The Sun.
London, England, 1852-04-12 00:00:00

very, and as they charge the enormous
sum of one per cent. carriage for a distance of from
seventy to seventy-five mile!, vast numbers refuse to
comply with the extortionate demand ; by far the
greater number of persons prefer conveying their ac-
quisitions to the nearest market themselves, so that,
to use the words of the " Gold Circular," the diggers
prefer "saving the money and taking the risk." Mr.
PATERSON, an eminent gold merchant at Geelong,
states that during the preceding week he had pur-
chased 1,631 ounces of gold, and that only " one-
sixth of it reached him by Government escort." The
amount transmitted then by the " escort" is probably
in the same proportion, or about one-sixth, or, at the
outside, one quarter of the bullion actually
collected. Now the official returns of the
gold brought by the escort give the following
results, viz., on Wednesday, Nov. 19tb, from Mount
Alexander, 6,4860 z. ; from Ballarat, 2,1170 z. ; from
Geelong, 6190 z. ; and for Government, 9160 z. ;
making a total of 10,138 ounces. On Wednesday,
the 26th, there were brought from the same districts
12,1060 z.; on Wednesday, 3d December, 16,6690 z. ;
on 10th December, 26,6560 z. ; and on the 17th De-
cember, 19,4920 z. Here, then, within a single month,
from the 19th November to the 17th December, was
no less than 86,061 ounces ; and if we take the esti-
mate that one-fourth(and not one-sixth) was sent by
that conveyance, the total collection would be 330,244
ounces of gold, which, at the Mint price of 3/. 17s. 6d.
per ounce, would make the value no less
than 1,275,415/., and that exclusive of Sydney
mines and other exceedingly productive districts.

That this is not an over-estimate will appear on
other grounds. That there are cases of extraordinary
individual success is certain. It is stated that
one man dug up 301 b. weight of gold in a single
hour ; in another, of a man gaining 111 b. weight
in 48 hours ; another case, where a man got lib. in
a day. We also hear of a ship captain " bringing
back 8001. for three weeks' work," and CHARLES
ROBERTS, late drayman to Messrs. CAMPBELL and
Co., returning with 1,1001. as his share of five
weeks' digging." There are also accounts of three
specimens of gold and quartz, one weighing 281 b.,
another 261 b., and another something less, which
were estimated to contain at least one-
half gold, and "Peter Brennan's lump," as one
magnificent specimen was denominated, actually
sold for 1,3001. Now, although it cannot be supposed
that the general body would prove so fortunate as the
lucky individuals above referred to, it appears that
from four to five ounces per week may be looked on as
about the average collection. If we take the smaller
amount, the 20,000 or 30,000 miners at Mount
Alexander and Ballarat, would produce about from
80,000 to 90,000 ounces per week, or say 330,000
ounces in the month, we thus arrive at the same re-
sult by a diffent method.
Now it must be borne in mind that these astonish-
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gold from the auriferous soil ? It is not too much to
assume that, with such facilities, skilful men will
obtain a quadruple produce, or sixteen ounces per
man a week. Now, several of the companies have
already sent out competent staffs. Last month, the
" Australian Mutual " dispatched between thirty and
forty men, per the Asiatic. " The Australian Free-
hold," as appears from an advertisement in another
column, sent off the remainder of their staff from
Gravesend, per the Gipsy Queen, on the 6th instant.
We believe that other companies have either made or
are actively engaged in making similar efforts.
What, then, will be the affect of such an addition to
the miners in the production of gold; and what
enormous profits must the speculators realise on the
amount of their investments ? If but the one-tenth of
what has been estimated be but realised—and we
cannot conceive the possibility of failure—the wildest
visions of the most sanguine enthusiasts will be more
than realised, and profits will be obtained exceeding
any that has ever resulted from any former specula-
tion. Interested alarmists may croak to their hearts'
content, frightening the timid and over-cautious until
the literally "golden " opportunities are for ever lost ;
but they cannot arrest the progress of events, or pre-
vent the accumulation of wealth far beyond that en-
joyed at any preceding period in our national history.
Those who hare let slip the chance may too late
lament their folly and infatuation, but the nation will
have cause to rejoice when the copious supplies of
the precious metal lead to the full employment of the
labouring population by giving that which may be
regarded as the " very life-blood of industry," a cir-
culating medium adequate to the wants and exigen-
cies of the people.