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Her Majesty's government approve of your conduct on both those points. They consider that the presence of General ALMONTE in Mexico, under the protection of the French army, might fairly be considered as a provocation to civil war, and Her Majesty's government could not have approved of a measure having that tendency; for at that time the government of Mexico was a government with which the allies were conducting negotiations with a view to a peaceful settlement of their differences.

Her Majesty's government are also of opinion that you acted rightly when, in answer to M. DE SALIGNY's declaration of his unchangeable resolution not to treat with the government of President JUAREZ, you refused to affix your signature to the answer addressed by the French Commissioners to General DOBLADO, and thereby broke up the conference, and put an end to the joint action of the three powers.

Her Majesty's government greatly regret that the co-operation with France should cease; and they regret, above all, that the hope of the fulfillment of the objects of the convention of October 31st, which might have been attained before the end of April-had the conference met on the 15th-should thus have been abandoned.

Her Majesty's government have every reason to be satisfied with the determination you took. They concur in the opinions given by General PRIM, and are happy to find that the conduct of the representative of her Catholic Majesty has been approved by the government of Spain.

Nor is there any reason to regret the course taken by Her Majesty's government. Had they delayed asking redress from the government of Mexico for the wrongs of British subjects, they would have given rise to just complaints from those who are entitled to Her Majesty's protection. Had they pursued their own course separately, and refused to act with France and Spain, they would have produced irritating and unsatisfactory relations, perhaps collisions, between the military and naval forces of the three great European powers. Had they, on the other hand, evinced an insurmountable repugnance to treat with President JUAREZ, they would have been wanting in due regard to the independence of the Mexican people.

Had Her Majesty's government, therefore, taken any other course than that which was adopted, they would have incurred the risk of evils greater even than the separation which has now occurred.

You will understand that while Her Majesty's government lament the course taken by the Commissioners of the Emperor of the French, nothing has occurred to impair the friendly relations which continue to subsist between the two governments of Great Britain and France.

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JOURNAL OF MINING, MANUFACTURES, AND ART.

1. LAKE SUPERIOR IRON-AMOUNT AND QUALITY. 2. WESTERN ENTERPRISE-EXPLORING THE UPPER MISSOURI. 8. THE ROCK OIL BUSINESS. 4. DEPTH OF MINES IN ENGLAND. 5. ANOTHER EL DORADO. 6. MANUFACTURE OF BEET-Root Sugar.

LAKE SUPERIOR IRON-AMOUNT AND QUALITY.

THE Lake Superior Journal, in speaking of the future shipment of iron ore, says:

"Some idea of the vast iron interests of this region may be formed by our readers in the East, when we state the settled conviction here is that ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY THOUSAND TONS of iron ore will be shipped from our docks during this present season of navigation. This is not the chimera of a vivid imagination, but a sober estimate founded on facts and figures. Indeed, we have reason to believe the estimate is too low, for the following reasons:

"1st. The calculation is partially based on the shipments of last year, and we know how depressed the iron interest was then.

"2d. The indications are that this season will be a highly prosperous one for iron, on account of the more settled condition of the country, and the new uses to which this metal is being constantly put, such as building ships, houses, and the like.

"3d. Already, before the season is fairly opened, nearly that amount (one hundred and fifty thousand tons) has been contracted for, to be delivered in Cleveland, Erie, and Buffalo.

"To carry away this product of our iron hills at one time wouldallowing two hundred tons to each-require seven hundred and fifty vessels, a fleet about as large as the navy of Great Britain. This, we think, will give our readers some idea of the vast wealth yet stored away in this region, and as yet untouched."

The same journal also tells us that—

"During the past week Marquette and the iron mountains beyond have been visited by Mr. BLACKWELL, of London, and formerly Vice-President of the Grand Trunk of Canada. He is a gentleman of high scientific attainments, and came here, at the solicitation of a large iron company in England, to examine the iron mountains and their value, and what advantages are offered here for manufacturing the ore. The company desired to find out whether the reports which had reached England about the quantity and quality of Lake Superior iron are true; and, if so, why so little is being done by capitalists to bring it forward. Also, what advantages we possessed for manufacturing the ore; and whether it could. not be shipped to England.

"Mr. BLACKWELL visited the mountains in company with two or three

gentlemen interested in the matter. He was surprised at seeing the vast piles of ore yet untouched, and says that there is not another such deposit upon the globe. As to quality, he pronounces it equal to, or better than, the Russian; and says that, if we only took as much pains to produce a good article as we take to produce a large amount, this Lake Superior iron would drive the Russian from the market. He says, also, that steel can be made from it, of as good a quality as that manufactured from the Swedish iron, so extensively used in England; and all that is needed here is money to manufacture it."

WESTERN ENTERPRISE-EXPLORING THE UPPER MISSOURI.

The American Exploring and Mining Company, of St. Louis, dispatched on the 15th ult. their first exploring party on the steamer Emilie, Capt. JOSEPH LABARGE, bound for the head waters of the Missouri River and the Rocky Mountains. The hunters and trappers, who have heretofore alone frequented those wild regions, and poured their gain and traffic into the fur companies, now have competition, and assistance to develop the resources there for agriculture, mining, and manufacturing. Already the impetus given to emigration, via Missouri River, to the mountains and Pacific coast, is fully equal to the steamboat facilities for its accommodation. It is the intention of the parties who are now enlisted in the opening up of that region, to make the present navigation arrangements a permanent line of packets from St. Louis to the Great Falls of Missouri River, 3,200 miles by river from St. Louis.

