on for
the enhanced value by the annexation.

[80] I would not like to make such extravagant statements on my
own authority, however satisfactory the testimony might be to
myself, for the abundance of silver in Sonora is beyond the
belief of most men. But, fortunately, I have, in Ward's "Mexico,"
an authority that can not be disputed. The work is accessible to
all my readers. The author was charged by the British government
with an examination of the mines of Mexico.

[81] Ward, vol. ii. p. 578.

[82] Ibid.

[83] I do not know exactly how to translate the Spanish idea
attached to the words _creador de plata_ unless by saying
that it is a spot where baser substances are supposed to be
converted into silver by some unknown process of nature.

APPENDIX.

A.

MINERIA REPORT ON THE MINERAL RICHES OF SONORA.

Among the five-and-twenty states and territories that compose the
Mexican confederation, there is no other which contains in its
respective territory the like wonderful mineral riches which abound in
the state of which we treat. This would appear almost fabulous; but
there is proof enough from the testimony of many residents of that
state, and from the assertion of travelers, from the evidences which
the archives of the various missions exhibit, and from the royal
registry of mines (_reales de minas_), and, lastly, from the
indubitable fact of the production of great quantities of gold and
silver from the mines and _placers_ of this state, considering the
small amount of forces, and its isolation from all the principal
settlements of the republic by reason of the distance which separates
it from them.

In fact, many metals of universal estimation, such as gold, silver,
mercury, copper, and iron, in a pure state, in grains, in masses, or in
dust, as well as mixed with other metals, superficially or in veins,
are found in the extensive territory of Sonora; lead, or combinations
of lead, for aiding in extracting metals by fire, and for the
construction of munitions of war, amianthus or incombustible crystal,
divers ores of copperas, exquisite marble, alabaster, and jasper of
various colors, as well as quarries of stone of _chrispa_ and magnetic
stones, muriate and carbonate of soda, saltpetre or nitrate of potassa,
are, in enumeration, the mineral productions which are found in
abundance in the territory of the state of