PERU.
"Conditions under which Don Pedro Abadia, Don José Arismendi, and Don
Francisco Uville, establish the project of draining the mines by means
of steam-engines, to be brought from England.
"1st. The company is composed of three contracting persons without
admitting therein any other whatever.
"2nd. There are intended as a fund for the undertaking 40,000 dollars,
to be divided into four shares in the following manner:--Two shares
to Don Pedro Abadia, one to Don José Arismendi, one to Don Francisco
Uville. Four shares, dollars 40,000.
"5th. These principles of good faith and friendship being established,
the project is to be carried into effect with the greatest possible
activity, for which purpose, by the first opportunity, the funds shall
be forwarded by Don Pedro Abadia to the amount of 30,000 dollars, with
the necessary instructions for the construction of the machinery to a
person who may be appointed.
"7th. As it has been estimated that 30,000 dollars will cover the cost
of two engines in England, if the said Uville finds another on credit,
he is authorized to purchase it on account of the company.
"11th. Should the undertaking yield profits, Uville shall also be
credited for 2000 dollars for the value of the model.
"12th. In the instructions that may be given to Uville, it shall be
stipulated on what terms he may engage one or two English workmen.
"LIMA, _17th July, 1812_."
"_Contract._
"1st. The present contract shall be considered binding for nine years,
to be computed from the time the steam-engines may be erected in the
different parts of these mines that may be judged suitable.
"2nd. The miners herein contracting cede their mines in Yauricocha,
Yanacancha, Caya Chica, Santa Rosa, and in the mining ridge of
Colquijilca, and the company offer the means, steam-engines, and
instruments for draining the same, and on these principles the
obligations of both parties are as follow, to wit.
"3rd. The company binds itself within the period of eighteen months,
or sooner if possible, to bring over the steam-engines to drain
successively the different parts of these mines, and immediately
on their arrival to place them in Yauricocha, and afterwards in
Yanacancha, Caya Chica, Santa Rosa, and in the mining ridge of
Colquijilca, to sink a general pit for the collection of the waters at
a depth of 40 varas from the adit or drainage level of Santa Rosa.
"8th. Each miner whose mine situated in the parts above specified is
not perfectly drained in consequence of the filtration or natural
gravity of the water to the general pit, is to continue a tube to
communicate with the said general pit on his own account, in order
fully to enjoy the benefit of the draining, it being well understood
that the company shall not refuse to admit the waters of any of the
mines situated in this part whatever their quantity may be. And
the company shall be further bound to supply funds to any miner
who may not have sufficient to defray the expenses of such tube of
communication at an interest of 6 per cent., to be refunded out of the
first metals which may be obtained.
"10th. The recompense to be made to the company for the general drain
procured in the place or places agreed on, shall be, with regard
to Yanacancha and Yauricocha, in consequence of the known richness
of those places, and of the timber required by the softness of the
ground to secure the mines, 15 per cent. on the ore that shall be
extracted therefrom, and lodged either in the common depots or in the
respective warehouses; and in the mines of Santa Rosa, Caya Chica,
and Colquijilca, 20 per cent., which distribution is respectively to
be made on the quantities obtained.
"14th. That the miner who refuses to enter into this fair contract
whose mines are benefited by the means of the engines, shall be
compelled to pay the contributions and to perform what has been
therein stipulated according to ordinance.
"This contract being agreed to, the contracting parties signed
respectively to be bound and compelled; and I, the Royal Judge
and Sub-delegate hereof for His Majesty, signing it with all the
contracting parties and witnesses before me on the said day, month,
and year.
"Pedro Abadia, José Arismendi, Francisco Uville, José Maria de Ulloa,
Ignacio Beistequi, The Marquis de la Real Confianza, José Herressæ,
Publo Anellfuertes, Ramon Garcia de Purga, José Antonio de Arrieta,
José Camilo de Mier, José Lago y Lemus.
"For myself and Don Remiqia, p. procuration Manuel Queypo, Rafael
Doper, Juan Gonzalez, Augustin Zambrano, Francisco Rasines, Francisco
Fuyre, Manuel Ysasi, Alberto de Abellaneda, Ysidro Crespo, Juan
Antonio Arrasas, Pedro Gusman, Manuel Yglesias, Patricio Bermudez,
Bartolome de Estrada. For the miners, Don Castano Villanueva, Juan
Isidoro, Manuel de Santalla, Juan Palencia, Antonio Perez, Manuel
Cavellero, Domingo Pallacios, Matias Canallero, Ambrosio Ortega,
Francisco de Otayequi, Pedro de Arrieta, Juan de Erquiaga, José
Zeferino Abaytad, Antonio Villaseca, Estanislas Maria de Arriola, José
Maria del Veto, Ambrosio Guidones, Santiago Oreguela. For Don Pedro
Mirales, p. procuration, Thomas Hidalgo, Nicholas Berrotarran, Barnabe
Perez de Ybarrela, Augustin Bayroa, Francisco Xavier de Uribe, Manuel
Varela. For my brother, Juan Francisco de Aspiroz, Juan Miguel de
Aspiroz.
"In the city of Los Reyes on the 26th September, 1812."
These extracts from an agreement drawn up by the leading men in Peru
in 1812 are proofs of remarkable energy. Rumours of the power of
steam-engines used in mines in England had reached Lima, Don Francisco
Uville was sent on a mission of inquiry, and in 1811 consulted Boulton
and Watt at Soho, who gave an opinion that their engines were not
suitable to so elevated a position where the atmosphere was so much
lighter than in England, and the difficulties of transit so great. On
his return to Lima he carried with him a small model of Trevithick's
high-pressure steam-engine. The Spaniards on seeing it work had the
good sense and courage to put aside the Watt report and adopt the
principle of the small but active high-pressure steam-puffer engine.
An influential company was formed, which sent Uville again to England
to seek out the high-pressure engineer and purchase his engines. What
stronger evidence could be given of the great difference between the
rival engineers and their engines? The one with low-pressure steam and
vacuum, the other with high-pressure steam and without vacuum.
The three persons contracting to drain the Peruvian mines agreed
that no other should be allowed to join them in the contract; two
steam-engines were to be purchased, and if convenient a third engine
might be ordered on credit. One or two English mechanics were to
accompany the engines which the contractors engaged should be in Lima
within eighteen months. Ten months had passed before Uville reached
Trevithick, and when in May, 1813, he communicated to the Cornish
engineer the same wants that he had made known to Watt two years
before, how different was the answer received. "I engage to supply in
four months six 24-inch cylinder high-pressure steam pumping engines,
with pumps and all necessary apparatus complete."[124] This promise was
nearly fulfilled,[125] but want of money, the ordering of additional
machinery, and difficulty in finding a ship,--for Spain was then at
war, or on the verge of it, with the South American republics,--delayed
for a time the completion of the order; but within eight months even
the additional work seems to have been ready, and the following
agreement was entered into, though the ship with her freight of _nine_
steam-engines did not leave England until September, 1814, fifteen
months after Uville's first meeting with Trevithick.
[Footnote 124: See Trevithick's letter, 22nd May, 1813, vol. ii., p. 198.]
[Footnote 125: See Trevithick's letters, 22nd Sept. and 23rd Oct., 1813,
vol. ii., pp. 206, 209.]
"_Agreement dated the 8th January, 1814._
"The said persons from whom he (Uville) would have received supplies,
not being at that time in London, the said Francisco Uville has
agreed to admit the said Richard Trevithick to be a partner in the
concern, upon his advancing and paying a proportionable part of the
expenses necessary for carrying on the same. Now these presents
witness, that in consideration of the said Richard Trevithick having
paid, and agreeing by those instruments to pay certain bills for
machinery ordered by the said Francisco Uville to the amount of
3000_l._, and also in consideration of the services which the said
Richard Trevithick hath already rendered, and of the future benefits
which he is expected to perform, doth agree to admit the said Richard
Trevithick a partner therein, as nearly as can be ascertained to
one-fifth share of the whole.
