The Express.
London, England, 1851-10-08 00:00:00

THE Al

GOLD DIGGINGS.

The following letters have been sent to us by the
gentleman to whom they were addressed. The
writers are parties in the position to learn the truth,
and willing to tell it :
Sydney, May 31.
As I am mire that this extraordinary news will create as I
great, or perhaps greater, sensation an England, I will give
you daily news of the diggings until the sailing of the ship.
May 22.—Bathurst mail arrieed with both official and
private accounts from the " field of gold." confirming most
fully all the previous reports of the existence of abundance
of gold. Much speculation in consequence in Sydaey, par-
ticularly in wheat, flour, all kinds of provisions, and
spirits. 16 passengers by one ship, bound for New Zealand,
and 31 passengers, by two ships bound tOr California, left
the ships just previous to their departure, forfeiting their
passage-money, and are going or gone to Bathurst. Every
man in Sydney is talking of going. Flour has risen at
Bathurst in two or three weeks from 201. to 631. per ton, at
which price it can scarcely be obtained. Carriage of sup-
plies by drays from Sydney, usually about M. per ton can
only with great difficulty be obtained at 161. and 181. per
ton. Bread in Sydney has risen from 3)d. per 2 lb. loaf to
bd. per loaf, and all other things in same proportion.
May 24. Saturday.—Bathurst mail arrived, not oolycon
firming all the previous accounts, but stating that they could
scarcely be exaggerated ; in consequence the excitement in
Sydney is greater than it was before, and hundreds of the
respectable working class have left, and are preparing to
leave Sydney with the least possible delay. I send you this
day's Sydney Hernid, and call your particular attention to
all that I have marked, and most especially to the Rev. W.
B. Clarke's Geological Account of theGuld lliscoeery.
Mr. Clarke is well known as a first-rate geologist and man
of many great abilities, and what he writes can be depended
upon with the greatest certainty, with no
,exaggeration.
Should the Sydney !freakd of this day (May 24) not reach
you, I strongly advise both you, my lather especially, to
to to the Jerwalem Coffee House, or elsewhere, to read it.
The accounts are too important and interesting for you not
to be made fully acquainted with all its contents in re
firleISCC to the gold discovery. In consequence of this day's
mews per post, the 211, loaf has risen to ,d., exactly double
the price it was ten days ago. Flour in Sydney is 48s. per
100th,., sad it is said to have risen to 80/. per tan. At Bat-
hurst it is certain that one Sydney merchant has sold 1 ton
of flour, to bo delivered at the gold diggings, 130 miles
from Sydney, for 701., cash on delivery. Two of the principal
brewers in Sydney have this day raised the wages of all
their men, giving them an extra ten shillings per week
with a promise of a further increase. Large quantities of
gold have arrived at the town of Bathuret, waiting a safe
escort to Sydney ; it is said that 8,0001. to 10,0001. proceeds
worth of gold is already collected and deposited there. I
this day saw a letter from a gentleman whom I know very
well, and who is not likely to write more than truth,
and who for many years has lived in that district ; he
writes that one party of four persons collected 34 ox. of
gold one day, and that another party within the fortnight
had collected sixteen hundred pounds worth of gold."
Ten shillings per hwhel for a cargo of wheat Just arrived
in Sydney has been offered and refusal; fis. per bushel was
a high price last year. One large ship of 800 tons, lett
Sydney this day for a cargo of wheat from Valparaiso. The
governor has called a meeting of the executive council every
day during the past week, and a proclamation has been
issued (in the enclosed paper). A body of constables refused
to do their duty this evening unless their pay was consi-
derably increased. Many others have resigned their situa-
tions. How could they do otherwise, when they hear that
gold has been picked up in lumps varying in weight from
4 ox. to 17, ox. (seventeen and a half ounces each lump—
this is a fact).
May 27.—Another post-day from the diggings, bringing
more and more astonishing news. One gentleman his
arrived, and brought with him 1,0001. worth of gold pur-
chased at the diggings, one piece of gold which I have
just now in my own hands, weighing within two ounces of
four pounds weight. This piece of gold is sent by this same
ship to Messrs. Dunbar and Sons, of London, to be placed
in the Exhibition. Call on Dunbar and Suns, and you can
see and handle this four pounds of gold, and for which &A' 1.
was paid. A pocket of gold was also found in a cleft of a
reek, from which the lie ky man brought out eleven pounds
weight of gold. Think, if you can, of the state of excitement
now existing in Sydney.. The post-office runners, who de-
liver letters, have all 'riven notice to leave for the gold
mines. Private menservants iii Sydney are also leaving.
A few such reports as we have heard this day and Sydney
will be empty. Flour is Is. per lb. at Bathurst.
28.-1 cannot better give you the news than by en-
closing to you a paper of this day date ;it being • matter
of seals interest I send it enclosed rather than run the
chance of its being lost, sent asa paper. Sailors are desert-
ing their ships, and in one instance the whole of one ship's
crew has deserted, leaving each man 171. and 18/.!duo to him
fur wages. Indeed, the working classes are, with few ex-
ceptions, gone, going, or making preparations for an early
departure to the diggings.
May 20.—The past this day brings more astounding news.
Emeralds and rubies, it is said, have been discovered is the
golden regions ; people are a little more mail ; sailors de-
mand 761. to 801. for the voyage home, instead of eon ething
owlet. 1,11. It is reported that government will be obliged
to put a few soldiers on board the ship that takes this letter.
There was such a run on the savings bank yesterday, in
consequence of the labouriug clueies withdrawing their
savings for the purpose of purchasing an outfit for the
gold diggings, that the manager was obliged to call in the
protection of the police. Another piece of gold has arrived
in Sydney Chi in weight. The number of men reported
to be on the " field of gold " is 1000 at the least, where a
fortnight since not a man was to be seen. The greatest
success that I have heard of, and which I know to be true,
is that of a poor Scotehman, who was paid 2821. sterling for
the gold which be picked up in four days. Eight others
realised 361. each within the week. H are more or
less successful.

