The Sun.
London, England, 1856-07-29 00:00:00

RESULTS OE THE TESTS.

The Directors invited the co-operation of scientific sad
practical men who had studied the subject. The results of
their experiments were very unequal ; some of them encou-
raging the meet extravagant ideas of profit, but few being be-
low such a yield as would giie a dividend. If the undertak-
ing were rationally regarded as a fair commercial enterprise.
It would answer no purpose to embody in this report the
Certificates in detail of the gentlemen who made the different
experiments ; but some notion may be formed of the uncer-
tainty in which the Directors from time to time were placed,
from the following examples. Far instance, on the 23d of
November, 1855, Mr. Claudet, of the Assay-office, Cannon-
street (who had previously tested some of the ore with less
favourable results), certified that the iron pyrites, with which
the ore abounds, contains from 34 to 39 ounces of gold, to
the ton of pyrites, and 65 ounces of silver. Attlie Immo date
tttsrs.-joht Taylor and'S'Oni, of- UPPer-Ordn'ance 'wharf, ter-
ti4etl per Mr. Jordan, that one specimen of ore out of four
$0,14 yielded 27i moos of gold and 01 mica of paw

to the ton. Other specimens varied between half an
ounce and au ounce and a quarter of gold to the ton,
while• of Silver there was from half an ounce to three
ounces. On the 4th of January last, Mr. Ansell
forwarded to the Directors au elaborate report of a
series of experiments made on this ore at the Panopti-
con, in Leicester-square, by the chlorine process, the
general result of which yielded rather more than two ounces
and a half of gold per ton. To test that process Mr. Ansell
also tried the ore by assay and amalgamation, the result being
nearly the same. A subsequent assay gave by amalgamation
about three ouuces and three-quarters of gold, and by assay
rather more gold and five ounces of silver to the ton. Mr. T.
H. Henry, F.R.S., made on the 14th of February of this year
a report on four specimens, one of which yielded nearly thir-
teen ounces of gold.
These are a few amongst many results of experiments made
by order of the Directors on the ere. They had the additional
satisfaction of finding, from the reports of practical chemists,
that the mundic with which the oro abounds is capable of
yielding eighty ounces of silver to the tan. The Directors men-
tion these various results, partly because they confirm the ori-
ginal estimates of the value of the ore, and partly to account
for the delay in their own operations.
At a very early date they came to the conclusion that they
could calculate upon a moderate average yield of gold and
silver, and at a small cost of reduction sufficient to enable
them to pay a high remunerative dividend, They also came
to the conclusion, after hearing the opinions of various com-
petent persons, that the mode ofyeduction most to be relied
on and most suited to the ore, was that of 'calcining, fine
grinding, and amalgamation.

- The real difficulty of the directors was to procure machines
capable of performing this work. At length they found themt
selves in a position to operate upon a sufficient bulk of ore to
enable them to estimate an average. With the principle of the
machine used they had long been acquainted, but until this
. . . .

time they had not been able to obtain the means of working
the _large Machine cOustructed'mpetMatlwincipli. They
availed themselves of an_ opportunityaffthilid them by Messrs.
Symonds and Fell, Stiffeiluice-wharf Smelting Works, Mill-
wall, to calcine, crush, "gfind, and amalgamate a sufficient
quantity of the ore to yield a fair average of that which was
first consigned to this country, but which, as will be after-
wards explained, is by no means a good sample of the bulk of
the ore on the estate. The result of that trial was such a
yield of gold, of the finest quality, as to place the success of
the undertaking beyond a doubt, provided that the expenses
of raising, importing, and reduction were such as, from
the various estimates the Directors had received, they
were entitled to expect. This trial was made publicly, and
was attended from time to time by gentlemen interested in
the question from a scientific point of view, and the whole
process, with the results, wag made the subject of certificates
by Messrs. Symonds and Fell, the proprietors of the works,
and of Mr. Harris, under whose immediate direction the re-
duction took place. The certificates are subjoined:—

" Mill-wall Grinding and Crushing Mills, Smelting
and Assay Works, Sufferance-wharf, Mill-wall,
London, 3d May, 1856.
" In answer to your inquiry, we beg to state the Chancel-
loravillo ore reduced at our works, as above, contained on an
average above 1 oz. 18 d wt. of gold per ton

" Tilos. W. FELL.
" For Symonds, Fell, and Compy.