"He hath planned and directed the particular construction of three
steam-engines, and hath for that purpose taken many journeys to
manufacturing towns and other places.
"He hath given to the said Francisco Uville a general knowledge of
English mining, miners' tools, winding and crushing engines, &c., &c.,
and for that purpose hath taken him to various mines in England, to
which the said Richard Trevithick, through his interest, had access.
He hath instructed the said Francisco Uville in the art of making
drawings of mines, and in engineering.
"He hath furnished him with various drawings of English mines, and
plans for the future working of Spanish mines, and hath given to him
every other engineering and mining information.
"He hath increased the power of the three engines above mentioned to
the extent of one full third, without making any additional charge
for so doing, and he hath agreed to supply the said company with a
fourth engine, and to wait for the payment of it, until the return
of the said Francisco Uville to Lima, in recompense for all which
the said Francisco Uville doth for himself and his partners grant
to the said Richard Trevithick one and quarter per cent. of the net
produce or profits (all expenses first deducted) of the ore extracted
from the said mines, and as a further recompense, doth appoint him
sole engineer in Europe for all the machinery that shall be used or
required."
The nine steam-engines, with apparatus for minting, crushing ores,
draining, winding, and even locomotion, with miners' tools complete
down to mine ladders, borers, picks and gads, and hammers, were
received by a large and influential body of Spaniards residing near
Lima, under the special patronage of the Viceroy. The machinery had
then to be taken up precipitous tracks that foot-passengers trembled to
walk on, to the height of more than 15,000 feet.
The calculated profit was 500,000_l._ a year, of which 100,000_l._ a
year was to be Trevithick's share, a portion of which was sold to pay
for the engines. A prospectus drawn up in England states that "the
whole capital was in four hundred shares, of which Trevithick held
eighty, valued at 40,000_l._, together with special advantages to be
accorded to him."
The machinery having left England in September, 1814, reached Peru in
the early part of 1815, shortly after which one of the engines was at
work in the Mint at Lima, within two years from the giving the order
for it in England; for in the early part of the latter year Trevithick
wrote to one of his men:--
"I am sorry to find by Mr. Uville's letter that the Mint engine does
not go well. I wish you had put the fire under the boiler and through
the tube, as I desired you to do, in the usual way of the old long
boilers, then you might have made your fire-place as large as you
pleased, which would have answered the purpose, and have worked with
wood as well as with coal, and have answered every expectation.
"I always told you that the fire-place _in the boiler_ was large
enough for coal, but not for wood, and desired you to put it under it.
The boiler is strong enough and large enough to work the engine thirty
strokes per minute, with 30 lbs. of steam to the inch. I hope to leave
Cornwall for Lima about the end of this month, and go by way of Buenos
Ayres, and cross over the continent of South America, because I cannot
get a passage; none of the South Sea whalers will engage to take me
to Lima, they say that they may touch at Lima or they may not, in the
whole course of their voyage; therefore, unless I give them an immense
sum of money for my passage, they will not engage to put me on shore
at Lima, and for me to risk a passage in that way, and to be brought
back again to England after two years' voyage, without seeing Lima,
would be a very foolish trip; therefore to make a certainty, I shall
take the first ship for Buenos Ayres, preparations for which I have
already made."[126]
[Footnote 126: Unfinished rough draft of letter by Trevithick.]
The whole of the machinery having been sent off, Trevithick was
prepared to make his way across the then little-known continent of
South America in its broadest part, from Buenos Ayres to Cerro de
Pasco.[127] His departure was deferred from various causes until the
20th October, 1816, when he sailed from Penzance in the South Sea
whaler 'Asp,' Capt. Kenny.
[Footnote 127: See Trevithick's letter, December 9th, 1815, vol. ii., p.
31.]
[Illustration: PENZANCE IN OLDEN TIME. [W. J. Welch.]]
"DEAR SIR, "PENZANCE, _20th August, 1817_.
"I am enabled to furnish you with a few particulars which led to the
introduction of steam-engines into Spanish America, which you will
embody into your interesting paper for our next Geological meeting, as
you deem most proper.
"Captain Trevithick was born in Illogan, Cornwall, 1771, but he has
generally resided at Camborne, the adjoining parish. He has devoted
the greatest part of his life to mechanics and to improvements in the
high-pressure steam-engine, and many engines of Captain Trevithick's
construction are now working in different parts of England.
"Mr. Francisco Uville, a native of Switzerland, visited Lima and the
rich Peruvian mines in the neighbourhood of Lima, at an early age,
and being a gentleman of great intelligence, he thought it possible
that the silver mines at Pasco, about 150 miles from Lima, which were
fast falling into decay for want of machinery to drain the water,
might be restored to their former celebrity by the introduction of
steam-engines.
"Mr. Uville, who is now about thirty-six years of age, came to England
in 1811, where he continued a few months, and just as he was about to
leave London he observed by accident a model of a steam-engine, made
by Captain Trevithick, at the shop of a Mr. Roland, Fitzroy Square,
and Mr. Uville so much liked the simplicity of its construction, that
he immediately purchased it at twenty guineas. Mr. Uville returned to
Lima with it, and tried it on the mountains of Pasco, in consequence
of which, on the 17th of July, 1812, Mr. Uville, with Don Pedro Abadia
and Don José Aresmendi, eminent merchants at Lima, were so confident
of success, that they formed a company to drain the mines at Pasco and
its vicinity; and on the 22nd of August then following a contract was
entered into by these gentlemen and the proprietors of the mines in
that district. Soon after which Mr. Uville was deputed by the company
to return to England and to find out some able engineer to assist him
in procuring proper steam-engines to be conveyed to the mines.
"Uville having put into Jamaica, came to England in the 'Fox' packet,
Capt. Tilly, and arrived at Falmouth early in the summer of 1813.
During the passage Mr. Uville frequently talked of the object of
his voyage, and that he was particularly anxious to find out the
maker of the model of the engine he took to Lima, and recollecting
that the name of 'Trevithick' was on the model, he mentioned it to a
Mr. Teague, who happened to be on board the packet, when the latter
informed him that Capt. Trevithick was his first cousin, and that he
resided within a few miles from Falmouth. Immediately on Mr. Uville's
arrival an interview took place between him and Capt. Trevithick, and
soon after Mr. Uville removed to Capt. Trevithick's house in Camborne,
where he resided several months, during which time Capt. Trevithick
instructed him in mining, machinery, &c.
"Capt. Trevithick and Mr. Uville, after seeing most of the mines in
Cornwall, visited several other mining districts in England, to afford
Mr. Uville a better opportunity of acquiring the best knowledge of
engineering by examining the steam-engines erected. Afterwards they
went to London, when Mr. Uville was introduced to a Mr. Campbell, of
the East India Company's department. Mr. Campbell informed Mr. Uville
that the best engineers in Europe were Messrs. Boulton and Watt, of
Birmingham; and strongly recommending them to him, he observed that he
was convinced if engines could be made capable of being transported to
the mines of Pasco across the mountains they would be able to do it.
Mr. Uville accordingly applied to these gentlemen, and fully explained
to them the nature of the engines which would be wanted, and the state
of the road by which they must be conveyed, and Messrs. Boulton and
Watt returned an answer that it would be impossible to make engines
small enough to be carried across the Cordillera to the mines.
"Capt. Trevithick, however, was not startled at the difficulties,
and having applied himself to the improvements of his high-pressure
engines, entered into a contract with Mr. Uville to provide nine
steam-engines for the company at Lima; and, by virtue of the powers
with which Mr. Uville was invested, Capt. Trevithick was admitted a
partner of one-fifth in the concern; besides which, for his great
pains and services he had rendered, Mr. Uville guaranteed to him a
handsome percentage on the profits of the company (_vide_ Articles of
Agreement of 8th January, 1814).
