The Express.
London, England, 1855-01-04 00:00:00

THE AUSTRALIAN GOLD FIELDS.

The most noticeable feature in connection with
gold is the increased attention given to quartz-crushing.
We are inclined to think that the lodes of quartz running
through the various gold fields are, in fact, the matrices
of the precious metal, end that wherever there are rich
alluvial deposits of gold-dust, in their neighbourhood will be
found veins of auriferous quartz, which can be worked on
regular mining principles, and which will probably be found
inexhaustible by the present g tion. Strong move-
ments have already been commenced among the diggers to
procure Borden's quartz crushing machines, and fortunately,
just at this crisis Mr. Windsor Earl, agent for the company,
who have purchased Borden's patent, has arrived in Mel-
bourne. Re has received orders for a number of
machines, which be bee transmitted to England for execu-
tion. Bur, in order to save time, he has likewise given in-
structions to Messrs. Fulton and Smith, the local engineers,
to prepare several, and it is therefore probable that we shell
very soon see this wonderful machine in. operation. It is the
opinion of many of our most cautious and most intelligent
colonists that we ere only in the infancy of gold production.
Several large nuggets have recently been discovered. One
was found at Maryborough weighing 600 ounces, and •
quartz specimen found at Ballarat, containing a large pro-
portion of gold, weighed 98 pounds. The Maryboro•gh gold-
field is considered extremely rich, but there is a great scar-
city of water. Two gentlemen of high respectability, re-
cently arrived from the westward, report that 309 men are
digging at Mount William, and are doing well. It is also
stated that many diggers at Anderson's Creek have been
successful.—Australian and Nina Zealand Gazette,

Vbe Court,

___•__
WINDSOR, JAN. S.

The dinner party yesterday included the Duchess
of Kent, the Duchess of Cambridge and the Princess Mary,
Lady Fanny Howard, Lady Sheffield, Baroness de Speth,
Earl and Countess Granville, Viscount Harding., Lord and
Lady Cowley, the Right Hon. Sidney Herbert, Lieutenant-
General Sir G. Bowles, Major General Jones, Major Par-
yes, and Mr. Gibbs.

The band of the Royal Bucks Militia played during
dinner, and her Majesty's private band afterwards.
Mr. Patrick Park hu had the honour to submit to her
Majesty the Queen and the Prince the bust of his Imperial
Majesty the Emperor of the French, which he hu executed
for his Grua the Duke of Huailton.

The Queen, accompanied by the Duchess and Princess
Mary of Cambridge, walked in the Rome-park this morn-
ing. Afterwards, their royal highnesses took leave of her
Majesty and left the Cutle to pay a visit to the Duchess of
Kent, at Frognaore-house ; and in the afternoon took their
departure from Windsor for Kew.

Prince Albert went ont shooting, accompanied by Earl
Granville, Lord Corley, the Right lion. Sidney Herbert,
and Lieut.-Oeneral Sir G. Bowles.

Prince Alfred rode on horseback.
Viscount Hardinge, Lord and Lady Cowley, and the
Right Hon. Sidney Herbert, left the Castle to-day.
Major-General Jones arrived last evening, and left by an
early train this morning. •

The Earl of Aberdeen left town yesterday afternoon for
Windsor Culls on a ♦isit to her Majesty.
A deputation from the Legal Quays and Sufferance Whar-
fingers had an interview with the Right Hon. E. Cardwell
yesterday, at the office of the Board of Trade. The depu-
tation consisted of Mr. William Williams, M.P., Mr. Apsloy
Pellatt, M.P., Messrs. Scorch], Bailey, C. Curling, Hein,
Dare, Curtis, Wilkinson, Parker, Phillips, ,William J.
Hall, and James Fennings, and Mr. Corner (solicitor).
Viscount Palmerston returned to his seat, Broadlands,
Hants, after the Cabinet Council, on Tuesday afternoon.

THE MUSEUM OF ORNAMENTAL ART AT MARL-
BOROUGH.IIOC6I.—The numbers attending. Sc., during
the month of December, were u follows: 11,570 persons on
the public days, and admitted free; 260 persons on the
students' days, and admitted as students on the paymentof
6d. each, besides the registered students of the classes and
schools. The museum is now open free on Saturdays, for
the convenience of schools, &a. _ _ _

ROYAL GEOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY, 15, WHITEHALL-
PLACZ.—Evening meeting, Monday, Jan. 8, at half-pelt 8
o'clock. Papers to be read 1. Geographical notes takes
during a journey performed in Persia, by Keith E. Abbott,
Esq. her Majesty's Consul at Tehran—communieated by
the Earl of Clarendon. 2. Despatch from Dr. Livingston,
containing his routes from Lake Ngami, through the in-
terior of South Africa to Angola—communicated by Sir
Roderick I. Murchison ; and 3. Despatches from Colonel
Herman, her Majesty's Consul at Tripoli, stating that the
reports
of Dr. Barth's death may still prove unfounded—
communicated by the Foreign-office. The meetings of the
society will be henceforth held at the society's new house,
IS, Whitehall place. If a member desire to introduce more
than one visitor to the meeting, he is requested to apply to
the secretary for a card of admission, and visitors are re-
quired to remain in the library until the chair is taken.
The map rooms of the society will be open to the public
from 11 till 3 daily. until further notice.
FOREIGN POSTAGE Now AND TWENTY YEARS AGO.
—Twenty years ago the British and foreign rates of po.tage
could not be paid on a foreign letter. In 1843 a oonventio•
was arranged between England and Prance by which •
letter going to or parsing through Franca could be paid to
it, destination, and international aecoants were kept b•-
tween Great Britain and the French government. The
following table shows the full postage on foreign letters in
1835 and 1855, via.:
Postage. Postage.
Places. Ins
2 1865.

France
Luxembourg 4s. 4d. .... Bd.
Baden
Holland 35. Bd. .... Bd.
Prussia
Bavaria
Wurtembmg
Switzerland
Germany
Sardinia 4s. 2d. .... 10d.
Sicily
Tummy
Papal States 4s. 2d. .... 13d.
Austria
Northern States
Turkey
The following Poet-offices have just been em-
powered to Mute and pay money orders, viz., Houton New
Town and Peckham, in Middlesex ; Old Brampton and
Barham, in Kent; Cozham, in Hants; Cogged's% in
Boaz ; Droyleaden, in Lancashire ; Studley, is Warwick
Eggesford and Nash Tawton, in Davos ; Stanley, in
Perth ; Contorpinsie, in Edinburgh ; and Gaiston, in Ayr.