The Sun.
London, England, 1825-02-10 00:00:00

GOLD 1N NORTH AMERICA.

WASHINGTON, DEG. 27.—1 have just seen and
conversed with an intelligent Gentleman who resides in that
part of the State of North Carolina where gold has lately
been discovered.—From bins I have learned several facts,
in relation to that subject, with which I was previously
not acquainted, and which I presume may be interest-
ing to you. You may recollect, that when first found,
this precious material was picked up in the bed of a
brook ; it is now found on higher ground. The farm on
which the . most has been obtained, is situated in Mont-
gomery county, about sixteen miles from Montgomery Court-
house. The farm (of about 450 acres) belongs to a widow,
who has several sons. The property was equally divided
amongSt them ; but by an amicable arrangement; it is agreed,
that whatever gold may be found on the portion belong.
ing to either brother, it shall be equally parted among the
rest. The metal is found in lumps of various sizes ; the
largest lately picked up weighed four pounds ten ounces—ano-
ther, three pounds and two ounces. [You may remember. that
some years ago, in the brook first-mentioned, a lump was
found, weighing twenty-eight pounds.l They have not yet
gone far from the surface, not perhaps above twelve feet ; but
the lower they go the more gold is found. The mode by
which the metal is obtained is by putting the soil into
" rappers," that is, boxes placed on pieces similar to
those under a cradle, where water is poured on it, and
the dirt is constantly agitated, till, by its gravity, the
gold sinks to the bottom, and is then picked out by
hand. The land on which it is found is of rather poor quality,
raising say twenty bushels of corn to an acre. There are
about one hundred and fifty hands at work ; though the num-
ber varies, as few of them are hired, but consist of persons
living near by, who are permitted by the owner to dig, on con-
dition of yielding up to him one half of what they may
find. A negro lately found a lump worth one thousand and
fifty dollars. The gold is of such virgin purity, as to require
two carats of alloy to bring it down 'to the American standard
for gold coins. The gentleman who gave me the above particu-
lars has in his possession several small lumps of it, which he
showed me. In shape, they look much pieces of lead
which have been dropped in water ; they are of a deep yellow,
but without any glittering brightness. • Some of that found on
the high ground is paler. The surface on different parts of
which this precious metal has been discovered, extends about
thirty miles, within which space there are eight diggings,
some more and some less productive. The poor people who
adventure, generally club their earnings in companies of three
and four. When they come to tough clay they throw it on one
side, as it requires too much time and labour to wash it to ren-
der the business profitable. Yet it often happens, when the rains
have washed these heaps of clay, that small yellow points are
exposed. There are, as yet, no persons of capital embarked
in this search; but, should this happen, as doubtless it soon
will, we may possibly have a regular gold mine ; an event
which, in my judgment, is a matter rather of regret than con-
gratulation.
N. B. Our readers may recollect the exhibition, at this
office, last year, of two lumps of this Metal, weighing, one of
them, 370 dollars, and the other about 170. Recently a lump
has been brought to this city, from Curacao, or St. 'Thomas's,
weighing upwards of seven thousand doliars.—(New York
Commercial Advertiser.)