"These matters being settled, nine engines were provided at an expense
of about 10,000_l._, and were shipped on board the 'Wildman,' South
Sea whaler, Capt. Leith, who sailed from Portsmouth for Lima the 1st
September, 1814, accompanied by Mr. Uville and the following Cornish
engineers,--Thomas Trevarthen, of Crowan; Henry Vivian, of Camborne;
and William Bull, of Chacewater, in Gwennap.
"The engines arrived at Lima, and were received by a salute from
the Government batteries, and the greatest joy was testified on the
occasion.
"On the 27th July, 1816, the first steam-engine was set to work at
Santa Rosa, one of the mines of Pasco, under the direction of Mr. Bull
(_vide_ despatch of that date, signed José G. de Prada).
"On the 20th October, 1816, Capt. Trevithick sailed for Lima in the
'Asp,' South Sea whaler, Capt. Kenny, accompanied by Mr. Page, a
gentleman of London, and James Saunders, of Camborne, an engine maker;
and on the 6th February, 1817, they arrived at Lima, where Capt.
Trevithick was immediately introduced to the Viceroy by Don P. Abadia,
and he received the most marked attention from the inhabitants (_vide_
'Lima Gazette' of 12th February).
"Perhaps you will think it proper to notice the furnaces which Captain
Trevithick took out in the 'Asp' to Lima for the purpose of purifying
the silver by sulphur. A great expense will be saved by these means.
Any further information which I can afford you I will readily give.
"I am, dear Sir,
"Your very obedient and humble servant,
"RD. EDMONDS.
"H. F. BOAZE, Esq."
This statement, from a solicitor more than fifty years ago,
inadvertently points out the difference between the steam-engine of
Watt and that of Trevithick. The former said it was impossible to make
engines having the required power small enough to be carried to the
mountain mines, whereas a small high-pressure engine by the latter had
sufficient power.
Day and Page were lawyers advising Mr. Uville in London. Page sailed
from Penzance with Trevithick and James Saunders, a boiler maker, in
the 'Asp,' a South Sea whaler, on the 20th October, 1816, just two
years after the departure of Uville with the machinery and engines. The
difficulty of conveying heavy weights up the mountain foot-paths was
almost insurmountable.
Mr. Rowe, who went to these mines in 1850, says,--
"The Cerro de Pasco mines are about 170 miles from Lima; we crossed a
ridge 25,000 feet high. The mines were about 13,400 feet high above
the sea. There was but one road; no wheel vehicle could be used;
everything was carried on mules. Sometimes the road was only 2-1/2
feet wide, cut in precipices three or four hundred feet perpendicular:
some of the men were afraid to walk, and dared not ride.
"I lived in the house that used to be Mr. Trevithick's office and
store-room; it was in the suburbs of the town of Cerro de Pasco. The
shafts are some of them in the middle of the town; several pieces of
Captain Trevithick's engines lay about the shafts, and some on the way
up, as though they had stuck fast, and some we saw at Lima. Mr. Jump,
a director on the mine, pointed out a balance-beam that Mr. Trevithick
had put up thirty years before. Only one Englishman then remained
there who had worked for Mr. Trevithick; he was called Sycombe, and
said Trevithick's men were an unmanageable lot.
"The natives worked in the mines underground. The atmosphere was only
about 10 lbs. on the inch. We found a coal mine not far off; the
quality was not very good. The smiths had difficulty in welding with
it. Our heaviest pieces of machinery did not exceed 280 lbs. The worst
parts of the road have been a little improved since that time."
Just one month before Trevithick sailed from Penzance for Lima, the
first pumping engine taken out by Uville had been satisfactorily put
to work in the mountain mine of Santa Rosa, with its steam-cylinder
weighing double the limit fixed on by modern engineers.
The following information respecting the progress of the steam-engine
fixed on the Santa Rosa Mines, one of the mineral ridges of Pasco, in
the Viceroyalty of Peru, is extracted from the Government-Gazettes of
Lima, dated the 10th of August and 25th of September, 1816:--
"PROGRESS OF THE STEAM-ENGINE, &c.
"_His Excellency the Viceroy of Peru to the Editor._
"In order to satisfy the eager expectations of the inhabitants of this
Viceroyalty, those of the greater part of these Americas, and even of
the Peninsula itself, I hereby order the printing, at full length,
in the next Government Gazette, or at same time in a separate sheet,
the enclosed despatch from the Intendant Governor of Tarma, giving
the details of the admirable results of the steam-engine fixed in the
mineral territory of Pasco, for the most important purpose of draining
its mines, and for the extraction of its rich ores. This authentic
communication must produce the most lively and grateful sensations in
those true Spaniards, who with grief contemplated as irreparably lost
the only spring from which flowed the prosperity of this continent,
excite their just acknowledgments to the meritorious co-operators in
such an expensive and difficult as well as eminently-advantageous
enterprise, and encourage to similar undertakings in other parts those
who, with personal aptitudes and patriotic sentiments, have been
waiting the final success of the first.
"JOAQUIN DE LA PEZUELA.
"LIMA, _4th August, 1816_."
"_Certificate of the Deputation._
"We, Don Domingo Gonzales de Castañeda and Don José Lago y Lemus,
Commissaries and Territorial Magistrates in this Royal Mineral
Territory, and deputed by the United Corporation of Miners in this
district, do hereby certify judicially, and as the law directs, in
manner following:--
"Though this deputation never doubted the extraordinary power of steam
compressed, and consequently the certain operation of engines worked by
its influence, it nevertheless entertained some fears respecting the
perfect organization of all the mechanical powers of the machines. This
uncertainty, rather than any doubt, has been completely dissipated
by our personal attendance this day to witness the draining of the
first pit, situated in Santa Rosa. The few instants employed in the
same produce a full conviction that a general drainage of the mines
will take place, and that their metals will be extracted with the
greatest facility from their utmost profundity: as also that the skill
of the company's partners and agents will easily overcome whatsoever
difficulties nature may oppose, until they shall have completed all
the perpendiculars and levels; and consequently that the meritorious
undertakers who have risked their property in the enterprise will be
rewarded with riches.
"We and the whole Corporation of Miners would do but little were we
to erect them a monument, which should transmit down to the remotest
posterity the remembrance of an undertaking of such magnitude and
heroism; but for the present we will congratulate ourselves that our
labours, co-operation, and fidelity, keeping pace in perfect harmony
with the exertions of the agents, the company may thus attain the
full completion of their utmost wishes, extracting from the bowels of
these prolific mountains, not the riches of Amilcar's inexhaustible
wells, not the treasures of the boasted Potosi in its happiest days,
but a torrent of silver, which will fill all surrounding nations
with admiration, will give energy to commerce, prosperity to this
Viceroyalty and to the Peninsula, and fill the royal treasury of our
beloved sovereign.
"Thus certifies this Magisterial Deputation of Yauricocha, the 27th of
July, 1816.
"DOMINGO GONZALES DE CASTAÑEDA.
"JOSÉ LAGO Y LEMUS."
"_Despatch from the Intendant Governor of the Province of Tarma to His
Excellency the Viceroy._
"MOST EXCELLENT SIR, "PASCO, _27th July, 1816_.
"Having finally conquered the great difficulties consequent on the
enterprise, though with immense and incessant labour, and at an
enormous expense, the object has been accomplished of purchasing,
importing, and erecting the steam-engine in the celebrated rich and
royal mineral territory, called 'The Mountains of Yauricocha,' in
this province of Tarma, of which I have the honour to be Governor,
the chief and valuable works of which have ceased to produce ore, in
consequence of their bases being completely submerged in water.
"The day is arrived when we witness with admiration the advantageous
and useful effects of the before-named steam-engine; the completion
of the promises made by the generous and undaunted individuals who
united themselves to supply the funds sufficient for the realization
of an enterprise so important, and the fulfilment of the wishes of
these valuable subjects, to render to the State the highest possible
service; a service, although at all times of extreme importance, at
this crisis is infinite; because the State, being weakened by a series
of disastrous events for six years past, requires salutary remedies;
and none exist so effectual as the re-establishment of the mines,
which the steam-engines are achieving.