" W. S. Trotter, Esq."

" I hereby certify that I operated upon six tons of the
Chancellorsville ore at the reduction works of Messrs. Sy-
monds, Fell, and Company, Mill-wall, and obtained thereupon 1
os. 18 dwts. of fine gold per ton of ore. A larger result would
have been obtained had an amalgamator been used, to have
caught the fine gold which passed off with the water.
" Subsequent trials with improved machinery have proved
that 95 per cent, of the gild in the ores is obtained.
" July 24, 1856." (Signed) "JosiAu HARRIS.

As the Directors desired to give every opportunity for the
trial of other machines, they made arrangements with the
proprietors of the machine invented and patented by S. T.
Jones, Esq., for a test of its capabilities. This was made also
in the presence of many persons, on the premises of Mr.
Marshall, the engineer, in Bishopsgatestreet. The result
was entirely satisfactory, both as regards the powers of the
machine and the gold bearing quality of the quartz. The
Directors considered that it would be more satisfactory to the
shareholders if this process were carried on under the superin-
tendence of some gentlemen of high scientific reputation, but
entirely unconnected with the Company. They accordingly
made arrangements for this purpose with T. H. Henry, Esq.,
F.R.S., of No. 44, Lincoln's-inn-fields. The following is that
gentleman's report, both on the merits of the machine and on
the yield of the ore :

" July 16, 1856.
" Dear Sir,—I attended according to your desire to wit-
ness the operations of the auriferous quarts of the Chancel-
lorsville Mining Company with Jesses s machine, and will now
briefly state the results.
" Half a ton of the quartz previously calcined was passed
through the machine, slowly, however, for want of sufficient
power to work it more rapidly. I assisted in straining and
passing the mercury from the pans and from the amalgama-
tor, and having brought the amalgams here, extracted the
gold from them. They yielded a button weighing 226 grains.
" Mr. Harris afterwards brought me• the residue of the dis-
tillation of the mercury, and I obtained from this 132 grains
of gold (containing a little silver) total 348 grains, or at the
rate of 1 oz. per ten.
" I then carefully assayed the tailings, working on a large
qaantity. They contained 1 dwt. 13 grains of gold per ton.
This is rather more than 4 per cent. of the total quantity of
gold. Upwards of 95 per cent. had, therefore, been extracted.
" These results areall in favour of the value of the quartz ;
the efficacy of the machine, which certainly ground the quartz
to an z.zceedingly uniform fine powder ' • and also of the amal-
garant.3r, in the mercury of which the larger portion of the
gold was found. I think, however, that the size of the ma-
chine should be considerablyreduced for the sake of economy.
" The calcination of this quartz previous to submitting it
to amalgamation appears to be necessary, as the geld seems
chieflyassociated with the iron pyrites or mundic disseminated
throughout the quartz ; a sample of the mundic separated
from the quartz and assayed yielded upwards of 7 ozs. of gold
per ton.— I remain, dear sir, yours very faithfully,
(Signed) ".T. N. HENRY, F.R.S."
As in all previous attempts made in this country to extract
gold from quartz a considerable portion of the precious metal
was lost in what is technically called the " tailings," the
Directors availed themselves of the magnetic amalgamator
alluded to by Mr. Henry (the patented invention of Messrs.
Jones and Harris), the value of which was tested by the fact
that only 4 per cent, of the whole amount of gold was found
to have escaped.

