The Sun.
London, England, 1870-11-12 00:00:00

THE SOUTH AFRICAN DIAMOND FIELDS,

We subjoin an extract from the circular of Messrs. S.
W. Silver and Co., relating to the South African diamond
fields :—Bloemfontein, September 20. Our correspondent
(a digger for two months and a half) states that the Pniel
Mission Ground is at present judged to be the richest
locality —there are at least 1,200 men at work. £lOO,OOO
worth of gems obtained within five months. His party has
been as lucky as any; but I cannot tell you the particulars,
as we are bound to keep all details private. He observes :
" 1. he work of diamond-digging is no child's play. During
the whole time, except Sundays, I have not had a
coat on or my shirt-sleeves not rolled up—up every
morning at dawn, and to work with pick and shovel,
except breakfast half an hour, dinner an hour, incessant
hard work in a broiling sun until near dark, then home
to camp." He is convinced that diamond-digging does
not pay, and strongly advises those who have permanent
employment, however small the remuneration, to stick toit.
" About 5 percent. make a good deal of money, and probably
another 5 pay expenses. " He adds:—" If, however, you have
no fixed employment and sufficient to pay your passage to
the Colony, and buy tools and provisions for twelve
months, and, if :unsuccessful, money to take you back,
by all means come." Another correspondent of Pieter-
maritzburg (September 23) states : A new diamond.
mine has been found on a Dutchman's farm at Jagersfon-
tein. Only about 50 men are allowed to work there yet.
They have found 63 diamonds, 22 within the last few days ;
the largest, 22i carats, a perfect gem. A party has just
come in from the diamond fields in eleven days. The cost
by omnibus is 216, and by waggon, with 3 cwt.
luggage,. £6. A direct communication with Na-
tal, ria Suez Canal, discussed, and a premium
suggested as an inducement to the owners of
the first steamer by this route with fifty passengers. The
discovery of four large diamonds reported ; one over 19
carats, by Mr. Dicken ; one 26i carats, valued at £2,500
to £2,000, by Webster's party ; the others 54 to 56 carats
respectively, by De Kock's and Park's parties
the last, a gem perfect in shape and of the first water, is
valued at over £B,OOO. Mr. Hadd had in his possession
on the fields 200 diamonds, the largest weighing 4i
carats, for which he paid £7OO. The aggregate number
of persons on the fields is estimated at over 5,000.
Buildings of a permanent character are being run up;
stores are abundant, and provisions plentiful and moderate
in price.

The Rappel, ultra Paris paper, speaks well of the Ger-
man prisoners in Paris. They are clean, and well clad.
" All these Germans, it must be confessed, have good
countenances—very mild, simple, very intelligent. Three
out of four have flaxen hair, which becomes them well.
They are well-made, stout, strong men, inured to fatigue,
and energetic—men who can read, write, and cipher, and
who at times recite the poetry of Goethe to amuse them-
selves."

•
THE PRINCE AND PRINCESS OF WALES.—The
Prince and Princess of Wales, with their children, at-
tended by General Sir William Knollys, Major Grey, and
the Hon. Mrs. Grey, Arrived at Sandringham on Thurs-
day evening from London, having travelled in a special
train on the Great Eastern Railway. The special reached
Cambridge at about five o'clock, and here a
stay of nearly a quarter of an hour took
place, during which some refreshment was supplied
to the Princess of Wales. King's Lynn was reached at
about a quarter past six, and after staying three minutes
to change engines, a further run of nine minutes brought
the special train to Wolferton, where the royal private
carriages were in waiting, and the new Sandringham
House was reached at about a quarter to seven. Their
royal highnesses have during the last three years
spent but a small portion of time at Sandringham.
The year bafore last the prince and princess were in
Egypt, and last yew, owing to the rebuilding of the hall
and the necessarily limited nature of the accommodation
afforded, they remained but a brief period during the
shooting season. Now, however, Sandringham has been
perfectly transformed. The house, without being of the
character of a palace, is suited in every way to the station
and requirements of its royal owner. The grounds have
been laid out with exquisite taste, and the scene from the
windows of the mansion is most charming. It is expected
that now the hall approaches completion, Sandringham
will be made available as a summer residence as well as for
the shooting season.,