"After some experiments, which (although they left no doubt of
ultimate success in draining the mine) discovered some slight defects,
these were corrected on the 23rd instant; and this day the first
of the four pumps which arrived for the use of the royal mines was
erected in the particular mine called Santa Rosa; the result of its
operation has been the exhaustion of the water from the well or hollow
below the adit. In twenty minutes, by this engine, an aggregate of
water is ejected amounting to 6 yards or 18 feet in diameter, 3 yards
24 inches in length, and 1 yard 30 inches in breadth. In the same
manner a second engine, accessory to that which drains the water,
is worked by the same steam, on the same point, and in the same
perpendicular shaft, from the surface of the earth, which extracts
the ore, and with advantages hitherto unknown here, on account of the
considerable saving of expense and the economy of manual labour.
"The steam-engine will continue evacuating the water from the pit
until it is reduced to 6 yards below the old adit, whence they must
eject the water raised by the engine by a continued elongation of
the barrel of the pump gaining depth, until they have completed the
number of yards required, or until the progress of the work indicates
a proper situation for forming a new line of levels and channels of
communication to those mines which are not yet drained. In proportion
to the successive acquisition to these subterranean works which are
daily advancing, will be the increased operations of the mines, and
consequently the increased prosperity of the mining interest, which
had most astonishingly fallen from the degree it had attained in
former years.
"In a short time, similar effects will be seen in the three remaining
mineral ridges of Yauricocha, Caya, and Yanacancha, productive of ores
of a better quality than that of Santa Rosa, which has nevertheless
obtained the preference for the erection of the first engine upon it
from its being more abundant in its peculiar produce, and on account
of the greater number of persons interested in this property; as
also its contributing immediately to relieve the necessitous, by
employing the workmen in the vicinity of the mines. In my opinion, no
event so beneficial has occurred as the erection of the steam-engine,
since the discovery and addition of these dominions to the crown of
Castile. From this time, by the help of these machines, immense and
incalculable riches will accrue to the nation.
"God preserve your Excellency many years,
"JOSÉ GONZALES DE PRADA."
"_The Viceroy's Answer._
"LIMA, _5th August, 1816_.
"Your Lordship's official despatch, No. 898, the 27th of last month,
communicated to me the satisfactory detail of the complete results
which you witnessed on the 23rd and 27th, produced by the grand
steam-engine placed over the mine of Santa Rosa, one of those situated
in the mountains of Pasco, for the purpose of draining the mine and
extracting the ores.
"I desire particularly to distinguish and patronize the chief agent
and assistant, Don Francisco Uville; the generous promoters of the
undertaking, Don Pedro Abadia and Don José Arismendi; their agents
and assistants, Don Luis de Landavere and Don Tomas Gallegos; and
lastly, Mr. Bull, and all those associated in this great work, whom
you recommend to my notice. Your Lordship, by having exerted yourself
to facilitate, by all the means which your zeal and authority could
procure, the happy consummation of so profitable an enterprise, has
added a new claim to the many preceding which you possessed, to the
high consideration of the king and the public.
"JOAQUIN DE LA PEZUELA,
"Viceroy of Lima."
_Extract from the 'Lima Gazette' of the 25th of September, 1816._
"We have the satisfaction of communicating to the public the
information that the company for draining the mines of Pasco have just
received accounts from their agents in that mineral territory; and
they promise for our next Gazette a description of the state of the
works for fixing the remaining three engines.--EDITOR.
"CERRO, _September 20th, 1816_.
"'After having observed the progress of the machine at the Santa
Rosa Mine last Saturday, the 14th instant, at 10 o'clock at night we
began to act; at 11 o'clock the pitmen went down to clear the shaft,
and have not since ceased working an instant. The clearing of the
mud and rubbish which had remained at the bottom of the shaft, and
clogged every moment the buckets and suckers of the engine, lasted
till Wednesday; but this being accomplished, at 12 o'clock at noon
they began to break through the level. At half a yard below the shaft
we found a lively coppery ore, with its particles of silver. This
bronze-coloured ore indicates that the veins of Yauricocha and San
Diego incline to the west, or towards the Santa Rosa Mine. The mines
in the vicinity of this pit are all dry. Some of them, at the distance
of 300 yards, in the ridge of Santa Rita, have also felt its effects;
and even as far as the territory of Caya, behind our steam-works, the
waters have fallen in several mines. Don John Vivas has begun to work
in San Diego Mine. They are also going next Monday to begin working in
several points of the Santa Rosa Mine. The pit is already 8 yards in
depth, and we are proceeding with the greatest activity. The workmen
are relieved every two hours, and as they go out they give up their
tools to those who succeed them, by which means not a minute is lost.
Continuing thus, in the course of a month we shall be at more than 20
yards depth, and have many mines in full activity. The winding engine
raises a basket (which is a load) in two minutes; the draining or
steam-engine, with two vibrations per minute, keeps the surface always
dry. Both work with the greatest ease, certainty, and regularity.
"'By dint of searching after a vein of coal, we have at last found one
near at hand, of excellent quality and of great richness. The pit we
are now at work at is at the distance of a quarter of a league from
Rancas, and at the same distance from Vista Alegre which the Cerro is
from these works. We have likewise found a vein of plumbago, which
was an object of search, on the supposition that it was coal. This
substance, of which much is consumed, mixed with grease, to soften the
friction of the piston, &c., we have now here; and thus the necessity
of sending to Lima, or perhaps to Europe, for it is obviated.'"
Within six months of the setting to work the pumping engine in Santa
Rosa, another pumping engine was at work at Yanacancha Mine.
The following extracts from the 'Lima Gazette' were published in the
Cornish papers by Mr. Edmonds:--
"_From the Government Gazette of Lima, 12th Feb., 1817._
"We have had the pleasure of receiving a letter from Pasco, dated 6th
instant, containing the following account:--
"The second engine established in the mine called Yanacancha, which is
far superior in point of beauty, convenience, and size to that called
Santa Rosa, was set to work on Friday last, and notwithstanding the
great quantity of water which filtered into this mine the engine with
only half its power drained the mine completely in nine minutes. This
filtration did not happen in Santa Rosa, on account of the quantity of
hard copper ore on which the engine is situated.
"By this successful operation, the water in several mines has been
lessened considerably, amongst which in particular is that belonging
to Don Juan Vivas, situate in the hill called Chucarillo, which at
present affords ore of 400 marcos per caxon (50 cwt.). Of this ore
about 25 lbs. has been received in this city, with a proof of 2 lbs.
made in Pasco, showing not only the richness of the ore, but its easy
extraction and cleanness for the ready refinement of it. And another
proof has also been received from another mine, situate in Chucarillo,
belonging to the widow Mier, in company with Don Joachin Aitola, which
yields 100 marcos per caxon of 25 cargas.
"To this agreeable news we ought to add that at the arrival of the
whaling ship 'Asp,' bound from London, having on board a large
quantity of machinery for the Royal Mint, and for the constructing of
eight engines more, equal to those in Pasco, with the advantage that
they are of the last patent and more easy to be worked; but what is
of greater importance is the arrival of Don Ricardo Trevithick, an
eminent professor of mechanics, the same who directed in England the
execution of the machinery now existing in Pasco. This professor can,
with the assistance of the workmen who accompany him, construct as
many engines as are necessary in Peru, without any need of sending
to England for any part of these vast machines. The excellent
character of Don R. Trevithick, and his ardent desire for promoting
the interests of Peru, recommend him in the highest degree to public
estimation, and make us hope that his arrival in this kingdom will
form the epoch of its prosperity, with the enjoyment of the riches
enclosed in it, which could not be enjoyed without this class of
assistance, or if the British Government had not permitted the
exportation from England, which appeared doubtful to all those who
knew how jealous that nation is in the exclusive possession of all
superior inventions in arts or industry."
