The Sun.
London, England, 1852-04-07 00:00:00

-a • 014 ,
•
3
APRIL 7 1852.
...4

jar-General Somerset we have no intelligence beyond
that incidentally afforded by Colonel Eyre's report. .The
proceedings of these columns are producing a powerful
effect upon the Kafir mind. The destruction of their
crops, and so complete an invasion and military posses-
sion of their country, they have never before witnessed.
All that is now apparently needed is firmness on the
part of the Commander-in-Chief, and a somewhat ex-
tended liberality in his Excellency, by which he may
rally round him a burgher force of 1,000 or 1,500 effec-
tive men. The approach of a force of this nature would
produce a very material effect upon Kafirland, as we find
that the enemy is already much dispirited. His appa-
rent penitence and plaintive messages cannot, howeve-r,
at this moment be entertained; his expulsion from the
Ainatola,- and complete submission to all the terms that
may be imposed upon him, must now be accomplished,
or fifteen months of war, the expenditure of nearly
2,000,0001. of treasure; and the sacrifice of much valu-
able life, will all prove to have been in vain. •
'rite boundary of the country of the chief with.whom
peace was made at the close of last month is now de-
fined. Messengers had also arrived from Kreli, who
stated that a Boer commando had- been down upon
them, and prevented them: discussing the Goverpor's
terms. But they were sent back to say that in addition
to the other conditions the Governor formerly named, he
would now add, that Kreli should insist upon the Gaikas
crossing the Kei, and that until they did so, he 'would
neither make peace with Kreli nor Sandilli. It is added,
that " the messengers have gone back without much
comfort."

Umhala had also sent in somewhat less than 100 head
of cattle, which the governor ordered to be taken back,
refusing to receive less than 200 at a time, much to the
surprise of the messengers. The other friendly chiefs
it is said, continue sending cattle belonging to hostile
chiefs, which had been secreted among their people.
We understand that large supplies of forage corn are
about being thrown into Fort Brown, Fort Beaufort, and
other posts. Our active commissary►general, Mr. de
Smidt, is already making arrangements for transporting
the supplies in question. We hope sincerely that this
is the forerunner of an order from the Governor to give
forage rations to the Burgher forces, in which case we
continue to have assurances there will be a good muster,
but failing such provision, his Excellency's command
will become a dead letter.

AUSTRALIAN GOLD MINES.
The following is a private letter, brought by the ship
Hero, addressed to Thomas Pewtress, Esq., Grace=
chureh-street:—

Australia Felix, Melbourne,
169, Great Bourke-street West, Dec. 6, 1851.
My dear Sir,—The letters I had partly written to you
and other friends soon after my arrival here I have laid
aside, being tired of waiting for a post to England for
want of sailors to man the ships, beside these letters
were only calculated to mislead, as the face of things
is completely changed through the discovery of gold,
and it now, becomes difficult to conjecture what a day
may bring forth. When I arrived in Adelaide in July,
the subject of gold mines at the Bathurst Ranges, Syd-
ney, was engrossing the attention of all classes, so that
when our ship left we were filled with passengers to
Melbourne, on their way to Sydney. On my arrival
here in August I found that many inhe,bitanta had left
for the Turon. Immediately Upon my landing, Alfred
was sought after and engaged by an engineer of this
place, and James soon atter entered the services of a
merchant, with a good salary to begin with. I had de-
termined not to engage in any mercantile pursuits on
my own account for at least twelve months, and was
anxious that my sons should not remain idle. Six weeks
had scarcely passed over before startling news from Bal-
larat came to Melbourne of the extraordinary quantities
of gold being found there. These tidings set the city
together by the oars, and in the course of a fortnight
seven or eight thousands quitted their homes and employ
ment here for the gold fields. It was an animating sigh-
to see men of all grades—doctors, lawyers, merchants,t
tradesmen, mechanics, labourers loading up horse and
bullock drays, and pressing on to Ballarat. Alfred
soon joined a party of three, the son and nephew of a
merchant and shipowner ,here, and followed in the
cavalcade; at the end of three weeks he reported he
was doing much better than at engineering, and that he
should, devote two years to the gold mites, unless he
should make a fortune before that time. Being anxious
to see his position; ind advise with him on Thursday
morning, .23c1 Oct., I left my houie "Six o'clock for
Ballarat,l distance to walk of 90 miles. My first stage
was to Bacchus' Marsh Inn,'3B- mites, where I artiVed
rather tired at 9 o'clock. I had passed through a beau-

