The Sun.
London, England, 1852-07-01 00:00:00

HOUSE OF COMMONS, June 30.

The SPEAYER took the Chair at Half-past One o'clock.
PETITIONS.
Mr. T. DUNCOMBE presented a petition from cer-
tain individuals complaining of the conduct of Russia in
reference to its interference with the affairs of Sicily.
The Hon. Member also presented two petitions from
the City of London, praying for the repeal of the taxes
on knowledge.
Mr. SPOONER presented a petition from Salisbury,
praying that that City might be excluded from the
Public Health Act.
PATENT LAW AMENDMENT BILL.
The Lords' amendments to this Bill were considered
and agreed to.
IMPROVEMENT OF THE JURISDICTION OF
EQUITY BILL.
The Lords' amendments to this Bill were considered.
Mr. WALPOLE moved that the House do disagree
with the Lords' amendment which proposed to strike
out clause E.
Mr. BETLIELL seconded the motion.'
Sir W. P. WOOD took the opportunity of this dis-
cussion to complain of the conduct of the Lord Chan-
cellor in imputing to his Right Hon. Friend the Master
of the Rolls sinister motives with reference to the Relief
of Suitors in Chancery Bill. There was no foundation
and he was sorry they
whatever for such imputations,
had ever been made.

ROYAL COMMISSION.
The Yeoman Usher of the Black Rod here appeared
at the table and summoned the Llouse to attend at the
bar of the House of Lords, to hear the Royal assent
given by Commission to several public and private Bills
(for which see Lords' report.) On his return the SpßexEit
announced the titles of the Acts.
IMPROVEMENT OF THE JURISDICTION OF
EQUITY BILL.
The consideration of the Lords' amendments to the
Bill were then resumed.
Sir W. P. WOOD added to what he had already stated
in reference to the Master of the Rolls, that the Bill was
prepared by the late Lord Chancellor upon the recom-
mendation of the report of a Committee, and the Master
of the Rolls had nothing to do with the' preparation of
its provisions.
The SOLICITOR-GENERAL said he was convinced
the House would feel perfectly satisfied with this expla-
nation ; and he was equally convinced with his Noble
Friend in another place that no stigma whatever could
be attached to the untarnished reputation of the Master
of the Rolls in reference to this or any other subject.
It was quite evident that the statement complained of
was made under a misapprehension, which perhaps
was excusable when it was remembered that his
Noble and Learned Friend who made it had
been so much taken up with such extensive and
valuable law reforms as those which had just been
brought about. He would take the liberty of mention-
ing,
in conclusion, that those improvements were only
the precursors of others of a far more important cha-
racter, which would be proposed to future Parliaments.
After a few words from Sir H. WILLOUGHBY,
The Lords' amendment was disagreed to, and a
Committee appointed to hold a conference with the
Lords on the subject.
SUITORS IN CHANCERY RELIEF BILL.
The Lords' amendments to this Bill were considered
and agreed to.
RELIGIOUS PROCESSIONS.
Mr. HENRY BERKELEY wished to ask whether
the Act in force to prevent Roman Catholic processions
cannot restrain processions by clergymen of the Church
of England in imitation of Roman Catholic processions;
and, if it cannot, whether her Majesty's Government
have any intention to frame such an Act as may put a
stop to such practices.
Sir F. KELLY said in answer to the question of his
Hon. Friend he had to state, in the first place, that the
Act of Parliament which was now in force had no rela-
tion whatever to religious processions—if such had ever
existed—in which clergymen of the Church of England
performed a part. The Act of Parliament applied entirely
to processions composed of Roman Catholic priests or
Roman Catholic persons.—(Hear, hear.) With regard
to the remaining part of the question, he had only to
state that the Government were not at all aware that the
law had been violated in the manner represented in any
part of the kingdom; and therefore it was scarcely ne-
cessary for him to state that the Gorernmehnt. had no
intention whatever of proposing,
either in this or any
I
other Parliament, a Bill of the nature suggested by the
question.—(Hear.)
LEOPOLD DE ROSE.
Lord DUDLEY STUART would move for a copy of
the depositions taken at Gosport on the case of Leopold
_de Rose, who was sentenced to imprisonment, with hard
labour, 00 the 13th day of November, 1851. 'The Noble
Lord recapitulated the circumstances of the case which
he had detailed on the previous day. He added also
that Captain Hamilton,' who had given De Rose into
custody, had also insulted him by telling him that,
as a Pole, he belonged to the most rascally
set of scoundrels that ever were let loose on this coun-
try. The Noble Lord then proceeded to point out the
injustice of the case, remarking that even if the
poor Pole had solicited alms it would have
been harsh treatment to give him into custody.
It was only a few days since an Austrian officer, who had
been engaged in the war against Hungary, applied to him
for relief, and although he had been opposed to the prin.
ciples of that affair, he should have disgraced himself had
he given that man into custody.—(Hear, hear.) And
yet Captain Hamilton bad thought it not unbecoming in
a British officer to bo instrumental in imprisoning
a poor Pole for fourteen days. The conduct
of the magistrate was,
however, equally repre-
hensible, for there could have been no necessity
for visiting so slight an offence with such great severity.
A case of this sort was a disgrace to a country which
boasted of affording protection to foreigners.
Mr. H. BERKELEY said that he had great pleasure
in seconding the motion of his Noble Friend. He, from
personal acquaintance, could state that Captain De
Rose was a gentleman of the greatest delicacy. He
hoped there would be no opposition to the motion.
Sir W. JOLLIFFE regretted that the subject had
been brought on at this period of the session. Time
ought to have been afforded for procuring information on
the subject. .41t was most unusual in such a state of
things that no representation had been made to
the Home-office. All he could promise was that he
would inquire into the matter.
Mr. ANSTEY did not think that application to the
Home-cffice was a very satisfactory remedy; in similar
cases application bad had been made to the Home-office,
and without the leas' success.