So far everything promised success. Two pumping engines had so reduced
the water in two of the mines, that the miners were at work, and the
people of Lima believed that many more such engines would be usefully
employed, now that Don Ricardo Trevithick was with them.
"DEAR SIR, "LIMA, _February 15th, 1817_.
"We arrived here last Saturday in good health. The (our) Mint is at
work, and coined five millions last year, and in their way of working
does very well; but I trust to make it coin thirty millions per year.
"Two engines are drawing water, and two drawing ore, at the mines, but
in an imperfect state. If I had not arrived, it must have all fallen
to the ground, both in their mining and in their engines. I expect we
shall go to the mines in about ten days, from where I will write to
you every particular.
"There are still two engines to put up for lifting water, and two for
winding ore, and those at work to be put to rights. They are raising
ores from one mine which is immensely rich, and from what I can learn,
a much greater quantity will be got up, when the whole are at work,
than these people have any idea of. Several other mines will also be
set to work by engines that we shall make here. We have been received
with every mark of respect, and both Government and the public are in
high spirits on account of our arrival, from which they expect much
good to result.
"Mr. Vivian died the 19th of May. I believe that too much drink was
the cause of it. Uville, I think, wished him gone, and was in great
hope that I should not arrive. His conduct has thrown down his power
very much, which he never can again recover.
"They all say that the whole concern shall be put entirely under my
management, and every obstacle shall be removed out of my road. Unless
this is done, I shall soon be with you in England. I am very sorry
that I did not embark with the first cargo, which would have made a
million difference to the company. The first engine was put to work
about three months since, the other about two months; but they are as
much at a loss in their mining as in their engineering. The Mint is
the property of our company, and Government pays us for coining, which
gives us an immense income; the particulars of which, and the shares
in the mines, I have not yet gone into. I shall be short in this
letter, because I know but little as yet, and that little I expect Mr.
Page will inform you. A full account you shall have by the next ship,
which I expect will sail in three weeks. This letter goes by a Spanish
ship that will sail this afternoon for Cadiz. My respects, and good
wishes to your family and to Mr. Day, and hope this will find you all
as hearty as we are.
"Mr. Page would not depart this life under the line, as he promised
when at Penzance; but, on the contrary, has a nose as red as a cherry,
and his face very little short of it. His health and spirits far
exceed what they were in England. I am glad to have such a companion.
With ... think he will have no reason to repent.... He will get a
command at Pasco ... such as his ingenuity may find out, when on the
spot; whether as a miner or an engineer I cannot say, but time will
show.
"If you have not insured my life I would thank you to do it now, if
you can on reasonable terms. I do not wish them to take the risk
of the seas in the policy, because the voyage here is over, and on
my return I hope I shall not want it, therefore it must be for two
years in the country. I will get a certificate of my health, if they
wish it, from the most respectable inhabitants, and also from the
Vice-king, if they wish it. The policy may be drawn accordingly.
"Be so good as to write me often, with all the news you can collect.
If you wish your dividends in this company to be applied to further
advantage in any new mines I may engage in, in preference to having
it sent to England, I will, as the dividends are made, do everything
in my power to improve the talent. On this subject I must have your
answer before I can make any new arrangement under this head. I will
thank you to send a copy of Mr. Page's letter to my wife; I mean such
parts of it as belong to the business; there may be some things that I
have forgotten to mention.
"I remain, Sir,
"Your humble servant,
"RICHD. TREVITHICK.
"MR. JAMES SMITH, _Limekiln Lane, Greenwich_."
In the early part of 1817 four engines were at work in the mines, two
pumping water and two raising the ore; while a fifth engine was coining
in the Mint at Lima. Trevithick believed that he could much improve the
engines and the mining, and that it would be necessary and practicable
to arrange for the construction of engines in Lima; for though death
and dissension had caused difficulty, the authorities were still
prepared to give him full power.
A strange defect in his character is evidenced in this letter. He
wished his life to be insured for the benefit of his wife and family,
but never thought of paying the yearly insurance premium, leaving it
for his wife to pay, whom he had left, as far as he knew, penniless in
England.
On his sailing from Penzance, he told his wife that he had paid the
house-rent for a year in advance, mentioning the sum. At the end of
that time a demand was made on Mrs. Trevithick for a year's rent,
being a larger sum than her husband had mentioned as the proper rent.
It turned out that Trevithick had taken and paid for the house at
six-monthly periods, instead of yearly periods. It was in the same
street, and but three or four houses from that occupied by the parents
of the eminent Sir Humphry Davy.
A person pressed him for payment of a bill. Trevithick said, "Give
me your bill," and writing on the bottom of it "Received, Richard
Trevithick," handed it back to the claimant with "Now, will that do
for you?" The payment of the life insurance obliged Mrs. Trevithick to
part with her personal property, on which she had counted for support
during her husband's absence. This inability to see the necessity of
methodical action, when working with others, and utter disregard for
hoarded money, caused him to be a somewhat unmanageable partner, though
his genius never allowed him to sink; and in November, 1817, he wrote a
letter, of which the following is an extract:--
[Illustration: MARKET, JEW STREET, PENZANCE. [W. J. Welch.]]
"There are also nunneries beyond number, and in those places no male
is ever suffered to put his foot. Through one of the most noted runs
a watercourse, which works the Mint; and Mr. Abadia has repeatedly
made all the interest he could to be admitted, for the purpose of
inspecting it, but could never get a grant. The Mint belongs to our
engine concern, and now coins about five millions per year. We have
a contract from Government for making all the coin, both gold and
silver, which gives an immense profit; and as there must now be coined
six times as much as before, I must build new water-*wheels to work
the rolls which we took with us from England. It was on this account
that I wished to examine the watercourse for this purpose, without the
knowledge of Mr. Abadia or anyone but Mr. Page and the interpreter,
who always attends me. I walked up and knocked, in my blunt way, at
the nunnery court door, _without knowing there were any objections to
admit men_; it was opened by a female slave, to whom the interpreter
told my name and business. Very shortly three old abbesses made their
appearance, who said I could not be admitted. I told them I came from
England, for the purpose of making an addition to the Mint, and could
not do it without measuring the watercourse; upon which a council
was held amongst them; very soon we were ordered to walk in, and
all further nunnery nonsense was done away. We were taken round the
building and were shown their chapel and other places without reserve.
"Uville knew nothing about the practical part of the engines, and Bull
very little, therefore you may judge what a wretched state this great
undertaking was in before my arrival; no one put any confidence in
it, and believed it was all lost, together with five hundred thousand
dollars that had been expended on it. The Lord Warden was sent from
Pasco to offer me protection and to welcome me to the mines. They have
a court over the mines and miners, the same as the Vice-Warden's Court
in England, only much more respected and powerful. The Viceroy sent
orders to the military at Pasco to attend to my call, and told me he
would send whatever troops I wished with me. The Spanish Government
and the Vice-king since my arrival are quite satisfied that the mines
will now be fully carried into effect, and will do everything in their
power to assist me. As soon as the news of our arrival had reached
Pasco, the bells rang, and they were all alive down to the lowest
labouring miner, and several of the most noted men of property have
arrived here--150 miles. On this occasion the Lord Warden has proposed
erecting my statue in silver. On my arrival Mr. Uville wrote me a
letter from Pasco, expressing the great pleasure he had in hearing
of my arrival, and at the same time he wrote to Mr. Abadia that he
thought Heaven had sent me to them for the good of the mines. The
water in the mines is from four to five strokes per minute.
"Tell the members of the Geological Society that Mr. Abadia is making
out a very good collection of specimens for them, which will be sent
by the first opportunity; and soon after I arrive at Pasco I will
write them very fully."