May 31.-1 he account. from the diggings are still most
flourishing. There are now about 2,000 persons averaging,
it is said, from 20s. to 21s. per day cub. Some have had
great success. One party brought in 911 u. weight of gold,
the remits of two days' labour at the mines. Another
party obtained 36105. of gold in one day. Several pieces of
gold have been found weighing three, four, and five pounds,
also pieces of six and eight pounds are said to have been
picked up. Other gold diggings have been discovered in
the immediate vicinity. There are many instances of
pieces of gold being picked up of the value of 51. to 501.
each piece.
I have from very good authority that, independently of
this discovery of gold, something still more valuable
has been found, and as yet is only known to the govern-
ment; some say plumbago, some say platina. Gold has also
been lately discovered at the Clarence Sliver and at [More-
ton ..1 Bay.
The following is from a lady long resident in Syd-
ney and the Bush :
Sydney, May 31.—1 do not often bestow my time upon
you, but at the present moment I feel sure you will read my
letter with interest, and as 1 doubt not has given you
the dry details of the last ten days, I feel inclined to add
the romance of the story, but alas! do my best I cannot ex-
aggerate. If I write of " fieids of gold," you will smile ;
but believe me I am stating a fact if I tell you of pure, solid
bright lumps of gold, found as easily as you do potatoes,
where you expect to find them. You may look incredulous
again, yet it is truth. It matters little who discovered this,
—the geologist who sat at home and wrote about it, or the
energetic and more practical traveller, who with his hammer
beoetited by their hints—one thing is certain, that in one
week we have emerged from poverty and obscurity to wealth
and notoriety. It is difficult to say what will be the effects
of thia discovery ; emigration, of course, without expense to
ourselves ; steam, railroads. The future is bright and glorious
' indeed, but that you can judge of as well as myself, and
I hail better talk of the present. The lint shock to the
sheep proprietors will be dreadful. And though squatters
may tend their own flocks, they must suffer, and wool will
be a scarce article ; the few who will keep their sheep
alive will find them as valuable as the nests of gold, but the
many will at first be ruined, especially in the distant dis-
tricts—we are too near to audit., I think. Gold diggers
will be discontented, and those who want food and rest will
be glad enough to come to us, being only within a hundred
miles of the scene of action. I feel, however, that those
are right who say that the prosperity of the country is cer-
tainly and surely established, and though we must all
struggle and suffer for the present, the future will reward
us. I wish I had time to give you as many particulars
as I would wish to write, and that I had the power
of Dishes to convey to your mind a true picture of Syd-
I ney and the country round. Grave fat men, who never
were exited before, am trembling with agitation. Steady
'Tatters. who.have lived amongst their sheep the n-
sum sad deearioess of life ought to have extinguished
every mwdele of eaergy and hope, are now brisk and fond
of eimW. Crooks are Indeed exchanged for pistols and
cradles—a strange emaliaation, but both are necessary to
the gehlkligger. The pendent and the desperate, the old
and gesairvecr are going or gone. Our city is like a place
that dm kr m &misted; and the women who remain
asettahing assent, of our necessities. Provisions
aanso seam aanthat we must try, like the horse, to
got to one straw a day. Coals are as valuable nearly as
lumps of gold : and I sit shivering whilst I write to you,
because I have not the courage to say " Light a fire."
Bread we must give up, and rice will be soon a luxury.
Servants arc all going or gone ; and the government have
issued a proclamation that all who leave the public service
will never be employed again. This may influence the
few, but those who see and handle the gold will be reckless of 1
consequences. I had 3501. in my hand yesterday,ouly specimens
sent down as they were found ; so bright and clear and
solid, that I could only feel as if I had been in a dream,
and some scene in the Arabian Nights was b-ing acted be-
fore me. About 1,0001. a day is the average quantity
brought into Bathurst, and much is found that we do not
hear of. We were all at a ball the night before. Many of
our friends were starting, and it was curious to listen
to the conversation. The very ladies seemed bewildered,
and many golden wreaths were wont in compliment to our
" Ophir mines." . . . Our sheep are loudly calling for
all the support we can give them, and no one can doubt
that eventually they must be of value; within our
reach there is gold ; fortunes are made in one day without
trouble and with little risk. In a short time we shall
be inundated with people, and I doubt not with provisions
too, but if the geologists are right, we have gold for all the
world. The Thomas Arbuthnot sails in an hour.

NORTH STAFFORDSHIRE RAlLWAY.—Traffic return
far Railway and Canal for tho week ending Sept. 28:
5,0291. Corresponding week last year, 5,051.—The above
is exclusive of the receipts available under the agremeat
with the London and North Air..stern Compai.y.
BELFAST AND COUNTY DOWN tILWAY.
Traffic for the week ending Oct. 5. 18.51 :-2211. 10s. For
the week ending Oct. 6, 1850, 2011. is. 44.