PREMISES FOR THE WORKS OF THE COMPANY.
The Directors having satisfied themselves of the existence
of the precious metals in the ors to an extent justifying them
in calculating that the minimum yield would be sufficient to
pay a very large profit, they determined on taking premises
for the purpose of carrying out the future operations of the
Company. After much consideration, and although offers
had been made to coitract for the reduction of the future
consignments at a moderate fixed price per ton, or for the
purchase of the ore in bulk at a rate calculated on what the
directors believe to be the minimum yield of gold, they de-
cided that their operations could be carried on far more
regularly and successfully in works under their own control,
at or near Liverpool, UN chief entrepot of the American trade.
They were mainly influenced by a calculation of the lower
price of coal in Lancashire and the certainty of a regular
weekly supply of quartz. After examining many eligible
sites, they finally chose some abandoned salt works at Fred-
sham-bridge, in Cheshire. These premises are remarkably
well adapted for the purpose. They cover an area of four
acres, with building and plants available for the purposes of
the Company. There is excellent wharfage on the river, with
facilities of cheap water carria;e from the vessel's side in the
Liverpool docks, or for vessels of smaller tonnage chartered
wholly by the Company, coining direct to Fordsham-bridge.
They are bounded by the Lancashire and Cheshire Railway,
to which the Company have a right to make a short tram-
road for the conveyance of coal, Sre., should that bo deemed
desirable. Of these premises the directors have taken a long
lease at a rental of 1501. per annum, with a right of purchase
of the freehold for 2,000/. They have entered on possession
since the 24th of June, and the necessary constructions have
been planned by the mining engineer of the Company. The
requisite alterations and additions aro being proceeded with,
and they will be completed before the first of the regular
consignments arrives from New York. The directors have
purchased the stompers necessary for the crushing of the ere,
which have been forwarded to the premises. They have also
given orders for the immediate construction of the grinding
machines, of Jones's invention, which are required for the
reduction of about two hundred and fifty tons of quartz per
week, which will be as much as can, for some mouths to come,
be conveniently brought over from the mine. They have also
ordered the steam engines and other requisite machinery,
which will be executed in time for the arrival of the ore.
ARRANGEMENTS FOR WORKING THE MINE AND
SUPPLYING THE QUARTZ.
When the directors had ascertained the possibility of ex-
tracting the gold at a remunerative cost, they deemed it
desirable to confirm arrangements, already initiated, for the
working of the mine and the regular transmission of the ore
to this country. For this purpose they were fortunate
enough to secure the services of a gentleman, Mr. R. B.
Thomas, who had already had much experience in America.
That gentleman they despatched about two months since to
the mine, armed with full powers to make all the arrange-
ments necessary. He was instructed to report upon the
actual condition of the estate, the cost of raising, of convey-
ance front the mine to Fredericsburg, from Fredericsburg to
New York, and from New York to Liverpool. His expe-
rience and energy of character enabled him to effect all those
objects in a musk shorter time, and oven with more success
than the directors had anticipated. The result of his mis-
sion sets at rest the question of cost, and decides it in a man-
ner most favourable to the undertaking. Mr. Thomas left
this country on the 17th of May last, and on the 22d of June
he was enabled to transmit to the secretary of the Company
the letter, from which an extract has already been given.
Having fulfilled the other objects of his omission, Mr.
Thomas deemed it expedient to return immediately to Eng-
land, that he might personally explain the details of arrange-
ments. The following is his report :
" London, July 18, 1856.
"To the Directors of the Chancellorsville Freehold Gold
Mining Company.
"Gentlemen—ln fulfilment of the mission with which you
have entrusted me, I have visited your Mine, and have made
myself acquainted with all the circumstances, a knowledge of
which is necessary to enable you to work it.
" Your instructions having left me a considerable discre-
tion, I thought it right to devote my attention to the two
most important considerations connected with the subject,
viz., the value and working capabilities of the Mine (or, as I
should rather describe it, the Estate with minus upon it),
and the means by which the ore can be transmitted to this
country at the smallest expense.
" The estate is 24 miles from Fredericsburg, which is
a good shipping port. At present the access to that port is
by au excellent plank road, on which the property abuts, A
railway from Orange to Fredericsburg is in course of forma-
tiou, which passes within a quarter of a mild of the property,
and which will be completed in a year.
" The supplies of quartz are inexhaustible, there being se-
veral veins running through the estate, the principal of which
is traceable for more than a mile and a half, with an average
width of 25 yards. In some parts the width is fully 40 yards
This vein shows throughout a richness which cannot be mis-
taken. The other veins run almost parallel, but do not give
such decided surface indications of richness. Their course is
not so clearly defined, as they do not crop out to the same ex-
tent as the main vein, but there is Sufficient quartz visible to
make it a certainty that the supply will be more than suffi-
cient to meet the demands for many years; indeed,•as I sal
before, inexhaustible.
" Labour can easily be procured at 150 01s., or 301. a-year,
isachding keep, Aay umber of 1413ounri can lie timulteas