tiful country thus far—one meadow, if so it may be
called ten miles in circumference, skirted with trees, rag,
level as a bowling green, fresh and verdant, having a
-eight tonvelltrltheea lunette *4ol:glees ; two-vaitepa;'
romantic and beautiful, with terraces, slopes, ravines,
and waterfalls, which if near London would be turned
to good account in magnificent public gardens. Bacchus
Marsh is a rich boggy soil, containing many thousands
of acres, bounded with high land of regular height,
and trees upon the slopes. Lady Franklin owns a large
portion of this fertile marsh. I left the marsh about
nine on Friday morning, and to save a distance I took a
bye-road, which brought me upon the Pentland Hills,
which at this season of the year are covered with most
beautiful verdant pasturage, of various hues and shades..
These bills rise one above the other for twenty miles.
From these hills, until I reached the Forests of Bailees,
I had the most splendid views of country I ever beheld,
not to be surpassed by anything I saw in the Peak of
Derbyshire. My allotted distance to walk carried me
to 'where there was no inn, street, or dwelling, and for
the first time I bushed it in pure style. I lighted iafire
about seven in the evening; and made rayselt some tea—
(by the bye I bad done so two or three times before in
the course of the day). I made a mimi of boughs, and
a bed of dry leaves, and laid down and slept in peace tid
daylight, when I proceeded on my journey, and arrived
at the gold diggings on Saturday, three o'clock, amidst
thousands of tents of various styles of architecture, and
the din of noise, from the rocking of near two thousand
cradles. It was a busy scene, yet the greatest order
prevailed. On Sunday I attended service morning and
evening, at the Commissioner's tent, Goldent Point. I
found Alfred delighted with a bush life, and with the em-
ployment of gold digging. One of his party was gone
to Mount Alexander, about sixty-five miles off, with de-
putations from other companies to explore and ascertain
if rumours afloat respecting the diggings there were
correct. On Tuesday noon intelligence arrived that at
Alexander they were reckoning their day'a work by pounds
instead of ounces. Preparations were soon made to obey
this route, and by eight on Tuesday morning my sun's
party, with about six other parties, had their toots
packed up and put on drays, and at ton o'clock we
were on our way to Alexander. Our road lay through
a delightful part of the country, where many of the most
opulent squatters had fixed their stations. The first ob-
ject that interested me was an extensive lake, or as it is
called here, lagoon; we came upon it after ascending a
high hill, this lake forming a part of tho table-land of
this elevated ground. The lake is bounded by a very
regular sloping bank, rising about thirty feet from the
lake, and is skirted with trees regularly all round, mea-
suring eleven miles and a half in circumference. The
next day we came to a very lofty mountain, around
which our drays had to pass, rising 4,000 feet, i. e. above
the level of the sea. Tired as we wore, about a dozen of
our party must needs ascend this commanding obeerva-
tory. I was amply repaid for all my labour in climbing
this steep, for this eminence and the clear atmosphere
in this country afforded me one of the most beautiful
landscape views I ever beheld. We amused ourselves in
our ascent with starting from their resting places huge
masses of rock, some a half-ton weight; these we moved
with levers, and hurled them down the stoop, of above
half a mile in extent, cutting trees asunder without up-
Farently checking their course in the slightest degree;
in one instance a piece parted from one of these largest
sized stones, and from its great velocity the piece was
hurled into the air a considerable height. On Friday
morning early we entered the ranges of Mount Alex-
ander; these ranges are formed of clusters of hills, of
which Primrose-hill, _ London,. and Windmill-bill,
Gravesend, may be a fair representation as to size and
height; but here these hills are thickly wooded. There
is a great similarity in the thousands of these hills,
which are spread over a space of sixteen miles by
nine wide, and I have observed that the shrubs and
trees are fair indications of the nature of the soil, so
that where you find stringy bark, red and blue gum
brake (very similar to that in England), aed the acaet
there is sure to be quartz and gold; and I cannorsof
501
the slightest hesitation in saying that in my 0.
Ballarat, as also to Alexander, that I walked overofenethetuep
hundreds, nay, I may say thousands,
of
Ilse( them more
physical appearances, which, I believe, are all
p°
y agessulede
I would
or less richly stored with gold, one of which for la
afford profitable employment for ten thahooutisar,nd men
with spade,
twelvemonth, in the present mode ofl
tin dish, and cradle. I arrived atamong the
son and his party, for they had lost_twhala
anxious to
se.
Alexander_erivsy . my
ranges with their bullock drays. I
usre) at once, as men
cure a plot of ground (eight and soon Friday, at
feet sq
were pouring in from all quarters
and on. Saturday
two o'clock, I
arrived,commeneedelsiogies
that on Monday morning
Alfred and his party jag.
I soon discovered that
our hole was ready for
iv:ash
iceieg out a nugget with My
we had some gold 3(7,aP
but our suceees was very
knife weighing Deerly
moderate comaratily, but positively it may he cou-
peloz.on Monday; 4oz Teesda
sid-red tolerably .nod:nd 4ioz. Thursday; this betweeYn;
z. Wednesday
nexta hole the
sparty was getting bloat
four of us. In the
for three weeks, only two of them.
and 211 w. every day
other side
Just opposite to me, on the 2 of the narrow
creek, I saw a man take 2lbs. oae.wfar'm tin dish, con-
laning one shovelful hf earth,d.but g"1. being laid upon
it. The gold was weight.this has beeri far ex-
ece3ad Since, On Wednesday I Went to Quartz-hilla
~bout three miles through the ranges, where specimens
of considerable size and beauty had been obtained, and
a party had been working there in breaking up the
quartz, yielding them in a few weeks upwards of a
100Ibs. weight of gold, and this I can readily believe,
for they had now left he place, and their but to any
one, and I found, in IO? log over their leavings, fifty-
eight pieces of quartz, all more or less charged with gold,
and in breaking other pieces had obtained sloz. of gold.-
dust. These solid layers of quartz at this hill
Confirm 'me in my theory respecting the origi-
nal e state of gold. Quartz unquestionably is the
natural matrix of this raetel—that in 'the range

