صفحة 472 من 2651

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 work-houses 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 bulk; and, even when

mixed, in small and almost insensible particles, with sand,

earth, and other extraneous bodies, it can be separated from them

by a very short and simple operation, which can be carried on in

any private house by any body who is possessed of a small

quantity of mercury. If the king's tax, therefore, is but ill

paid upon silver, it is likely to be much worse paid upon gold;

and rent must make a much smaller part of the price of gold than

that of silver.