The American Exploring and Mineral Company was formed but a few months ago, and now send out this exploring party, fitted with an abundance of implements and the necessary provision for exploring and mining one year or more, and they will represent the energy aud adventure of the American character. Three of the party are old experienced miners, and in company with H. M. THOMPSON, have been mainly instrumental in perfecting this organization. These gentlemen were probably the first of any in St. Louis to move in the undertaking now so prosperously commenced. On the 22d of March of this year, they, together with a few friends whom they had made acquainted with their plans, met at the office of H. M. THOMPSON, and organized this company, with a capital of $100,000, and chose JOSIAH FOGG, Esq., President, with a good board of directors, who have devoted themselves to the advancement of the company's interests. As the party go out in the service of an organized company of St. Louis men, more than a passing interest is attached to its departure. This immense country is to be opened up to the trade of the world, and the business men of St. Louis and other cities naturally feel a deep interest in this undertaking, as the Missouri River is sure to be the great highway to and from the Pacific coast, and an early and adequate movement should be made to reap the benefits of these newly discovered golden fields.

There is but little doubt, from all accounts received, that this is a very rich mineral country. One who is well acquainted with it says: "The world will be astonished when it is made known." The exploring party

will make thorough investigations, and report to the secretary of the home organization at the office of H. M. THOMPSON, in St. Louis, which will be headquarters for direct and reliable information from the gold regions. of the Upper Missouri and Bitter Root valleys.

THE ROCK OIL BUSINESS.

The Oil City Register, published at the great center of the oil trade, gives the following table, showing the number of wells now flowing, etc., on Oil Creek:

Number of wells now flowing....

75

Number of wells that formerly flowed and pumped..
Number of wells sunk and commenced....

62

358

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Average cost of wells $1,000 each....

495,000

Machinery, buildings, etc., from $500 to $700 each

500,000

Total number of refineries.

25

DEPTH OF MINES IN ENGLAND,

An English journal, after valuing the total product of the mines of Great Britain at £41,491,102 per annum, and computing that England's supply of coal will last at least seven hundred years longer, at present rates of consumption, gives the following account of the depth to which the bowels of the earth have been pierced in England:

The depth to which we mine for coal is already great. The pit at Duckenfield, in Chesshire, is 2,004 feet below the surface to the point where it intersects the "Black Mine Coal," a seam which is four feet six inches thick, and of the best quality for domestic and manufacturing purposes; from this point a further depth of 500 feet has been attained by means of an engine plane in the bed of coal, so that a great portion of the coal is now raised from the enormous depth of 2,504 feet. At Pendleton, near Manchester, coal is daily worked from a depth of 2,135 feet; and the Cannel coal of Wigan is brought from 1,773 feet below the surface. Many of the Durham collieries are equally deep, and far more extended in their subterranean labyrinths. Some of those, and others in Cumberland, are worked out far under the bed of the sea; and on both sides of the island we are rapidly extending our sub-oceanic burrowing.

Dolcoath tin mine, in Cornwall, is now working at 1,800 feet from the surface, and is rapidly sinking deeper. The depth of Tresavean, a copper mine is 2,180 feet. Many other tin and copper mines are approaching

these depths; and under the Atlantic waves, in Botallack, Levant, and other mines, man is pursuing his labors daily at half a mile from the shore. To aid the miner in these severe tasks steam engines, with cylinders one hundred inches in diameter, are employed in pumping water from these vast depths. Winding engines, which are masterpieces of mechanical skill, are even at work raising the minerals from each dark abyss, and "man-engines," of considerable ingenuity-so-called because they bring the wearied miners to the light of day, saving him from the toil of climb. ing up perpendicular ladders-are introduced in many of our most perfectly conducted mines. Our coals cost us annually one thousand lives, and more than double that number of our metaliferous miners perish from accidents in the mines, or at an unusually early age-thirty-twofrom diseas s contracted from the conditions of their toils. By the industry of our mining population there is annually added to our national wealth considerably more than thirty million sterling. This, when elaborated by the process of manufacture, is increased in value tenfold. While we are thus drawing upon that "hoarded treasure, guarded by dragons white and red," which the enchanter Merlin is fabled to have concealed in the caves of the earth, we should not cease to remember how much of mental labor and muscular power is expended, and how large a percentage of human life is annually sacrificed in the contest with those hydraheaded evils which are truly personified by the dragons of the legend.

ANOTHER EL DORADO.

The London Times publishes some wonderful statements respecting the new gold district of Carriboo, British Columbia, located about 500 miles inland to the northeast of the mouth of Frazer River on the Pacific coast. If reports are true, wealth can be had merely for picking up, over a considerable stretch of country. These golden treasures lie amid a rugged mass of mountains, and were not discovered until 1860. Within two years a well peopled district have arisen, with all the adjuncts of civilization, including plenty of grog-shops. The gold country is about 30 by 50 miles square, so far as explored. The precious metal is in coarse granulated lumps mixed with gravel, with occasional pure nuggets of considerable size. The mining holes are described as shining with gold. Veins and boulders of tempting quartz are seen in every direction among the hills. About $1,700 was dug out of two crevices in the rock, less than three feet under the surface. The best claim on Vanwinkle creek produced $100 to $200 per day to the hand. On Keithley's creek the companies were making from $50 to $100 per day to the hand, and on hillside (dry diggings) $120 a man per day. On Antler creek the rocker yielded 50 ounces of gold (or $850) in a single forenoon. Two men below the town of Antler have taken out $18,000 with a rocker since last spring. A man who had left Victoria penniless, returned last autumn with $2,000 in dust, which he had dug in about two months. The average yield on the fluming claims is 60 ounces a day to the hand. Water for sluicing sold at 50 cents an inch, (cubic measure, flowing through a square tube,) yet, after paying this heavy charge, the yield left $40 to $60 a day to the miner. The gains of the miners far surpasses anything re

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