Page:Mexico (1829) Volumes 1 and 2.djvu/487

 M EXICO. (which is but too often synonymous with vulgar error,) but upon the evidence of those Records, that have survived the Revolution ? More than this I do not wish at present to assume ; for I think so highly of the ability and practical experience of the Mexicans in mining matters, that I am very much inclined to believe that we hav e, at least, as much to learn from them, as they from us. I therefore reject, at once, those ideas of European mining on the other side of the Atlantic, which have been attended, hitherto, with such ruin- ous effects : but having admitted this, it would be hard to deny that the accession of science, and skill in machinery, brought by us into the present coalition, when combined with the knowledge of their own country, which the Mexican miners possess in the very highest degree, and applied, gra- dually, in the mode best adapted to the local peculiarities of each District, must, in the end, have a benefical influence, and must tend to increase, ultimately, the annual produce of the mines. This has been already exemplified in more than one in- stance, as at Real del Monte, and Bolanos, neither of which Districts could have been worked without the aid of Euro- pean science, to direct the efforts of the natives. In other districts, where capital alone was wanting, the introduction of our machinery was superfluous ; in all, however, it will be hereafter of use, for there is a point, at which the machinery of the country, (however improved) ceases to be of any avail. I do not, therefore, regard the expense incurred at Guana- juato by the Anglo-Mexican Company, for machinery, (but a small portion of which is now in use,) as money lost to the Adventurers. The expense might have been avoided, and was therefore injudicious, as it increased the outlay, in the first instance, so enormously, as almost to occasion the disso- lution of the Company ; but a time will come, (before the contracts can expire,) when a part, at least, of this machinery may be turned to account upon the spot; while, if the im-