where I had been digging and washing at Ballarat and
Alexander, the soil was invariably mixed with abund-
ance of small pieces of quartz, with occasionally large
pieces; but gold has rarely been found in the quartz at
these places, but in small nuggets in company with the
small pieces of quartz; and I believe that these gold
hills are the result of the upheavings from subterraneous
fire and intense heat, which has released the gold from
the quartz, and cast it into nuggets of endless variety of
size and shape. Ido not think that the quartz and gold
has been belched out of the bowels of the earth, as there
are no appearances of depressions on the summits of
these hills or any appearance of craters; but at the
quartz bill I em led to infer from the gold being still in
the quartz, and evidently in undisturbed, unbroken
strata, that the heat in this small spot was not sufficiently
intense to release the gold from the original state. The
quartz and slate recksinvariably lay north and south,
and I have never seen a deviation from this. These are
crude and hasty conclusions; but until further data can
be obtained and weighed by men of geological know-
ledge, calculated to determine the question in accordance
with known laws, I shall be inclined to adhere to this
theory, and equally so to give it up.
I did well enough at Alexander to have induced me
to stay, but having, as I thought, a favourable opportu-
nity of going to Melbourne with a gentleman of a neigh-
bouring tent, who was about to drive down and take me
with him; but he lost his horse in the night, so we had
to walk; and on my reaching home on Monday, the
10th of November, I found that the Governor had given
me an appointment in the Legislative Council Chamber,
which commenced its first sitting on the 11th. But for
this I might have continued _my gold digging labours
for some time, an employment which, in my opinion,
holds out as fair prospects of making money as any that
I know of in this country or any other, and with bat as
little risk. Some have done wonders—a baker by the
name of Messiter, in a month, had accumulated 2,000/.
worth of gold to his share. Five sailors came to Quartz-
hill while I was hunting for specimens, and seeing they
were not likely to do much there, asked me if I thought
they could work without a licence, as they had not 30s.
between them. I told them to try a hole, and get a
little gold and take it to the Commissioner's tent, and
get a licence. They went off, and borrowing a spade of
one and a pick of another, by night the next day they
had obtained silbs. weight of gold, 401. worth a piece,
and they continued this several days. There ore many
such cases as these, indeed there need be to make up the
quantity of two tons of gold, 'or nearly so, last week
brought into the city, Many are doing but very little,
but my firm impression is that no man need fear but that
with a tin dish and spade of making an ounce a day, at
least this I reckon to be the smallest quantity of a per-
son that will work. James and John are preparing to
join their brother Alfred. John is to be tent-keeper,
s
10s. a week and his board, and to have a tin dish to
about to tank e.
wash at leisure, and have all he makes. Many lads are
making two or three ounces a week at this. James had
a good tio
h He a
re merchantplreplied
if here,
you
ab
stikt whenwhat I
he w
ogaveul d
notice he asked his employer his opinion of the step he
was
wish I should say don't leave me, but if you mean what
I would do if situated as you are, I should say go by all
means, it is %golden opportunity that rarely, if ever, has
fallen in the way of young men before. I hear, and I
believe it, that there are many hundreds of men about
to return to Melbourne at Christmas, that will share
upwards of a thousand pounds a man. Some are
spending it already very freely. Many hun-
dreds are buying the finest horses they can
get, and give a high price, 501. or 601. One
man has given to a jeweller sufficient gold to
make a pair of stirrups. Now, I do not mention this
because I admire this man's ambition to be famed for
folly, but as a fact which must show that gold is
gathered by some in great abundance with comparatively
little labour.
I have rather hastily, to save the Hero, given you a
full account of my campaign to the auriferous fields, in
order that you may have some idea of the physical ap-
pearances of this, my adopted country, and of the dis-
covery of the first mineral mines in this colony; and I
can have no hesitation in affirming, that at present the
colony that bears the name of our Gracious Queen
Victoria contains by far the richest gold mines in all
the world.
I have thus given you a faithful description of the
state of things here with respect to the discovery of
gold, but there is another side of the picture which I
would, if I had time, set forth; but let me express my
earnest, anxious hope, that no one into whose hands this
letter May fall will think of iavink a position of com-
fort, with prospects of maintaining it; for if they do I
feel persuaded that the privations and trials of a voyage,
and the difficulties attending every new comer, will con-
',strain them bitterly to regret it. For, depend upon it,
a marl needs all the support to his mind which a consci-
ousness of the prudence of the step he has taken in
leaving England is calculated to inspire : he will indeed
need this to cheer and encourage him under difficulties
of no ordinary kind. But I must express my honest
conviction that a man, especially a young man, cannot
fail of success if he is honest, sober, and industrious.

