Page:Vol 3 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/613

Rh of mines in New Spain. Similar plans having already been entertained by the government, the request was granted by royal cédula of July 1, 1776, In the following year, the 4th of May, the formal installation took place under the above given name, and steps were taken for the establishment of the tribunal de minería simultaneously created, which had also legal jurisdiction in mining cases. To defray expenses one real was levied for every mark of silver coined, an impost formerly collected under the name of derecho de señoreage, and now donated by the king. It served to defray the salaries of the officials," and the expenses of the mining college, any surplus being employed to pay the interest of capital taken up by the tribunals for subventions, or avíos, to needy miners. The labors of the tribunal in the latter respect proved of great benefit, and gave a new impulse to