The Sun.
London, England, 1851-10-14 00:00:00

THE GOLD REGIONS.
A company has been advertised for working one of
the California mines belonging to Colonel Fremont.
he title is to be the Agua Fria Gold Mining Com-
pany-, and the proposed capital is 100,000/. in 11.
shares, to be paid in full. It is situated to the south-
east of San Francisco in the Mariposa district, and,
according to the prospectus, the vein of gold uartz
to be explored is supposed to be of an average q
thick-
ness of four feet, commencing at the summit of a bill
of 150 feet above an adjoining creek, and containing
18,000 tons between that and the water level. Speci-
mens ;of the- vein, assumed to be of an average
quality, have been essayed at the United States' Mint
and in London, and have also been tested at the
Bank of England, and would give a gross value of
8701. per s wt. Almost inexhaustible profits are there-
fore held out as the prospect of bringing machinery
to bear upon this single spot. Unlike some pre-
vious concerns that have been noticed, its direc-
tion is entirely composed
and there is also reason
of persons of unques-
tionable respectability,
to believe that those who are interested in the
mine, as the original lessees under Colonel Fre-
mont, are acting with perfect sincerity. They have
deposited, it is said, specimens to the value of 5,000/.,
in token of their good faith, to be applicable as a
guarantee for all expenses previously to the working
of the mine, and they also appear to have backed their
representations with the best evidencce that was avail-
able. In the face of these things, however, it is ne-
cessary to caution the public against wild anticipa-
tions. The speculation is a legitimate and desirable
one, but it is still thoroughly a speculation. Assuming
the michinery to be safely on the ground, and large
gains in course of realization, those gains must be
shared in a great degree with the persons employed.
There are also other contingencies to be taken into
account—possible contests regarding rights, the diffi-
culties of supervision, &c. It is, moreover, to be
noticed that if even these points be set aside, the real
que4tion of profit to the English shareholders must
depereZst&ely upon a matter upon which the pros-
rollsl,7 not explicit, namely—the consideration they
are to pay to the lessees for the privilege of working.
It is announced that "the terms on which the assign-
ment has been received are such as, under the cir-
cumstances, must be considered most liberal ;" but
their precise nature should, if possible, have been fully
stated.
The last accounts from Sydney regarding the gold
region reached to the 26th June, but were extremely
meagre. Full particulars to that date have now ar-
rived, and it will be seen from the following extracts
that they are very satisfactory :
Extract of letter dated Bathurst, 231 June, relative to

the Turon gold diggins:—
" I started in company with —, and reached the
Turoa about 1 o'clock, followed the river up about two
miles, and found the -- party. After partaking
of dinner joined the diggins on the river bank, and tried
tiny band at the rocker. Continued at this that afternoon
and next day, and then cried enough.' We gof. somel
gold dust, but not much, and frcm all the inquiries
made I found that every one procured some, quite suf-
ficieat to reply the working man, but not enough to
make it worth a gentleman's while to forego his other
occupations and more legitimate modes
.of making
money. A party of three men, by, wovvrekei,ng
asteaq,
may realise horn two to three ounclf ea
contains some, asall it
is all dust there, and every shovelful
may get a certain proportion. There have been no lumps
due up at the
Turon, so there is less cnance,
it
con-
sequently less excitement. My opinion is that t will re-
solve itself into a steady article of production, a new ex-
port from the colony, upon which a very large popula-
tion may be employed, but without any detriment to the
other branches of indiEtry in the country. A propor-
tion of the population will become gold-diggers, but
sufficient, in a very short time, for ail the other wants of
the colonists will be procurable at present wages. All
gloomy apprehensions leave completely subsided in this
district, and I should hope before long will in all others.
Shepherds and men accustomed to light work will never
attempt to get a living by digging; as soon should I think
of doing so; and should luture discoveries, like the
Turon, require constant steady hard work to be re-
munerative, there is little fear of old hands taking
to ft."
Extrsact from letter dated Bathurst, 25th June, relative
to discovery of gold and its effect on sheep farmers in
the neigla'aourtmet.
I am happy to state that everything at my station
up to this period is going on satisfactorily, nut a single
person leaving, nor any inclination evinced to do so. In-
sreaciU apprehensions of scarcity of labour, there is
every reason to anticipate a plentiful supply from the dis-
appointed parties at the diggins.
" Thew are flocking here from all quarters, some well
equipped, others the reverse. At the same time fresh
fields of gold are almost daily discovered, and the metal
will no doubt he obtained in other parts of the colony,
and thus equalise labour in the several districts. Yet I
am inclined to think the largest field will be found here,
and if su, I think that existtnr, interests will be rather
improved than injured, and that fresh resources will bo
developed. The carcase of the sheep will be more pro-
foible, while the fl,ece in the London market will main-
tain a remunerative price. On the whole, the gold dis-
covery will ultimately be attended with glorious results,
antrio", colony will advance rapidly.
The proportion of the fortunate is smell compared
witia she bulk, bat that will always he the case when
every man thinks he has as good a chance as his neigh-
bour. lam informed that at the Turon the gold has
not yet been found in lump, but there is abundance in
small parcels, and most persons at work find a more cer-
tain return for their labour, procuring nearly iez. per
day on average.
‘• I could purchase gold here to advantage if I had the
funds-31. per cz. fur dust free from quartz; the piece
which the Governor purchased was offered to me at
6 4s , per oz."