In England the affairs of men have their tides as
well as here; but they aro mostly neap tides with you,
but with us spring tides, so that should a man get stuck
ashore here he has not long to wait before he is sure to
get afloat again.
The employment in the gold fields is making every
article very dear, especklly labour. All the employees
under Government receive fifty per cent. upon their pay
in consequence, but we hear of many about to leave after
the 31st instant for the diggings. About one-half of the
police have given notice to do so. The Executive Go-
vernment is thus being daily weakened, instead of being,
as it needs just at this time, strengthened.
There is a very momentous question for decision be-
tween the gold diggers and the Government next month.
Hitherto every man has had to pay a licence-fee of 30s.
monthly to the territorial fund before he could search
for gold. Notice has been given, that in January it is
to be 60s. It is rumoured that the diggers demur at
this; and lam not at ease in my mind as to the result.
The appropriation of the territorial fund is at present
a great bone of contention between the Executive and
the people; and, in these times, it is exceedingly diffi-
cult for the Government here to deal with such a levia-
than as 10,000 armed men at Alexander, which laugh
at the shaking of a spear. We need an electric tele-
graph to Downing-street. •
I am, my dear Sir, yours very sincerely,
EDWARD B. ARNOLD.

RAILWAY SHARE MARKETS.
BRISTOL, Aram 6.
&roar EXCIIAITGE.—The share market was firm to-day.
The sales reported were—Taff Yale, 150—Ditto (New),
1% p.—Vale of Neath, 43/4 dis.
LIVERPOOL, APRIL 6.
&mac EXCHANGE.—The business to-day was very limited
in amount, but prices generally were well sustained. The
transactions were as follow:—Aberdeen, 131 X3—Caledonian,
18 LA—Lancashire and Yorkshire, 71%—Ditto, Fifths (fffst
Riding Union), 4 3.16 dis.—Manchester, Sheffield, andra-
colnshire, 331/2—Midland, 649/B—North Union (A), New
Ditto (B), 175—St. Helen's (Railway and Canal ,___
Dutch
Preference, 6 per cent., 4% p —South-Eastern and)Pover,
3112 —York and North Midland, 2Ai—Deraerth,s7s
Rhenish, 3L/2 dis.
MANCHESTER, Am". d feeling
STOCK ExcuANGE.—There was an improveood bunex-
nd as
kibited in the share market to-d, Theand
follow :—Caledonian, 18% n.—Lances.
__a Yorkshire,
has been done at improved prices.
hlreransaations wereess 1
16 dis.— South-E .
pand
71 n—Ditto, Fifths, 6LA
has been ex-
Lincolnshire, 3334—Ditto, 'Sheffield,ll63l/.6aarcfeerrence,ll-Gai 3
hLidlaLnd6,.24%. tern
Midland, 641/4—Oldham AlliNdanis.ecw—e,
and Dover, 21%—nYmorsikiaNuod a
Am,Nort APRIL
STocric EXCHArrian—The share market
Lonely flat to-day, and there vinsv little business doing
London and North-Western Stocky continues in favour
London advance.
holders anticipating
_a_

