Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1849-01-25

Gold Hunting. Tho second volume OF the,
new edition OF Washington lrvlng's" Columbus
to be published shortly supplies the following
significant passage:
"Belore relating the return Of Columbus 70
lIispanoa, il is proper TO notice. some OF tno
principal occurrences in that slnnu' "n'cn 'ook
place under the government OF OVando n great
crowd of advenlurers, OF Vurious rahNs, huo
lhronged his fleet; eager sPeru'alois' cteGuiouS
drenncrs. and broken down gentlemen OF des-
perate fortunes; all expecting to cnrlch them
selves suddenly, III an Island Whero gnlc was 10
he picked up from the surface of the soil, or
rnthcred from the mountain brooks. They had
scarcely landed, say Las Casas, who accolnpa-
MED the expedition, when they all hurried off To
the mines, which were about eight leagues dis
tance. The roads swarned like ant hills, with
adventures Of all classes. Every one had his
knapsa,k stored with biscuit or -four, and his
mining implements on his shoulders. Those hi
dalOs, or gentlemen, who had no servants TO
carry their burdens, bore them on their own
backs, and lucky was he who had horse for the
Journey he would be able to bring back the
greatest treasure. They all set out in high spr-
It's eager who should first reach the golden Ian J.,
thinking they had but To arrive at the mines, and
collect riches; for they G'uoied' says las Ca
sas, that gold was To be gathered US easily and
readily as fruit lrom the ttees.'
When they arrived, however, they discovered,
to their dsnay, that it was necessary to dig
painfully into the bowels Of the earth, labor to
which most Of them had never been accustomed
that it required experience aud sugacny to de-
tcct the veins Of ore ; that III fact the whole pro-
cess OF mining was exceedingly tosome, de-
handing vast patience, much experience, and
after all being lul of uncertainty. They digged
eagerly for time, but found no ore They
grew hungry, threw by their implements, sat
down to eat, and then returned to work. 1t was
all in vain. Their labor says Las Casas,
gave them keen appetite and quick digestion,
but no gold. They soon consumed their provls.
ions, exhausted tier patience, cursed their in
fatuatlon, and in eight days set off drearlly on
their return, along the roads they had lately trod
so eXultngly. They arrived at San Domingo
without an ounce Of gold, half furnished, down
cast. ard despairlng. Such is too often the case
of those who gnorantly engage IN mining, of all
speculatIons The must brilliant, promising, ialla-
cous.
Poverty soon fell upon these misguided men.
They exhausted the little property they had
brought from Span. Many suffered extremely
from hunger, and were Obliged to exchange even
their apparel for bread. Some formed connex-
ions with the old settlers OF the island but the
greater part were like men lost and bewlldcred,
and just awakened from dream. The msercs
OF the mlnd, as usual, heightened the suherlngs
OF the body. Some wasted away and died bro
ken hearted; others were hurried away by rag
ing levers, so mat there soon persisted upwards
vi thousand men"
BiowiHg up The Small Por-A crazy fc low
IN Connecticut ihe other day threw largo guam
tlIy oi powder into hls fireplace. for The purpose,
as he sand, Of dIigiHg The Smai Jor oct Of The
GIgyhgnff I'm
The Nicholson letter, IN winch Gen. CHss recon-
nends The diffusion Of slavery as the best Ino lie
81 eNtlnguishing It. IL is our melancholy duty
TO add that the experiment proved iatal.-Er
change Paper
Gold Made 10 Ordsr-W understand that
splendid specimens Of CIllioina gold are beng
III this city out Of brass hhngs ana
sard Il is intended to take out some OF these
specimens to San Francisco, ~ barlef with green
horns from the States" on their first arrival IN
those " dIsglnss. Aba'y ErPress.
a fearful event has occurred in the Canadian
Insane Asylum. During the absence OF the Su
perlnlendent two patients had beeu paced IN one
cell, contrary 10 The rules. Wnen The cell was
opened 1t was iuuud that one OF the patients was
dread;ully manged both his eyes being put out
LARGEST BABY YET.-.4 Race Of GidniS
Mr.. and Mrs. Randall, the celebrated Scotch
gan. aud giantess, have recently had a son born
To them, at their residence, near Mineral Point,
Wisconsin, whose weight at three days old was
twenIy-one pounds lhls is their first child,
and is, we believe, the first successful expert
mcnt IN inoiCrn times, IN the production OF u
race OF giants. They do great things IN WIS
cousin nova days. -ROchesier .7me,icGn.
o. Ripe Strawberries we're gathered in the
'. MI nh, Ma, ,,lt