and decency. His invectives against the English admirers of the Revolution, were too bitter and general, and goaded thousands into the arms of Jacobinism, who might have been withdrawn, by different usage, from her snare. And although he was the first to perceive the rising storm, and foretel its amazing fury, we are indebted to the prudence and energy of others for weathering the storm in safety. In each, therefore, of his greater undertakings, Mr. Burke wanted the first requisite for a practical statesman-the power of persuading and governing his fellow creatures. He had not the art of inducing the country to listen to his counsels, or trust to his guidance. Whether it was that an overbearing disposition disabled him from forming a band of able supporters, or that his friends shrank back from following him in the slippery paths he was prepared to tread; or that he could not convince his hearers of the justice and advantage of the measures which he determined to pursue, it was still the want of a capacity for government, that prevented him from taking his seat by the side of Mr. Pitt or Mr. Fox. When we compare him with the statesmen of his own age, it is impossible to assign him the-first or even the second place. But if we turn to those of the present day, more especially to those who advocate the cause of Opposition, where can we discover the slightest vestige of his mantle? Sincere and sober piety, unblemished private character, chivalrous spirit, profound learning, and imaginative eloquence, are out of fashion now; and the popular cause is entrusted to political hacks, and political quacks, who would not have ventured to open their mouths in the Augustan age of the House of Commons. SELECTED FOR THE MUSEUM. ON THE MINES OF MEXICO. (Communicated by a Gentleman intimately connected with Mexico.) THE public attention has of late been directed in an unusual degree to the former possessions of Spain in the western world. It is is now fully three centuries since both Mexico and Peru became known by report to Europeans, and it is natural for the public to inquire the causes of so long a period having elapsed, without a more direct acquaintance with these deposits of mineral treasure. * In 1810, the colonists took up arms, and commenced those insurrections, which, varied in their success, and interrupted by frequent periods of pacification, have prevailed more or less during the last fourteen years. These were attended with incalculable injury to the mining districts; buildings being overturned, machinery destroyed, and the income of the proprietors reduced to a degree which, in a country thinly peopled, and bare of capital, could not for many years be recovered. Hence an accumulation of water in the mines, and an inability in the owners to defray the costs of the machinery and labour required to extract it. The consequence was, that Mexico, which formerly supplied four or five millions sterling of silver a-year, has not, since 1811, averaged more than half that quantity. The aid of foreigners was thus strongly called for; but there existed throughout all Spanish America a regulation of serious import to English capitalists, we mean the prohibition of any foreigner, except a Spaniard, holding mines in property, either separately or in partnership. It was only in the last and present year that the Mexican Congress rendered it lawfal for foreigners to hold property in mines. This may be regarded as the commencement of a new era; for no two countries can render each other more substantial service than England and Mexico, the one abounding in mineral treasure, the other possessing the means of extracting it from the bowels of the earth, and applying capital, science and machinery, to the requisite processes in every stage. This view of the relative situation of the two countries has already been taken by the persons most competent to form an opinion. Mr. John Taylor, of London, is well known as an engineer particularly conversant with mining business, and, from the remarks prefixed to his lately published "Selections from Humboldt," we find that he has long been struck "with the richness of the Mexican mines, with the breadth of their lodes or metallic veins, the great productiveness of certain portions of these veins, and, in particular, with the amount of profit obtained from them under management of the rudest and most expensive kind." A beginning in the application of English machinery in Spanish America was made several years ago, steam-engines having been sent out to the mines of Potosi and Peru, and found to answer extremely well, until their operation was suspended by the political disorders of the country. At present there are in London no less than three associations formed, "for aiding in working the mines of Mexico." One of these originated in a proposal of Don Lucas Alaman, a wellknown public character in Mexico, who having, when in Europe, resided chiefly at Paris, was desirous that the first proposal for a mining company should be issued in the French capital. But our southern neighbours, whatever may be their prowess in the field, or their fame in theory, discover very little enterprise in mercantile speculation. The attempt having failed at Paris, was renewed under better auspices in London, and a capital of £240,000 was speedily subscribed, the company taking the name of "The United Mexican Association." Posterior in point of time, but nearly equal in amount of capital, is the company called Real del Monte, from the district containing their mines, which is situated about sixty miles north of the city of Mexico. This Company is composed chiefly of proprietors of English mines, and is less open to the public at large, than the third and greatest of the three, the Anglo-Mexican, whose capital is a Million Sterling. Most of the mines taken up by this Company are in Guanaxuato, a district of great metallic wealth, but of which the name was hardly known in Europe, until the appearance, fourteen years ago, of Humboldt's well known work. Contracts of partnership, in several of the mines in that district, were made in Mexico by individuals, and transfered in London to this Association. On hearing of several associations formed for a common object, it is natural to suspect the existence of rivalship or jealousy among them. But all who have had experience in mining business are aware, that any feeling of this nature would be misplaced: the market for the produce of mines is unbounded; and if, in a district so narrow as that of the Cornish mines, jealousy has totally ceased, much more ought it to disappear in Mexico, where the field is so wide, and the number of mines, great and small, is computed at no less than 3000. Besides, the uncertainty, inseparable from mining, and the unforeseen