"He is now in England ready to give explicit answers to any inquiries that may be made as to the mineral wealth of Costa Rica, and the extraordinary facilities afforded by its position and natural advantages. An estimate has been made for establishing a complete mining concern in Costa Rica, with houses, iron railroads, stamping mills, &c., so as to raise, stamp, and bring into refined gold the produce contained in 250,000 tons of ore per year. "The result of six years' experience shows that the following list of machinery and tools with a few miles of railroad would be sufficient. The communication with the mines being satisfactorily established by the route of the port of San Juan de Nicaragua and the river Serapique, the materials would be sent by the Atlantic at very much less cost than by around Cape Horn. "It is situated within 14 leagues of the Pacific Ocean and 30 leagues of the Atlantic, in a mountainous district intersected by deep valleys or ravines. The mountains are covered with wood fit for fuel, mining, architecture, and machinery. There is a population of 50,000 inhabitants within one day's journey of the mines. The climate is perfectly salubrious, provisions of all kinds remarkably cheap, labourers' wages from four to five dollars per month. The mines secured are freehold property, and with one exception are unencumbered by tribute or native partners. The attention of Government and of individuals has recently been directed to the discovery of a road from the interior to the river Serapique, which, rising in the high lands of Costa Rica, pursues a northerly course and joins the San Juan about 10 leagues above the harbour of that name, being itself navigable for about 12 leagues above the junction. The opening of this road is a matter of much importance to Costa Rica in a general point of view; the port of Matina being always bad and impracticable during the prevalence of northerly winds; that of San Juan being, on the contrary, capacious, easy of access, and at all times perfectly secure. The distance is much the same as by the way of Matina. Several expeditions have been undertaken with a view of exploring an eligible road to the highest navigable point of Serapique, and although as yet none fit for mules has been discovered, the results of the experiments justify the expectation of success. Individual enterprise is active in the attempt, and Government has wisely offered a reward to successful speculators. "Captain Trevithick and Mr. Gerard, with a particular view to the enterprise now under consideration, and after considerable risk and labour, succeeded in laying down the navigable head of the Serapique and in throwing such light on the intervening tract as will be of great assistance to future adventurers. They ultimately constructed a canoe in which they sailed down to the port of San Juan." Plate XIV. shows Trevithick's route across Costa Rica.