After Trevithick's death, in 1833, casts were taken from the head, and
busts presented to scientific societies were thankfully received, with
the single exception of his near neighbours at Penzance, who, under the
name of the Royal Geological Society of Cornwall, refused it.
Mr. W. J. Henwood, who had frequently drawn the attention of Cornishmen
to Trevithick's engines, being about 1870 President of the Royal
Institution of Cornwall, presented to it a bust of Trevithick, which
was admitted within its walls.
In 1819 Mr. R. Edmonds forwarded to the 'Cornwall Gazette' news from
Lima, from which the following is extracted:--
"We have much pleasure in stating that accounts have lately reached
England from Lima, giving the satisfactory intelligence that our
countryman and able engineer, Captain Trevithick, was in February last
in good health, and super-*intending the rich and extensive mines of
Pasco.
"Don Francisco Uville, a Spanish gentleman, having, with Don Pedro
Abadia and others, formed a company to drain the mines of Pasco,
unfortunately for Captain Trevithick, F. Uville was anxious to impress
his countrymen with an opinion that it was _solely_ owing to him
that steam-engines were first introduced into the silver mines of
South America; and notwithstanding the obligations he was under to
Captain Trevithick, he sought every opportunity, soon after Captain
Trevithick's arrival at Pasco, to oppose him, in claiming to have the
direction of the mines.
"Captain Trevithick, knowing but little of the country, and disgusted
with the treatment he received from Uville and the party he had formed
against him, amongst whom was a gent who had lately arrived from
England, retired from the concern, and proceeded on other important
discoveries on his own account.
"Things remained in this state until August, 1818, when Uville met his
death, in consequence of the cold penetrating air of the Cordilleras
on coming out of the mines in a strong perspiration. Mr. Abadia and
his friends were then under the necessity of soliciting the assistance
of Captain Trevithick. On condition of his having the sole direction
of the mines, he was prevailed upon to accept the situation which
had been first most faithfully agreed he should have had; and when
the accounts last left Lima in February, Captain Trevithick had been
five months at the mines as the chief superintendent. The mines are
represented as being in the most prosperous state, and likely to
realize the sanguine expectations of the share-*holders. Mr. Bull, an
engineer from Chacewater, who left England with Uville, died at Pasco
about ten months since."
When this was written, Trevithick had been two years in the country,
and found the immense difficulties of the undertaking increased by
jealousies and jobberies. Mr. Uville was no more, neither were Vivian
or Bull; but one man remained alive out of the four who had sailed from
England with the first cargo of machinery. In August, 1818, Mr. Abadia,
who from the first was a leading authority, requested Trevithick to
take upon himself the sole management of the mines, where he continued
until April, 1819, as shown by the following extract from Captain
Hodge's journal, supplied by my friend Mr. Charles Hodge:--
"The first time they met was at Lima, on the 26th April, 1819, at
Dr. Thorne's; your father had just come down from the Cerro de Pasco
mines. On the 8th May following, I find my father witnessed the
hanging of three men for killing two of your father's men, named
Judson and Watson."
Mr. W. B. Stevenson says:[128]--
[Footnote 128: See 'Historical and Descriptive Narrative of Twenty Years'
Residence in South America,' by W. B. Stevenson, published 1842.]
"The Mint was established in Lima, in 1565. The machinery was formerly
worked by mules, eighty being daily employed till the year 1817, when
Don Pedro Abadia, being the contractor for the coinage, Mr. Trevithick
directed the erection of a water-wheel, which caused a great saving
of expense. In the year 1817 two Englishmen, sent from Pasco by Mr.
Trevithick (who afterwards followed with the intention of working some
of the silver mines in Conchucos), were murdered by the guides at a
place called Puloseco. This horrid act was perpetrated by crushing
their heads with two large stones, as they lay asleep on the ground.
The murderers were men who had come with them from Pasco.
"I have heard Mr. Trevithick say, that on shaking hands with the men
who work in those quicksilver evaporating rooms, drops of quicksilver
show themselves at the fingers' ends, and that the workmen wearing
shoes take them off before leaving the work, to pour out any
quicksilver that had oozed through the pores of the skin, which had
been respired in the floating state of vapour. The men so employed
fell a sacrifice in twelve or eighteen months."
Trevithick's experience in applying the force of running streams
was turned to good account in giving an economical helpmate to the
steam-engine then at work in the Mint. Miers says:[129]--
[Footnote 129: See Miers' 'Travels in Chili and La Plata,' published
1826.]
"Another instance occurs in the unfortunately ruinous result and
lamentable ill-treatment of the persons engaged in the attempt to
introduce European improvements and British machinery into the great
silver-mining district of Pasco (Chili), in which was engaged one
of our most celebrated engineers, a most able mechanic, to whom the
grand improvements in our Cornish mines are chiefly indebted--I
mean Mr. Richard Trevithick. Trevithick was induced to furnish the
machinery at an expense of 3000_l._ sterling, upon condition of being
admitted a partner in the amount of 12,000 dollars in the joint stock
of the company, and entitled to a share corresponding to the capital
employed. This share was calculated at a fifth. Trevithick, before
he embarked for Peru, divided his interest in the concern into 320
shares, each representing 38 dollars, and these were sold in the
market for 125_l._ sterling each; some few were sold for 100_l._ cash.
The success of the engines gave to some of the persons interested much
confidence, who conceived they could now do without the management
of the ingenious Trevithick. Every possible obstacle was therefore
thrown in his way by those who, from motives of jealousy, wished to
get rid of him. The persons to whom Trevithick's and other shares had
been sold in London, sent out to Lima an agent, whose duty it was
to look after their interests in the concern; but as it was found a
much larger sum would be necessary for carrying the enterprise into
effect than had been calculated, a collision of interests took place;
complaints were made on all sides as to the delays and expenses which
those who did not comprehend the almost insurmountable difficulties
of the undertaking attributed to mismanagement and carelessness. The
greatest share of opprobrium fell unjustly upon Trevithick, who,
being a man of great inventive genius and restless activity, was at
length completely disgusted, and retired from the undertaking. He left
Pasco, although Abadia offered him 8000 dollars per annum, together
with all his expenses, if he would continue to superintend the works;
on no conditions would he consent to contend with the jealousies and
ill-treatment of the persons with whom he had to deal. He soon after
entered into speculations with some of the miners at Conchucos, for
whom he constructed grinding mills and furnaces, with the view to
substitute the process of smelting for that of amalgamation in silver
ores, in which vain pursuit he became a considerable loser."
"MY DEAR SIR, "BODMIN, _November 3rd, 1869_.
"Forty-seven years are now passed since I had the great pleasure of
meeting your father in Peru, and I have a vivid remembrance of the
gratification afforded to my messmates when he came to dine with us on
board H.M.S. 'Aurora,' then lying in Callao. I was then a lieutenant
of that beautiful frigate, and was introduced to your father by Mr.
Hodge, of St. Erth, with whom I had become acquainted in Chili. I
remember your father delighting us all on board the 'Aurora' by his
striking description of the steam-engine, and his calculation of the
'horse-power' of the mighty wings of the condor in his perpendicular
ascent to the summit of the Andes. Your father's strong Cornish
dialect seemed to give an additional charm to his very interesting
conversation, and my messmates were most anxious to see him on board
again, but he left shortly after for the Sierra.
"The Pasco-Peruvian mines were those which your father was engaged
to superintend before he left England, and he had actually managed,
by incredible labour, to transport one or two steam-engines from the
coast to the mines, when the war of independence broke out, and the
patriots threw most of the machinery down the shafts. This fearful
war was a deathblow to your father's sanguine hopes of making a rapid
fortune. About a year after this terrible disappointment (I think in
1822), the 'San Martin,' an old Russian fir frigate, purchased by the
Chilian Government, sank at her anchors in Chorillos Bay, ten miles
south of Callao, and your father entered into an engagement with the
Government in Lima to recover a large number of brass cannon, provided
that all the prize tin and copper on board which might be got up
should belong to him. This was a very successful speculation, and in
a few weeks your father realized about 2500_l._ I remember visiting
the spot with your father whilst the operations were carried on, and
being astonished at the rude diving bell by which so much property
was recovered from the wreck, and at the indomitable energy displayed
by him. It was Mr. Hodge, and not I, who then urged in the strongest
manner that at least 2000_l._ should be immediately remitted to your
mother. Instead of this, he embarked the money in some Utopian scheme
for pearl fishing at Panama, and lost all!