cmg-WESTERN RAlLWAL—Traffic for
goods and
carriages..
GLASGOW AND,..-'-., 3, 1852 :
£4,070 15 8
1,237 10 9
the weepkasearcsnecil3einup.ersg:o(Pri-,s39a6n)s
coPrresponding week in last year
Glasgow, April J.

SEABORNE MAILS.
rN
..,..„mes that the mails are sent from the General Post-offlee
by d b
the night—an the raorning--dispateh.)

GWenheernamlPtiset-u0 men
elt iO.
1;11 From
ppoarttch dis.vied.hat
PLACES.
London:
America (by Brit. pkt.)N April 9 .. Liverpool .. Arrived
America (by U.S. pkt.) NlApril 23 Liverpool .. April 14
America (by U.S. pkt.) MApril 14 .. Slouthampt. April 9
Africa (West coast).. N 14th of the month Plymouth Arrived
Alezandria* • • ...... N 19th & 30th of mo. Dover .. April 18
BBeuleg::::Ayr•es•
•• N Daily .. ..IDover .. Daily
• • • .. M 9th of the month ISonthampt. Aprll 16
M 9th of the month Sonthampt. April 16
California(viaChagrer)M,2o & 17th of month Southampt. April 20
Cape of Good Hope N 14th of month ',Plymouth.. Arrived
Constantinople* N !7tla 17th 27th of mo ' p over .. April 10
Central America .. te2d & 17th of mon. Sonthampt. April 20
Channel Isles • • .. N'Mon., Wed., &Fri.Sontharnpt. Ta. Th. Bat
I
Chili . M.l7th of the month Sonthfunpt. April 20
France M & N!Twice daily .. .. !Dover .. Twicedaily
Greece* Nllthl7th27thormo 'Dover April 10
namburgh N,Tuesday & Friday iLondon Tues. Sat.
14.01 l and M Wednes. & Satur.,London MOA.Thur
Honduras N,l7th of the mouth' Southampt. April 20
Ireland .. N Twico daily .. ..Iflolyhead •. Twicedaily
India (via 9outhamp.) M 20th of the month Southarapt. April 21
India (rip-Marseilles) N, $ thit. 24th ef month flover .. April 16
Mediterranean (via \
Southarrnton) .. Ai 20th of the month iSonthamot. April 21
\fediteri anean (via
Marseilles) N Bth&24th ofmonth Dover •• April 16
Mexico M 20 of the month.. !Sosthampt.May 5
Madeira • • .. M 9th of the month Southampt. April 16
Malta* 7th,17th,19th,27th
0 er
& 30th of month Dv__ April 10 j
-
Naples* N sth 15th 25th ofme 'Dover April 12
Papal States* .. N sth 15th 25th of mo Dover .. April 12
Peninsular.. 7th 17th 27th of moiSouthampt. April 16
Peru • • .. • • .. M 17th of the month !Southampt..April 20
' Tuscany* N,sth 15th 25lhofmolDover .. April !?
• West Indies MI 17th of the month ISonthanipt. iApril 20
West Indies (except 'M aY
Havanna & Nassau) Mild of the month ..ISonthamPt, •
~cas by
The mails to those countries thus marked (') are con,
French packet via Marseilles.

April 16
April 16
April 20
Arrived
April 10
April 20
Ta. Tl3.Bat
April 20
Twieedaily
April 10
Tues. Sat.
MOA.Thur
_April 20
Twieedaily
April 21
April 16

ROYAL BOUNTY.--Yesterday
-
Majesty's
bounty, granted according to ancient custom, was
distributed amongst about EOO aged and infirm men and
and Monday her
women, at Whitehall, each of whom received s. The " gate
money," so called from its having formerly been given at the
Park gate, was also distributed to about 180 other poor per
sons, each of whom received M.