The Sun.
London, England, 1858-11-23 00:00:00

THE RIVER PLATE.

It appears that the recent advices from the River
Plate regarding the gold discoveries were wrong
in describing them as situated in the province of
Buenos Ayres. Neither is the knowledge of them
now obtained for the first time. They arc in the
province of San Luis, which is one of the States
that constitute the Argentine Confedei ation,
have been worked by the natives in an imperfect
manner for several years. There seems little doubt,
however, that they are of great extent, and might
be very productive, and also that, from the proxi-
mity of San Luis to Buenos Ayres their develop-ment
would greatly benefit the latter province. The
Argentine Confederation or Republic comprises the
States of Entre Rios, Corrientes, Santa Fe, Cor-
dova, Santiago del Estero, Tucuman, Salta, Tujuy,
Catamarca, La Rioja, San Juan, Mendoza, San
Luis, Buenos Ayres, and Cuaco. San Luis 14;
between Cordova, San Juan, Mendoza, and Buenos
Ayres, from which last it is separated by a desert.
The inhabited portion of the province consists of
two grand divisions ; the first to the north of the
capital city of the same name and the road leading
to Chili between the rivers Desaguadero and
Quinto and the mountains bordering them, the
Carolina on the west, and the Varela on the east.
This district is alternately flat and mountainous,
containing woods, lakes, and rivers, and the soil i 3
much varied, having mines of gold, copper, silver,
lead, iron, &c. The second division is to the south
and south-east of the city of San Luis, approaching.
from the river Quinto, and is mostly an immense
prairie, where formerly millions of cattle used to
graze, which have since become the prey of the
Indians of the desert. Since 1852, however, the
invasions having ceased and the frontier being
better defended, it is again beginning to be repeo-
' pled with establishments for herds. To the north
stretch the mountains of Carolina which have given
their names to the gold mines. Over an extent of
20 leagues to the north and south, and six to the
east and west, are found auriferous earths, to the
south in the valleys forming the river Quinto, and
to the north in those of the mountains of Carolina.
The richest valleys are Ronda, Arenila, and Du-
razno. About 600 persons—men, women, and
children—are employed in seeking for gold, but
they are totally with energy, and use only the
most imperfect means. At certain seasons they
dig up the earth and wash it in wooden bowls, and
in this feeble and desultory manner annually find
from 4,500 to 5,000 ounces. None of them dream
of making a fortune, or even a competency. In
fact, they hardly take the trouble to find enough
for their maintenance and clothing. The copper
and silver lead mines of San Luis have been worked
ever since the Spanish domination, and have re-
cently undergone exploration. Those of San Bar-
bouz and San Francisco are said to have given from
15 to 30 per cent. of copper. and those of San Juan
from 10 to 15 mares of silver per 5,0001 b of mineral.

UNIVERSITY INTELLIGENCE.

OXFORD, Nov. 22.
ELECTION OF A MODERATOR.—In a convoca-

tion holden this morning the name of Francis
Kewley, M.A., fellow and tutor of Jesus College,
was unanimously approved of by the house as one
of the moderators in " Sehola Literarum Grceearum.
et Latin arum."

WADIIAM COLLEGE.—Messrs. A. H. Harrington
and William Cockin, commoners of this society,
have been elected to the two vacant bible clerk-
ships.
CLASSICAL HONOIMS.—The examiners in the
final classical school (the Rev. E. H. Hansell, the
Rev. J. Riddell, the Rev. J. E. T. Rogers, and Sir
Alex. Grant, Bart.), have this evening (half-past
seven o'clock issued. the following award of classes :
CLASS 1.

Charles Henry Olive Daniel, scholar, Worcester
College.
David Binney Monro, scholar, Balliol College.
Alexander Craig Sellar, commoner, Balliol College.
Robert Debie Wilson, commoner, Balliol College.