Page:Robert Barr - Lord Stranleigh Philanthropist.djvu/307

 of gold and silver ore are mined annually, most of which is obtained in Transylvania, and in Transylvania one of my father's estates is situated. I find that shortly before his death he had commissioned mining engineers to test its gold-bearing qualities, and their reports, which I brought with me, are most encouraging. I have reason to suspect that the financiers with whom he was in touch in Vienna are aware of the richness of this estate, for they have endeavoured to buy it since my father's death. I doubt if he himself realised its possibilities, for the land is on the very eastern boundary of Austria, a portion of the country he never visited, so far as I know. I may be over-suspicious, but I believe that if I made any attempt to develop the mineral resources of this district, by endeavouring to get capital in Vienna, these financiers would foreclose, or in some manner dispossess me of the land which they represent as worthless, and I daresay it is barren enough for any other purpose than mine.

"My hope, then, is that you will send to this property English engineers, who are silent and can be trusted, and that if their reports warrant you in proceeding further, I may enlist your aid in forming a mining company that will pay me whatever value