按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
frequently may； and in fact commonly are。 The price； therefore；
of the coarse； and still more that of the precious metals； at the
most fertile mines in the world； must necessarily more or less
affect their price at every other in it。 The price of copper in
Japan must have some influence upon its price at the copper mines
in Europe。 The price of silver in Peru； or the quantity either of
labour or of other goods which it will purchase there； must have
some influence on its price； not only at the silver mines of
Europe； but at those of China。 After the discovery of the mines
of Peru； the silver mines of Europe were； the greater part of
them； abandoned。 The value of was so much reduced that their
produce could no longer pay the expense of working them； or
replace； with a profit； the food； clothes； lodging； and other
necessaries which were consumed in that operation。 This was the
case； too； with the mines of Cuba and St。 Domingo； and even with
the ancient mines of Peru； after the discovery of those of
Potosi。
The price of every metal at every mine； therefore； being
regulated in some measure by its price at the most fertile mine
in the world that is actually wrought； it can at the greater part
of mines do very little more than pay the expense of working； and
can seldom afford a very high rent to the landlord。 Rent；
accordingly； seems at the greater part of mines to have but a
small share in the price of the coarse； and a still smaller in
that of the precious metals。 Labour and profit make up the
greater part of both。
A sixth part of the gross produce may be reckoned the
average rent of the tin mines of Cornwall the most fertile that
are known in the world； as we are told by the Reverend Mr。
Borlace； vice…warden of the stannaries。 Some； he says； afford
more； and some do not afford so much。 A sixth part of the gross
produce is the rent； too； of several very fertile lead mines in
Scotland。
In the silver mines of Peru； we are told by Frezier and
Ulloa； the proprietor frequently exacts no other acknowledgment
from the undertaker of the mine； but that he will grind the ore
at his mill； paying him the ordinary multure or price of
grinding。 Till 1736； indeed； the tax of the King of Spain
amounted to one…fifth of the standard silver； which till then
might be considered as the real rent of the greater part of the
silver mines of Peru； the richest which have been known in the
world。 If there had been no tax this fifth would naturally have
belonged to the landlord； and many mines might have been wrought
which could not then be wrought； because they could not afford
this tax。 The tax of the Duke of Cornwall upon tin is supposed to
amount to more than five per cent or one…twentieth part of the
value； and whatever may be his proportion； it would naturally；
too； belong to the proprietor of the mine； if tin was duty free。
But if you add one…twentieth to one…sixth； you will find that the
whole average rent of the tin mines of Cornwall was to the whole
average rent of the silver mines of Peru as thirteen to twelve。
But the silver mines of Peru are not now able to pay even this
low rent； and the tax upon silver was； in 1736； reduced from
one…fifth to one…tenth。 Even this tax upon silver； too； gives
more temptation to smuggling than the tax of one…twentieth upon
tin； and smuggling must be much easier in the precious than in
the bulky commodity。 The tax of the King of Spain accordingly is
said to be very ill paid； and that of the Duke of Cornwall very
well。 Rent； therefore； it is probable； makes a greater part of
the price of tin at the most fertile tin mines than it does of
silver at the most fertile silver mines in the world。 After
replacing the stock employed in working those different mines；
together with its ordinary profits； the residue which remains to
the proprietor is greater； it seems； in the coarse than in the
precious metal。
Neither are the profits of the undertakers of silver mines
commonly very great in Peru。 The same most respectable and
well…informed authors acquaint us； that when any person
undertakes to work a new mine in Peru； he is universally looked
upon as a man destined to bankruptcy and ruin； and is upon that
account shunned and avoided by everybody。 Mining； it seems； is
considered there in the same light as here； as a lottery； in
which the prizes do not compensate the blanks； though the
greatness of some tempts many adventurers to throw away their
fortunes in such unprosperous projects。
As the sovereign； however； derives a considerable part of
his revenue from the produce of silver mines； the law in Peru
gives every possible encouragement to the discovery and working
of new ones。 Whoever discovers a new mine is entitled to measure
off two hundred and forty…six feet in length； according to what
he supposes to be the direction of the vein； and half as much in
breadth。 He becomes proprietor of this portion of the mine； and
can work it without paying any acknowledgment to the landlord。
The interest of the Duke of Cornwall has given occasion to a
regulation nearly of the same kind in that ancient duchy。 In
waste and unenclosed lands any person who discovers a tin mine
may mark its limits to a certain extent； which is called bounding
a mine。 The bounder becomes the real proprietor of the mine； and
may either work it himself； or give it in lease to another；
without the consent of the owner of the land； to whom； however； a
very small acknowledgment must be paid upon working it。 In both
regulations the sacred rights of private property are sacrificed
to the supposed interests of public revenue。
The same encouragement is given in Peru to the discovery and
working of new gold mines； and in gold the king's tax amounts
only to a twentieth part of the standard metal。 It was once a
fifth； and afterwards a tenth； as in silver； but it was found
that the work could not bear even the lowest of these two taxes。
If it is rare； however； say the same authors； Frezier and Ulloa；
to find a person who has made his fortune by a silver； it is
still much rarer to find one who has done so by a gold mine。 This
twentieth part seems to be the whole rent which is paid by the
greater part of the gold mines in Chili and Peru。 Gold； too； is
much more liable to be smuggled than even silver； not only on
account of the superior value of the metal in proportion to its
bulk； but on account of the peculiar way in which nature produces
it。 Silver is very seldom found virgin； but； like most other
metals； is generally mineralized with some other body； from which
it is impossible to separate it in such quantities as will pay
for the expense； but by a very laborious and tedious operation；
which cannot well be carried on but in workhouses erected for the
purpose； and therefore exposed to the inspection of the king's
officers。 Gold； on the contrary； is almost always found virgin。
It is sometimes found in pieces of some