"I had the honour of dining with Lord Dundonald on board the crazy
frigate 'Esmeralda,' which carried his flag in Callao Bay, but I never
heard of the gallant conduct of your father in swimming off to his
ship and advising him of an intended assassination. I fancy that this
must have occurred before I came on the station, probably in 1820, or
1821.
"Believe me,
"My dear Sir,
"Very sincerely yours,
"JAMES LIDDELL."
Trevithick's floating caissons for the sunken ship of Margate Bay in
1810[130] were similarly applied in 1821 in the Bay of Callao. In Lima he
became acquainted with Lord Dundonald, whom he warned of a plot on his
life, discovered in his friendly intimacy at the residence of President
Bolivar. Those two remarkable Englishmen were alike in their daring
inventiveness, and not unlike in face and person.
[Footnote 130: In 1834 the writer was employed at a marine engine works
in London, and made working drawings for a scheme of Lord Dundonald's,
who expressed great pleasure in meeting the son of his old friend.]
We have traced Trevithick's steps from his landing at Lima in 1817
to the destruction of the mine machinery by the civil wars, and his
departure from there about 1822. But one link in the chain has been
nearly lost. During some portion of those five years he visited Chili,
and set to work mines which are still producing large and profitable
quantities of copper. The late Mr. Waters, an eminent Cornish miner,
who for many years managed some of these mines in the neighbourhood of
Valparaiso, said that Trevithick's name was better known to the miners
there than to the miners in Cornwall. This statement was made in the
Dolcoath account-house at a public meeting, the speaker and the writer
being both on the committee of management.
Simon Whitbarn, of St. Day, informed the writer that at Copiapo and at
Coquimbo he had seen large heaps of copper ore, apparently unclaimed,
which the people said had been raised by Don Ricardo Trevithick. About
1830 a miner, returned from South America, made a claim for wages for
watching mineral left behind by Mr. Trevithick.
To further illustrate this history, we have a report written by
himself:--
"_Memoranda regarding the Copper and Silver Mine of * * * *._
"In 1814 an arrangement was made between the miners of Peru and myself
for furnishing them with nine steam-engines and a mint, to be executed
in England and erected in the mines of Pasco; and in October, 1816,
I sailed from England for that country, for the express purpose of
taking the management of those mines and erecting the machinery, being
myself a large proprietor of the same. The Government of Peru was at
that time subject to old Spain, under the immediate superintendence
of a Viceroy. The machinery having been erected, and its sufficiency
for the intended purpose of draining the mines having been proved to
the satisfaction of all parties, there was granted to me a special
passport by the Viceroy, for the purpose of travelling through the
country to inspect the general mining system, and to make the native
miners acquainted with the English modes of working. In return for
which Government conceded to me the privilege of taking possession for
my own benefit and account of such mining spots as were not previously
engaged. In this way I travelled through many of the mining districts,
and although I met with several unoccupied spots which would have
paid well for working, yet, being a considerable distance inland, and
requiring more capital to do them justice than I could then advance, I
abandoned for the time all ideas of undertaking them.
"To this, indeed, there was but one exception, and that was a copper
and silver mine, the ores of which are uniformly united, in the
province of Caxatambo.
"When the patriots arrived in Peru, the mine was deserted by all the
labourers, in order to avoid being forced into the army. In this state
it remained for a considerable time; but on the Spaniards retreating
into the interior, I recommenced working; and to secure my right to
this mine under the new Government I at the same time transmitted a
memorial and petition to the established authorities, accompanied by a
plan and description of the mine, the result of which was the formal
grant, as exhibited in the Spanish document now in your possession.
It was not my good fortune to be allowed to follow up my plans, which
almost warranted a certainty of success. I had scarcely commenced
a second time when the Spaniards returned, and everyone again was
obliged to fly. The country, as is well known, continued for a long
time in a most distracted state, and I was ultimately compelled to
quit that part of Peru, robbed of all my money, leaving everything
behind me, miners' tools and about 5000_l._ worth of ores on the spot
ready to be carried to the shipping port. Numerous as my misfortunes
had been in Peru, and heavy as my disappointments, I felt none so
sensibly as this, because it was an enterprise entirely of my own
creation, and so open to view that I was enabled to calculate at a
certainty the immense value contained within the external circle where
the copper vein made its appearance in the cap of the mountain, and
to be obtained without risk or capital. However, revolution followed
revolution, and the war appeared to me to be interminable. Even
Bolivar's arrival at Lima made it still worse, for he forced me into
the army, with my property, which is not paid to this day, to the
amount of $20,000; and at his urgent solicitations, disgusted as I was
with what I had seen and suffered in Peru, I determined on quitting
it for a time at least, and on visiting Colombia. Being at Guayaquil
I first heard the name of Costa Rica and its recently-discovered
mines, and having no doubt of the authenticity of my information,
I immediately proceeded thither instead of going to Bogota to
carry Bolivar's orders into execution, not having been paid. This
short digression you will excuse, as it points to the causes of my
separation from a property of so much value, as I consider the mine of
* * * * *. Thirty years ago the neighbourhood of * * * * was famous
for its silver mines. At the foot of the copper hill, on a fine
stream, are two sets of works on a most extensive scale, which were
carried on on account of the Spanish Government. The silver was found
in lead veins, which are very large and numerous all around. The soil
is very rich, and the climate as good as any in the world, wheat and
Indian corn both growing round the mountain. Provisions and wages are
low, the latter 1_s._ per day, and there are about 20,000 inhabitants
within three miles. Wood for smelting and other purposes is abundant
on the spot.
"* * * * is * * leagues from Lima; the port of * * * * where the
ores are to be shipped, is 37 leagues north from Lima; and * * * *
copper mine * * leagues back in the country east from this port, a
good road for mules and plenty of them. The miners contracted with me
to break the ores and deliver them at the surface for 4_l._ per ton,
which was double what I ought to have paid them; the farmers likewise
contracted to carry the ores to the port at the same rate, which
comes to sixpence a league for each mule cargo. But even at present
wheel-carriages might travel over a large proportion of the road, and
a small outlay would make it a carriage-road the whole distance, and
then the expense of carriage would be diminished more than one-half.
Taking it, however, at what it cost me, the whole expense on the ores
delivered on board would not amount to 9_l._ a ton, and as I conceive
the freight to England would not exceed 4_l._ a ton, the total cost
would be 13_l._, but say 15_l._ a ton. Its value in England would be
above 80_l._ a ton. At the time I worked I intended to have sent 300
tons of ore to England, for in the then disturbed state of the country
it would not have been prudent to risk myself on smelting works. I
think it will ultimately be found preferable to smelt on the spot, but
the course I should recommend in the meantime would be to send out two
practical miners to direct and superintend the natives, who ought to
be employed by contract to break and raise the ores and deliver them
on board. In that case no erections whatever would be wanted; nothing
but about 70_l._ worth of labourers' tools.
"I remain, Sir,
"Your very humble servant,
(Signed) "RICHARD TREVITHICK."
The foregoing undated report was written after his return to England
from South America. The Viceroy granted him a special passport through
the country, that he might give general instructions to the workers of
mines, with the right to claim any mineral spot for his own working not
under grant to others.
He often spoke of his discovery and working of the great vein of
copper ore in Caxatambo, estimated to contain copper worth twelve
millions sterling, the working of which was prevented by the frequent
revolutions and unsettled government of the country; and of residing
for months with Bolivar, at that time the Republican Governor of Peru.
