one Ounce of Ore, (rich or poor,) been raised from it.
