The Sun.
London, England, 1851-01-01 00:00:00

_,___-~

THE GOLD REGIONSof AMERICA.
On the 26th of October the Placer Time: pub-
lished the following valuable article on the yield of
the mining regions :—" It is very difficult at the pre-
sent time to collect information as to the productive-
ness of the various mines of California. Even the
number of persons employed upon the various rivers
is but to a limited extent known. Those who have
travelled extensively through the country, and ex-
plored the various rivers high up into the moun-
tains, of course can form very correct conclusions ;
but there are comparatively few who have done this.
Most miners have but partially explored the
country, and even those who have made extensive
examinations have felt but little inclination to con-
vey the information to others. For this reason we
the more willingly lay the estimates which we give
below before our readers, believing, although they
are somewhat imperfect, that they will be of use to
those who have not had the leisure or inclination to
make thorough examinations.
gh examinations. The estimates
which we give include the mining regions from
Feather River, upon the north, to the Consum-
nees, upon the south, which contains, at the least,
two 'thirds of all the miners employed in, the country.
The mining region upon Feather River commences
below the foot hills of the mountains, some thirty
miles from Marysville, and extends back upon the
mountains for something like eighty miles. There
are probably not less than 9,000 persons at work upon
this river. The most productive portions the past
season have been in the foot-hills and upon the south
fork of the river. It is the general impression that the
sum averaged by miners upon this river has been:about
6 dolls. per day to the man. This, allowing 24
working days to the month, would give, for five
months, as much probably as most of the miners will
labour during the mining season, for each mines 120
dolls, per month, and 600 dolls. for the five months,
producing an aggregate of 5,400,000 dolls. The
Yuba, with its tributaries, Deer-week, Gold-run, &c.,
has a population of about 30,000. The mines in this
region have, in many instances, paid more than those
of any other portion of California; but there has
been a large number who have succeeded but
poorly, which has reduced the average to each
man to something less than that upon Fea-
ther River. Upon this stream we believe the
average has not been over 4 dolls. to each
person employed. This would give for the total
amount of gold dust taken out in five months
14,400,000 dolls. Bear River, the next stream upon
the south, contains probably a population of 3,000.
This stream, although no very large amounts have
been realized by persons, has produced a fair average,
say 4 dolls. to each miner, which will give in the ag-
gregate 1,440,000 dolls. The American River, we
presume, contains a population of 16,000, dis-
tributed on its tributaries as follows : 5,000
upon the North Fork ; 5,000 upon the Middle
Fork; and 6,000 upon the South Fork, which at 5
dolls. as the average, would produce, as above, in five
months, 9,000,000 dolls. This would give, in the
aggregate, for Feather, Yuba, Bear, and the Ame-
rican Rivers, together with their tributaries, the
sum of 30.240,000 dolls., as the product of the
labour of 57,000 persons. This sum, we believe, is
as near an average of the produce of the mines upon
the rivers named for the past five months as can well
be ascertained at the present time. We have in our
estimate taken but a portion of the mining region of
California, as our readers will see, but we presume
the quantity of gold dust taken from these streams, or
from their immediate neighbourhoods, constitutes at
least two-thirds of all the gold taken from the mines
of California. The quantity obtained by miners
during the last winter was small in proportion to what
it ought to have been. Miners then looked forward
to the opening of spring, anticipating far richer dig-
gings in the beds of rivers when the waters should
subside. In anticipation of rich harvests the winter
was suffered to pass without proper exertions upon the
part of miners.

MISHAP AT THE ALTAR...-.Lately at a village ad-
joining the town of Cardigan, a loving pair presented them-
selves, accompanied by numerous friends, at the parish
church, to be united in the holy bands of matrimony. The
rev. gentleman duly officiated, and all went well until the
ring was required, when it was discovered to be lost. Away
went the bridegroom, a true son of Neptune, to barrow a
ring, and, after many attempts, he at last found a good-
natured dame, who kindly lent the sacred circlet, upon con-
dition of his leaving in pledge his coat and waistcoat, which
he accordingly did, and, minus those useful articles of wear-
ing apparel, he returned to the church in triumph, and com-
pleted his nuptial vows. The ceremony was scarcely con-
cluded when the missing ring was found and restored to its
rightful possessor.— Swansea Herald.

Accounts from New Zealand state that John Heki,
one of the chiefs formerly engaged in conflict with the Bri-
tish, had died at a place called Karkoai, of pulmonary
disease.
THE LONDON-BRIDGE RAILWAY TERMINIIB.--Yes-.
terday was the day appointed for the completion and open-
ing of the permanent termini, at Loudon-bridge, of both the
South-Eastern and Brighton Railways, and which for seve-
ral months past have been in progress of erection. It will,
however, be three weeks or a month before they are com-
pleted. A new and elegant device, not hitherto adopted in
the construction of railway stations, has been adopted, that
of roofing both stations with sheet glass, which gives to the
whole range of platform, of some 300 feet long, a light and
cheerful appearance.

