The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1871-11-11 00:00:00

A LETTER FROM THE DIAMOND
FIELDS.

The Cape A rya., pultli;lt-es-th-e-fo-lio- wing letter as a warning
to intending diamond seekers:-
-

"flu Toit's Pan, August 21, V•71.--My Dear
Friends,—l received your welcome letter by--, and
V/1101 very glad to hear that you were all well still, I
only hopelessly wish that I could say the same of us
here. I have had the dysentery ever since we came
here, and Poor B— has been laid up in a slow fever
for the last month, but I am happy to say that he is a
little better for the last few days, but still no•weak
that he can hardly walk. I think that we should not
feel so miserable if we had found some diamonds to
cheer us up a little ; but neither B— nor myself have
fiamil anything yet. I have hail two claims, but
bath o: them turned out to lie nothing lost rock • lint I
am happy to may that I got nail of a good claim
last week, so that I hope the next time I write I
shall be able to semi better news. I should have
written to you before, but a few days after Bob left
I went to get a load of wood, and with my old htek,
In loading up a heavy block, a splint of wood ran
through my hand, between the fore and middle lingers,
so that I could not write at all, and my hand still
gets very tired. ll—was over here the other ;
be came over from the New Bush, where he bad been
to try and buy a claim, but had not succeeded. I hear
that a claim was sold there the other day for Di6o;
I think the man must have had noire money than
brains, because he is nut certain of finding anything.
There is an old friend of yowl here, T. B---, lie has
been here twelve months, spent 1:400, and only found
a diamond of 21 carats last week. The M—'s and
V—L—have been very lucky lately ; they are find-
ing one and sometitnee two a week. P— and J. have
found five, four of which they sold for £36, and bought
a flew claim, so that they have not made much. lam
sorry to hear that you have lost HO many lambs, as
Bob writes, but V— tell me that there is every
chance of there bring a rise intim price of wool; if that
is the came the farmers will he able to stand the losses
they sustained last year. There are hundreds of then,
here who are neglecting their sheep, awl still go away
without finding anything. Please tell M— that she
must have patience, and wait a little longer, and look
well after the crops and children, and give them each a
kiss for me. I often wish that I could see you all
every Sunday, hut not here, because this is a miser-
able sickly hole, and is getting worse every day. I maw
five funerals passing the elaimiJ yesterday. Bob will
be sorry to hear that Henry Meintjes is lead; he
died of brain fever. It— Rays that I must tell you
that he would write but that he feels too weak and
miserable, but will do so as :41.11 as he can. When he
was so very weak he used to be saying what a foil he
was to leave a comfortable home and conic to this
place; in fact, he said to me yesterday that if he could
get an opportunity he would go down again at once.
I must leave off now, for my haul aches very much.
With best love to all, from myself and B—. —Yours,

HOME RULE IN A NUTSHELL.
What advantage will Ireli(Ml d-c:ritle from Home Rule?
None at all, every Irishman knows, but a fool:
NO advantage whatever, but Oeli, what delight
Will be ours, while it lasts, in the triumph of side !
Dismemhcred the Mg British Empire tn net
(ourselves not dismembered 11,11 bi 011C0 have been We
That's all the advantage to Ireland we menu
By Home Rule, for the Joke of it, under the Queen.
With foreigners we'll beneath Home Rule conspire
Ti, trample proud England right under the mire
When that mighty end's gained well no loner comblne,
But the rest to the What-iheye-call-him resign.—Poneh.