Lord PALMERSTON said this ivt.a a cese deserv-
ing ?. minute and accurate investgation, and he hoped
the Government would take care that such an iuvestiga-

1, 1852.

Lion Was had. The Noble Lord who had introduced
this subjact was entitled to the thanks of the country for
having done so, since it would convince the world that
even the wrongs of a poor foreigner could not be over-
looked by Parliament.—(Hear, hear.)
After a few words from Lord DUDLEY STUART,
the motion was withdrawn.

MOSQUI CO TERRITORIES.
Sir DE LACY EVANS wished to ask, on behalf of
British subjects having trading establishments in the
Mosquito territory, whether the policy of the British
Government regarding that territory, and the support
hitherto given to the Chief or so-called King of Mos-
quito, is intended to be changed, and, if so, in what
respects?
Sir W. JOLLIFFE said negotiations were still pi-nd-
ing on this subject, but it was not considered prudent to
lay the papers on the table.
The other orders of the day were then disposed of, and
the Rouse adjourned at Four o'clock till Half-past One
to-morrow.

A GOLD DIGGER'S STORY.
SYDNEY, FEBRUARY 28, 1852.-1 received your
letters dated September 6th and October 19:h, to-
gether with half a dozen newspapers, last Friday,
just a week after my arrival in Sydney from the
" Diggings " where I have been since I last wrote to
you. I walked both up and down a distance of 180 miles
each way. I have had plenty of hardship and hard
work, without making a fortune • however, I made
what would be called in England good wages-
-21. a week clear of rations and all expenses—
but, oh what labour and discomfort to make
that ! But I will endeavour to give you a slight
sketch of my expedition. I started from Mr.
S--'s house on a Thursday morning—I for-
get the exact date—with a chart of the road,
made for me by a friend who had travelled it be-
fore. Fifty miles from Sydney I crossed " Razor
Back," a particularly high and steep mountain.
After I got over, I had, for the rest of the road, a
distance of 130 miles to travel over mountains and
through the bush, with few houses in the way, and
some of them 50 miles apart, and going without
seeing a human being for a couple of days together.
Plenty of kangaroos, opossums, bandicoots, parrots of
all species and colours, and cockatoos, both black and
white. They were new to me, and their novelty
lightened the tedium of a long and wearisome
journey. I arrived in Braidwood, a small village,
14 miles from the scene of my future labours,
on the night of the eighth day from the time
I left Sydney, and next morning wended my way
to the diggings, situated in a gully or creek
between the mountains, and with mountains all round.
There I joined a party of three rough kind of charac-
ters, but honest hardworking men. The first week or
ten days was a hard trial to me, handling the heavy
tools. I assure you that for the first fortnight I never
lay down in the tent at night without every bone in
my body aching as if:it were broken, but I persevered
and soon became hardy and strong. The Governmentis
regulation and system of working at the " diggings"
this—you pay to the commissioner appointed by
fact
Go-
vernment 30s. for a month's licence, and get 20 t
ground measured out to you. Thus, a party of four,
by paying 61., gets 80 feet of ground in length,
the breadth of the gully or creek,tow aarnbd,
spade into the
ground without paying his
and no man is allowed to put
aa
month licence
e
money. The gold is found
feet
; eot:baerliaowusidt.eptlhvsefrdoimd
the surface down to 30 or 40
not get any until we had
down about 10 feet the water
to keep constantly baling.
wafeet, to large rocks called bgtsoorun down from 15 to 20
ldcearms.a in
nnnwneg, wereand
two out of the fourbe
morning till dusk in the even-
ingatly worked up to my middle in
Fromhave daylightffrequently
water, and that
been knocked off in the slightest
here the skin has
nated with mineral matter, that if it touch any place
eiclawuetater fairly poisonous, so impreg-
degree, you are very safe to have a festered wound
there,and one that you will not get well in a hurry
b
It also affects the eyes ; no one
a
either. It
sore eyes; mine are very much weak-
ened,eeescapes
but much better than I expected they
would be at one time, from the state they were
in ; but I must
hole about 12 feet go
bon with the digging. We open a
y 7 or 8 broad, and go down
through the top soil, red sandstone, blue and white
clay, and some stuff like rotten granite, till we come
upon these boulders—we move them with crowbars,
and underneath lies the vein, a bluish kind of gravel,
containing the gold in greater or smaller quantities.
Through our claims the vein runs very thin—in
some places not three inches deep, and very poor, only
a few pennyweights of gold in 30 or 40 bucketsfull
of stuff; but as yet we have only worked the bank,
but expect the bed of the creek will yield a rich
harvest. We shall not be able. to work it till the
winter sets in ; there is too much water now,
caused by the snow melting on the mountains.
I think, however, when the water goes down
I shall have a chance of making an odd
hundred or two. A party, about 200 yard higher up the creek, have, by the aid of pumps, suc s
