Page:Mexico in 1827 Vol 1.djvu/412

382 Capital may be expected to average from four to five times its present produce.

The duties on the exportation of silver (two per cent.) must likewise soon become of considerable importance, unless the most moderate computation of the amount of the precious metals to be raised in, or before, the year 1830, prove entirely unfounded, which I see no reason at present to suppose.

The importation duties on foreign goods, (Aduanas maritimas,) large as the amount of their net produce has been, (in January, 1827, they had yielded in ten months 6,855,633 dollars,) may undoubtedly become infinitely more productive. Smuggling is now carried on to an immense extent on the Eastern, and Western coasts. There was hardly a custom-house officer, in 1826, to the North of Tămpīcŏ on the one side, or of Săn Blās on the other; and the consequence was, that the most valuable cargoes were sent to Refugio, (at the mouth of the Rio Bravo,) or to Măzătlān, and Gūāymăs. (on the Gulph of California.) Custom-houses are now established at all these places; but the payment of duties is still easily evaded there, as there is no check upon the conduct of the officers employed. Indeed, the only radical cure appears to me to be the modification of the present Tariff, which alone can enable the established merchant to stand a competition with the illicit trader; and which, at the same time, by reducing the prices of the more necessary articles of consumption, will bring them within the reach of a