Page:Mexico in 1827 Vol 1.djvu/116

90 half possesses, perhaps, the largest share of the mineral and vegetable riches of the New World.

It is not, therefore, a mere theory to suppose that the progress of such a country must exercise a considerable influence upon the manufacturing industry of the Old World.

Of its future consumption, (as I stated in the first section,) no estimate can be formed by that of former times, when its resources were prevented from developing themselves by the jealous policy of the Mother country, which will form the subject of the following section.

Its probable importance may be more easily deduced from the facts which I shall endeavour to embody in the present work, in order to enable my readers to form their own conclusions upon data, the authenticity of which I need not add that I have taken all possible pains to ascertain.