ALLEGED POISONING BY A

MO MEE,.
BATH, OCT. 10.—The circumstances of an extra,
ordinary charge of poisoning, which was preferred
against a very respectable looking woman yesterday,
have been already briefly narrated in The Sun. At
the privete investigation before the magistrates the
prisoner stated her name to be Elizabeth Slater,
tho charge against her being that of attempting the
life of her child, by the administration of poison.
This morning a public examination was commenced
in the Sessions Court of the Guildhall, before Mr.
F. Dowding (mayor), and several other magistrates.
Toe prosecution was conducted by Mr. IVllliams,
of the firm of Taylor and Williams, and the prisoner
was defended by Mr. Hellings. The alleged husband
of the prisoner, Mr. Slater, and who it transpired is
really Mr. Crosby, a solicitor, in practice at Bristol,
was in attendance, and took notes of the evidence.
The prisoner, whose real name is Elizabeth Lewis, has
hitherto carried on a highly respectable seminary, in
conjunction with her mother, at Rediand, near Bristol.
She appeared vary faint and ill, but occasionally passed
notes to Mr. Crosby during the proceedings.
Lirs. Searle, wife of James B. Searle, chemist, of
No. 28, Claverton-street, Widcornhe, deposed that the
first time One prisoner came to her house was on Sa-
turday, the 7th of Jane last. She then took furnished
apartments for one week, stating that her hueband,
Mr. Slater, would be there on Mmday, and, if he
approved of the rooms, they would take them for a
month or six weeks. The prisoner appeared in the
family-way. She gave her name as Mrs. Slater. On
Monday she went to the railway station to meet her
husband, and returned with a gentleman who called
himself Mr. Slater. He remained a short time, and
thent went away again. [The witness was here asked
if .ea
Crusts,
gentleman was present, when she pointed out
Mr. who was sitting by the side of Mr. Hel-
tinge] The prisoner was confined on Tuesday, the
10. e, of a girl. She was attended by
eM r. Lawrence,
surgeon, woo was recommended by
witness. The
Pris'inee remained about
leavieg on the
4:h of anaonth at Mr. Searle's,
nursed, and healthy.
July. The child was dry
witness for nursing Thethechilcrristohner arranged with
being 10s. per week, besides eextsruamf to be paid
A fortnight after the prisoner left, she called, ll
company with Mr. Slater, and saw the bcaabed,
the end of another fortnight they called ya.ga
Tritz went into the drawing-room, and desired witness.
to brieg the baby up to theris, which she did. When
she afterwards entered the room, Mr. Slater was
ing upon the sofa, and Mrs. Slater standing close
b;tnitie Witness heard the prisoner say as she en-
tered the room, " Shall I, or will you ?" and Mr.
Slicer replied, " I don't care which." The baby was
lu the room at the time. The same night the baby
ls taken very iil, being very sick and relaxed in its
lativiels. It also shrieked very much, and kicked
111)`."15.• The baby was restless almost immediately
after Mr. and Mrs. Slater left, and became worse in
the night. Next morning, Mr. Evans, surgeon, was
"11" ha to see it, and upon his recommendation the
child was eent wh. the country.
n s sister
Daring that " ess
time the prisoner called with a gentleman
witness did not know,finding the infant gone, told
and .
her she ought not to forming her. witto have sent it away without in •
her when she wishendeste told her if she would write to
o Bee it again, she would get
it home. Prisoner afterwardse wrote, and the child
was brought home. T
prisoner called on the fol-
lowing day, accompanied
on the 13th of September, Mr. Slater. That was
re-
mained about two hours
with took tea and
with them alone part of the
t,' the child being
them the child had been verinae. Witness told
had had great trouble with
l ett. unzell, and she
their satisfaction at the way the
ehli:ihaey expressed
and the baby was not worse on that evening, as nursed,
Saturday fortnight the prisoners called again i; Last
eleven and twelve o'clock in the morning. The
wis asleep in the perlour on the sofa. Witness
the prisoner alone with it. On her return the baby
was still asleep, but putting out its tongue and moving
its lips. The prisoner was sitting on a chair leaning-
over the child, and with her hand near its face. She
saint to her, "Mrs. Searle, the baby has been inclined
to ?Ine sick." Witness replied, "I am sorry for it, for
she has not been sick fur a long time." The baby
was sick, and witness wee going to fetch a towel to
W,PQ its mouth when the prisoner told her not to
gala, Mai wiped its mouth with her pocket handker.