difficulties occurring in a new country, powerful reasons for a cordial co-operation with each other; and we learn with satisfaction, that they are considered in that light by the different associations. are Objections are frequently made to the probability of their success, from the unsettled state of Mexico, in a political sense. While we readily allow, that the Mexicans may be termed très nouveaux dans tout ce qui regarde l'administration, and that the sway of a Washington, during the ensuing twenty years, would be to them the greatest of boons; we must, on the other hand, maintain, that political dissentions are not likely to oppose any serious obstacle to the success of speculations which, tending directly to benefit both the public and individuals, have a claim to the favour of all parties. A public depredator could gain little by the seizure of machinery, or of ore; and if specie, in a refined state, present a more tempting prize, it is apparent, first, that the quantity kept on hand needs not, at any time, be large; and, next, that so long as a government can at all stand its ground, it will extend protection to property in bullion as readily as to property in land, houses or merchandise. "Our ores," it is said in an official report to the Mexican Congress, in November, 1823, "require for their manufacture a great stock of machinery, and a large quantity of what are called "mining stores." The owner of mines distributes capital, employs labourers and artisans; in short, the prosperity of many classes in the community depends on the impulse given to them, by activity at the mines: hence the expediency of the late reduction of duty on our bullion, and of encouraging the exportation of machinery from Europe.' To this we may add, that the letters lately received from our countrymen, in the different mining districts in Mexico, express great satisfaction at the friendly disposition of the inhabitants. On the protection of the Government, our countrymen may, we believe, confidently depend: their real difficulties in mining operations lie, in our opinion, in expense, in particular, in the length of land-carriage and the cost of fuel. How far can means be devised for lessening these heavy charges? The country has few navigable rivers, and the formation of canals is probably remote; but the roads may soon be improved by the application of British capital. Next, as to fuel; Mexico, different from the uncultivated provinces of the United States, being in general bare of timber, how, it may be asked, can steam be called in to aid the labours of the miner? Is the geological structure of the mining districts such as to afford a hope of finding peat, coal, or any mineral combustible? Failing these, is the climate such as to favour the growth of particular kinds of wood, which, when cultivated with an almost unlimited command of territorial surface, might supply the requisite fuel? On these points information is, we understand, at present, very anxiously expected. Of wood, the stock is, in some parts, abundant, in others scanty; but, supposing the application of steammachinery to be at present only partial, a great point will be gained by merely bringing British capital in aid of the mine-owners, whom the late war, and the disorders that followed, had so completely impoverished. The next and almost equally important question, will be the mode of dressing and refining the ores. The process of separating the ore from the dross in its earliest stage, is termed dressing; and, like other branches connected with mining, has, in this country, experienced great improvement in the course of the present age. This has been effected by the application of improved machinery; such as, stamping mills and crushing rollers. After this first process, the ore is farther refined by smelting, as practised in England, or by amalgamating, as is frequent in Germany; the former taking place by the aid of fuel, the latter by the application of quicksilver. Are The Mexicans have, in general, refined their ore by amalgamation; but long as has been their experience in this branch, they are greatly behind the refiners of Saxony, and incur both an unnecessary waste of quicksilver, and a miserable sacrifice of time. our countrymen likely to continue the practice of amalgamation, introducing the improved method of the Germans; or will they substitute for it the process of smelting, as practised in Sheffield, and other parts of England? The latter seems more probable, since several of the mining districts in Mexico promise an abundant supply of lead-ore, an ingredient of the first importance in smelting. We propose, at an early opportunity, to resume this subject, continuing our observations on the mines of Mexico, and laying before our readers some remarks on those of Colombia, which have been so lately brought before the public. In regard to the probable success of these undertakings, we decline drawing any inference from the favour they have lately experienced on the Stock Exchange; and shall merely remark, that if, under a system, which, whether we look to the raising of the ore to the surface, or the subsequent process of dressing and refining, was extremely awkward and expensive, these mines proved profitable to the owners, much more are they likely to be so, when wrought with all the aid of capital and science.-Edinb. Philos. Journ. SELECTED FOR THE MUSEUM. CŒUR DE LION AT THE BIER OF HIS FATHER. The body of Henry the Second lay in state in the Abbey-church of Fontevraud, where it was visited by Richard Cœur de Lion, who, on beholding it, was struck with horror and remorse, and reproached himself bitterly for that rebellious conduct which had been the means of bringing his father to an untimely grave. TORCHES were blazing clear, Banners of battle o'er him hung, And warriors slept beneath, And light, as noon's broad light, was flung On the settled face of Death, A strong and ruddy glare, Though dimm'd at times by the censer's breath, Yet it fell still brightest there: As if each deeply-furrow'd trace Alas! that sceptred mortal's race The marble floor was swept As the kneeling priests, round him that slept, And solemn were the strains they pour'd In the stillness of the night, With the cross above, and the crown and sword, And the silent King in sight.— There was heard a heavy clang, And the tombs and the hollow pavement rang And the holy chaunt was hush'd awhile, A gleam of arms, up the sweeping aisle, He came with haughty look, A dark glance high and clear, But his proud heart through its breast-plate shook He stood there still, with a drooping brow, And clasp'd hands o'er it raised; For his Father lay before him low, And silently he strove With the workings of his breast; But there's more in late repentant love |