Pagina 737 van 2651

This was regarded, in those times, as so important an object,

that it was always considered as belonging to the sovereign, and

neither to the finder nor to the proprietor of the land, unless

the right to it had been conveyed to the latter by an express

clause in his charter. It was put upon the same footing with gold

and silver mines, which, without a special clause in the charter,

were never supposed to be comprehended in the general grant of

the lands, though mines of lead, copper, tin, and coal were, as

things of smaller consequence.

CHAPTER II. OF MONEY, CONSIDERED AS A PARTICULAR BRANCH OF THE

GENERAL STOCK OF THE SOCIETY, OR OF THE EXPENSE OF MAINTAINING

THE NATIONAL CAPITAL.