Page:Mexico in 1827 Vol 2.djvu/89

Rh superficial acquaintance with the Essai Politique of Baron Humboldt; which, although it contains more valuable information than any other similar work, that has ever been given to the world, was, nevertheless, calculated to create an erroneous impression with regard to the actual state of New Spain, by descriptions of a splendour, which had long ceased to exist. No allowances were made for the moral, as well as physical, effects of fourteen years of Civil War;—the dispersion of the most valuable portion of the Mining labourers;—the deterioration of landed property;—the destruction of stock;—and the difficulty of reorganizing a branch of industry so extensive in all its ramifications as Mining, and so dependent upon other branches, not immediately connected with the Mines themselves, and consequently, not under the control of their Directors! All this was to be effected, too, in a country, in many parts of which it was necessary to create a population, before a single step could be taken towards repairing the ruin, which the Revolution had occasioned. And yet, nine-tenths of those who engaged in the arduous task, did so under the conviction that water was the only obstacle which they had to overcome, and that the possibility of surmounting this, by the aid of English machinery, was unquestionable! Nor was this all. The errors which Baron Humboldt's scientific eye had detected in parts of the Mining System of Mexico, were supposed to extend to the whole. The practical