- ceeded in working the bed, and with great success,
making from 30 to 40 ounces a man per week, and
they say the vein runs right down the creek into our
claims, so I suppose when the water goes down we
shall have our turn at making a trifle. But I will
tell you how we procure the gold. When we get
down to what we suppose workable stuff, one takes a
large round tin dish, called a " Prospecting pan,"
puts a shovelful of the stuff into it, and washes it in
the stream running through the creek ; the gold, if
any, falls to the bottom, and you wash the rest of the
stuff away-100 specks in a dish is a very fair " pros•
pect." The stuff is then passed up in buckets and
washed in the cradle—that I need not describe ; you
will have seen plans of them in Liverpool. Their
construction is exceedingly simple.
You have no idea what labour and hardship there
is connected with gold digging. The whole time I
was up there Ido not think I worked dry two days
together. Your fare is coarse, and you eat your
meat cooked almost any way. You sleep at night on
the ground, rolled in a blanket, with a calico sheet to
keep the dew off. With daylight in the morning your
labours commence, and close at dusk in the evening.
The work is hard, the life is a rough one, and the
characters you have to associate with rougher still,
but as long as money is madetobaemau is I can bear all
the discomforts. As long
as
there,fortu
and
h
chance Willie
be can aaalwoatyhesresaornf
makinga
living a
there
theer
haysinee
ne,anda he
been very many nice little fortunes made since the
diggings commenced.
Of the many thousands who will be drawn out here
by the news of the gold, those who come here with
the fallacious notion that when they get to the dig-
gings they will have nothing to do but stoop and pick
the gold up will be most wofully mistaken. They will
have to work bard and endure privations and hardships
that no one in England can imagine. While I was
up, I saw many parties who came out from Sydney
bent on making their fortunes ; they came down to
the creek, looked down in the boles, saw men work-
ing up to their middles in water, then, thoroughly
disgusted, turned away and returned to Sydney
without ever putting a spade in the ground. I
have
come down to buy a few things ready for the winter
campaign. I only arrived here
yesterday week
and am off again to join my mates the day - MOTTOR.
On the hill, about a hundred yards from where our
tent is pitched, is a favourite tree; in the evenings,
when it got dusk, I used to retire and sit under this
tree to smoke ray pipe and think. My reflections, I
must confess, are sometimes sad and lonely ones,
f when I think how far distant I am from all that are
dear to me in this world. I have no kindred spirit
here—nay mates are men of no education, quite
common men, but good workmen and steady. Of
course, we are all on an equality as long as
we work together, but they, under any
other circumstances, would be no company for
me—we agree very well, and I would rather have
for mates in gold diggings rough-spun characters, ac-
customed to hard work all their lives, than fine gentle-
men from behind the counter or out of offices, who
never handled pick or shovel, and with whose con-
stitutions a day's work in a waterhole would be very
likely to disagree. It is more profitable I assure,
you, and I think myself fortunate in getting such
mates.

You talk about me sending you a consignment of
dust; if I have any luck and make a hundred or two
the coming winter, I do not think I shall send it
home. The great influx of people we expect will
make a property in a couple of years double the
value it now is • therefore, if I am able to make
something I think bricks and mortar will be the in-
vestment. You can purchase land and build a com-
fortable house here for 3001. or 4001.

The gold market is fluctuating, it has been up to
31. 108. and down to 3/. ; 31.45. and 31. 6s. are the pre-
sent prices given. Fruit is very plentiful and cheap;
beautiful peaches id. a dozen; grapes, apples, and
pears equally cheap. I have lost six or seven pounds
in weight while up at the diggings, taken out in pers-
piration, I suppose, but am exceedingly well in
health, with face, neck, arms, and hands almost as
dark as a black fellow's, from exposure to the sun. I
shall have rather a different complexion on my return
to England to what I had when I left. If I can
make arrangements I will write to you from the
" Diggings," and send the letter down to Mr. S. here
to post.
I have rather a rough prospect before me. They
say it is as cold, or colder, in winter up among the
mountains, where I have been, and am returning to,
than it is in England in the winter time ; and I can
believe it, too ; for, though the commencement of the
winter was still a good way off, there was a white
frost on the ground every morning for some weeks
before I left, and the prospect of working up to one's
middle in half-frozen water is certainly not a very
bright one.

The value of the farming stock in England in.. eared in the various fire-offices throughout the kingdom in
the year ending the 25th December, 1851, was 54,935,053/.
The
amount insured is Scotland the yea; WAS
469,3481.