Bolivar's cavalry were short of fire-arms. Trevithick invented and made
a carbine with a short barrel of large bore, having a hollow frame-work
stock. The whole was cast of brass, stock and barrel in one piece,
with the necessary recess for the lock; the bullet was a flat piece
of lead, cut into four quarters, held in their places in a cartridge
until fired, when they spread, inflicting jagged wounds. He was obliged
to serve in the army, and to prove the efficiency of his own gun. He
was never a good shot, nor particularly fond of shooting; and, after a
long time, Bolivar allowed him to return to his engineering and mining.
Scarcely had he got to work again when the Royal Spanish troops,
getting the best of it, overran the mines, and drove Trevithick away
penniless, leaving 5000_l._ worth of ore behind him ready for sale.
The 300 tons of ore, valued at 24,000_l._, never reached England; and
the writer, who was to have returned to Peru in the ship that had been
engaged to convey it, lost the chance of being a youthful traveller in
foreign lands.
Trevithick left Lima about 1821 or 1822, for Bogota, in Colombia, on a
special mission for Bolivar. On his way, putting in at Guayaquil, he
heard of rich mines in Costa Rica, and thinking they would pay better
than Bolivar's promises, he threw up his engagement and made for the
new venture. It was probably at Guayaquil that he met Mr. Gerard, a
Scotchman of good family and education, then sailing on the Pacific
coast as a speculator.
Since Trevithick left the mines of Cerro de Pasco, more than one
English adventurer has attempted to work them. At the present time they
are in the hands of a large company, and are thus spoken of in the
'Cornish Telegraph' of May 10, 1871:--
"_Cerro de Pasco and its Silver Mines._
"This place, in the Republic of Peru, is situated on the top of the
Andes, on the eastern side of the Western Cordillera. It stands about
15,000 feet above the sea level, and is said to be one of the highest,
if not the highest, inhabited place of importance in the whole world.
"From Callao to here is a distance of 160 miles, but, in consequence
of the rapid ascent in such a comparatively short distance, it is
considered a quick journey if mules make it in six days; it more
frequently takes them a week, and at times, during the season of snow
and rain, the pampas, which are the table-lands of these mountains,
are impassable for several days together.
"The town of Cerro de Pasco, which at present numbers 10,000 souls,
is of no small importance, considering its great altitude and
inconvenient distance from the coast, but it lacks order and design
in every part. The streets are crooked and uneven; and the houses are
stuck about anywhere and everywhere, with the greatest display of
uneducated taste that I have ever before witnessed; moreover, it would
be difficult to find another such place so equally dirty.
"It rains and snows on these heights with not much cessation for about
six months in the year, and in what is termed the dry season there are
also frequent falls of snow. Furthermore, water boils at 180° Fahr.
instead of at 212°, as with you; consequently it requires six minutes
to cook an egg.
"The majority of the inhabitants are a low type of Indians, who
are small in stature and mind, but are large in cunning, and have
exceedingly plain features--not possessing the slightest trace of the
noble features and bold simplicity of the Indians of the North.
"Any person acquainted with minerals and mining coming up to Cerro
de Pasco would fancy that the whole town was built on the back of
one huge lode; go wherever one may, through the streets, or on
the outskirts of the town, and even up to the slopes of the hill
surrounding it, he finds it to be all lodestuff everywhere; its
composition is what we Cornish miners generally term an iron gossan.
"The greater portion of this mineral spot is parcelled out into setts
or grants, which consist of pieces of ground 60 yards in length by 30
in width, giving to the place no less than 664 mines. At present there
are no more than seventy-eight of them at work, and only sixty-three
of which are producing ore, and the united returns amount to 2,000,000
oz. of silver per annum. Owners or companies have roads leading down
to their mines, formed of steps cut out in the rock, dipping at angles
varying from 30° to 50°. When you have descended to the depth of the
mines, the levels or holes leading to many of them are so small that
one has to drag himself along snake fashion until he reaches the main
excavation. The miners break down the silver ore with pointed bars of
iron, and then shovel it into bags made of hide with the shoulder-bone
of some animal; after which the stuff is carried to surface on men's
and boys' backs.
"When all the mineral has been extracted there remains an immense
excavation, and in consequence of the roof not being properly
supported with timber, one risks his life in entering it. Heavy falls
of rock frequently occur, and by which means a vast number of persons
are annually killed. One day in the last century, at the mines of
'Matagente' (which word means killed people), which are situated in
the rising ground on the northern side of the town, while a great
number of men and boys were at work, the roof of one of these immense
chambers, consisting of many thousands of tons, fell in without giving
the least warning, and 'in the twinkling of an eye' the souls of 300
Peruvian miners rushed into the presence of their Redeemer. Their
bodies have never been exhumed, and their shattered bones, still
remaining, will bear evidence of the catastrophe to future explorers.
An adit has been driven through the district, beginning at the Lake
of Quiulacocha on the south-west, and terminating at the mines of
Ganacaucha on the north. The entire length of the adit, including
its branches, is about 3 miles, and its average depth from surface
50 fathoms. Three perpendicular shafts, situated at about 600 yards
apart, have also been sunk from surface to a short distance below the
adit.
"The whole of the machinery for the mines in question, which is being
made and dispatched by Messrs. Harvey and Co., of Hayle, Cornwall,
consists of four steam pumping engines, six boilers, four iron main
beams, four balance ditto, and also a sufficient quantity of 24-inch
pit-work for both shafts. No single piece of all this cumbrous
machinery must weigh more than 300 lbs., in consequence of its having
to be transported on the backs of mules from the coast to this
mountainous region. Although the main distance is no more than 160
miles, these beasts with their burdens have to climb an altitude of
15,000 feet before they reach their destination. Moreover, the passes
in ascending the Andes and Cordillera can only be correctly imagined
by experienced travellers. Some of the defiles are not much wider than
a sheep-path, and with a thousand feet below you a roaring cataract,
and thousands of feet above you snow-capped overhanging mountains,
looking so dreadful that the awe-struck stranger in the pass fears
that the next peal of thunder will cause them to topple."
[Illustration: MULE TRACK FROM LIMA TO CERRO DE PASCO. [W. J.
Welch.]]
"I observe in a paper which is now before me, entitled 'The
Introduction of the Steam-Engine in the Peruvian Mines, by Richard
Trevithick, in 1816,' that when Captain Trevithick arrived at Lima
on board the ship 'Asp,' with sundry small engines for the draining
of the mines of Cerro de Pasco, he was immediately presented to the
Marquis de Concordia, then Viceroy of Peru, was most graciously
received by the most flattering attention of the inhabitants, and
subsequently the Viceroy ordered the Lord Warden of the mines to
escort the great man with a guard of honour to the mining district.
In contrasting the two epochs, that of Trevithick in 1816, with this
of Wyman and Harrison in 1871, one is led to exclaim that there were
_gentlemen_ in Peru in 1816, and they gave unto Cæsar that which
belonged to Cæsar."[131]
[Footnote 131: In 'Mining Journal,' W. R. Rutter.]
The same newspaper, on the 9th November, 1870, stated:--
"The 'Bride' sailed from Hayle on Thursday with a portion of the
machinery made by Messrs. Harvey and Co., of Hayle, destined for Cerro
de Pasco, in Peru. The work comprises four 37-inch cylinder pumping
engines; no part to weigh more than 300 lbs."
To enable the parts to be reduced in weight, each steam-cylinder was
made of thirty-seven different pieces. The mechanics of Trevithick's
time could not make a steam-cylinder in parts; therefore his
difficulties in designing and conveying the machinery were ten times
greater than they would be in the present day, and necessitated the
extreme simplicity of his engines. His residence with the Peruvians
from 1816 to 1822 taught them the use of high-pressure steam-engines in
their mines; and indirectly heralded the advent of the steam-horse, now
as familiar to them as to the residents in many English towns.