MANCHESTER TRADE REPORT, DEC. 31.—The
market to-day has been very quiet, although there is no al-
teration in prices. The upward tendency in the yarn market,
which was beginning to be slightly felt, has received a check
in the alteration of the rate of discount by the Bank of Eng-
land. In addition to this, it has been to-day made known
that the stock of cotton in Liverpool is some 70,000 bales
more than had been previously- estimated, and as it had been
all along reported that it would in all probability be as much
under the published estimate, as it is now said to be over, the
turn in favour of the buyer is very considerable. Still the
tendency in prices cannot be said to be downward, but sta.
tionary and firm. The goods market is rather brisk, con-
sidering the season of the year.
THE SECRET OP ANCIENT PAINTED GLASS.—A.
quantity of old painted glass having been sent to Mr. For-
rest, a glass painter of Liverpool, to be cleaned, he found that
the outer surface of the whole was covered with a layer of
what appeared to be hard dried dust and rain, which was
easily removed by a short application of hydrofluoric acid,
or by the other means adopted for cleaning old windows.
He was struck, however, by observing that every now and
then there were perfectly clear places to which the dust had
apparently not adhered, and these were sometimes curved
lines, sometimes dots or roundish spaces, sometimes small
and at other times of considerable size. At first it simply
buteared odd t:bat the dirt should have adhered so partially ;
at length it struck him that these clear spaces might be
intentional, and the dirt, not dirt after all, but paint burnt
in to the surface of the glass. On further examination he
found that this was really the case, and that the clear spaces
were lights taken oat of semi-opaque background, probably
obtained by burning a very thin layer of fluxed oxide of
iro i into the back of the glass. The lights may either be
removed after the whole is covered, or they may be left
originally as in the drawing. Mr. Forrest has made a win-
dow upon this principle, which is placed in his warehouse;
and, making allowance for its being an early production after
his discovery, the effect is so successful as to carry strong
conviction with it. He states that he has observed the
same thing in all the old glass which has come under his
notice.—Builder.

MORE SUPERSTITION IN THE 19TH CENTURY.—
Last week a man, of the town of Axbridge, sold his horse to
a person of Cheddar for the dogs. After the horse was shot
and skinned, the companion of the person to whom it had
formerly belonged asked for the heart. " What do you want
it for?" said the person who had purchased it. " Ta'nt I,"
said the man, " but, 'tis Tom there; be da want to raust un."

" What I to eat?" " Noa, but ha's a going to stick im we
pins, and roast un, for vaulk do tell he that nif'so be he do
do that there, his horses will be better aterwards, for this is
two as he've been 'bliged to kill a'thin two months, and ha
da think ha's overlooked."—Sherborne Mercury.
SECESSIONS.—We understand that Mr. Sergeant
Bellasis has been received into the Roman Catholic Church.
The French papers announce likewise the conversion to that
church of the Rev. Mr. Laprimandaye, who has made his
profession at Marseilles.

passing from
wR„. Mr. Spencer)
Father Ignatius
loVrtlns: one of whom
the other, tripped
kick the
was assaulted in Liverpool last Friday.
the attemptedgroun
bystanders,la y o
struckp i
j_i.m but was pre-
vented
cSast .
this Patrick'sa rmsCahraopuenl ,d hh (theei
s neck,
eailcsk:mniti andd .6)-t
atn.be emwapi
female,
party
shtowytemhhcioeeidisgraceful
r a cefu
bautsetvheerearbriloz, NoVifththae
A few blows passed between the
subsequentlyscene.
rep. gOennetleomfa
by f
NAVAL BENEVOLENT SOCIETT.—The
police
attackingp put
tc
party
tnhdand
o t head.s _
or the court took place yesterday, Rear-Ad-
itacistock, C. 13., in the chair. There were pre-
sentmiral Lord
between 30 and 40 officers, including some of the most
distin,,,ished and prominent members--Admiral Sir Charles
001, Bart., Admiral Sir C. Adam, ii.C.B., Vice-Admiral
speTinalentßee°tirogL
Sir Ogle,
Malcolm, Captain Dickinson, Captain Sherwin,
Lieutenant Lean, Lieutenant Gardiner, &. At this meeting
it was most sensibly decided that in the election of the suc-
cessor to the late and much-lamented Captain Dickson, no
restrictions as to age should be imposed, and ultimately it
was agreed that a committee should be appointed to examine
the testimonials of the candidates, and to select three officers,
from which a general quarterly court may elect their new
secretary. Under those circumstances, we feel assured that
Commander Holbrook, of Portsmouth, will be the able suc-
cessor of Commander Dickson.

THE COURT OF JUSTICIART.--The winter Court of
Justiciary in Scotland terminated its proceedings in two
days, having commenced on Monday morning, and concluded
by six o'clock the next day. This is said to be unprece-
dented. The Glasgow Post, in mentioning this feet says,
" a remarkable circumstance connected with the business of
the court, and deserving of remark, is the severity of the
sentences, in comparison with those which have been in-
flicted by the same high tribunal for a considerable time
previously. Delinquencies of a less aggravated nature than
many which at previous courts were atoned for by twelve or
eighteen months' confinement in Perth penitentiary, have at
ta
hr se
transportation."
this time been met with the sentenecpeatironntg'see;leyn
hanopdetetlniayte
CHURCH DECORAlvTesOhadtiVe
attempting
Pope will not now be allowed to steal all our church decora-
tion from us as he did before, leaving little else than mere
bare walls and whitewash as good enough for Protestant
not be surprised to find some
to check the en-
deavour,wn
oovr,,s worship.
a Seriously,
indiscriminatelyelraitoet s ly
to render Protestant places of worship
worthy of the name, as a reflex and exponent of the honour
and glory felt to be due to Him whose palatial dwellings they
ought, even outwardly, and to the best of poor human ability
and grandeur, to show themselves, in the eyes of men, to be.
It was a false step, as well as a gross absurdity, to give up
such a reflex of the honour and glory due to the King of
Kings and Lord of Lords, whose "glory" even the starry
firmament above and the flowery earth beneath display, in
outward show, to mortal eyes—and that too for no real
reason but because Popes and Papists had the reverence,;ares
and the good taste too, to enoourage the display of decorative
art izt eccleajaatic architectare...Ruitder.