The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1853-01-12
. WoODsFIELD, OHIO, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 70, 1853

WIFI grams anu SCALES Oi BoIu. 1Ho oeuS
Of the streams descending from the Blue
Mountain range we're found to be aurifer
Gus. The discovery was soon noised
abroad, and in a months time, thousands
of miners were digging in the "Ophir"
discovered Prospecters were fortun ate in
discovering gold in the colony of Victoria.
Gold was discovered at the volcanic hill
called Buninyong, about fifty miles west
: of Melbourne. In October, 1851, seven
thousand miners were here assembled.
Richer deposits were found at the base of
Mount Alexander and OF Bendigo creek.
Forty thousand miners have been collect
ed at these localities.
| The license system, adopted by the
Government, has been effective for the
preservation Of order.
The gold Of Australia is very pure and
is found occasionally in large masses call
ed nuggets" corruption of ingots.-
Soon after the discovery of gold. such
mass was found by black shepherd in the
bed of creek in the Turon district.
Another weighing over 27 pounds, was
found at Forest Creek, Mt. Alexander; it
contains no quartz but is massive lump
of very fine color; it is II inches in
length and five in breadth at the widest
part.
The amount of gold raised since the
discovery, is estimated at not less than
thirty millions of dollars, and the gold
region contains an area Of about 10000
square miles. Here, assin California, the
matrix of the gold is in quartz, and when
suitable mills shall be put in operation to
crush the quartz, the yield will be immense.
The emigration from the British Islands
to Australia, is at the rate of one thousand
a week, and from Canada and the United
States, large numbers have gone and the
number is increasing. The harbors Of
Melbourne and Sydney, are crowded with
shipping, and the foundations of new
seats of commerce and empire are thus
being laid on the shores Of the Pacific.
The British convict prison and colony,
is located on the left bank of the river
Derwent, a fine stream. The prison is in
the very heart of Hobart Town. 1t is the
principal convict depot in Australia, and
the largest, probably in the world. Hun.
dreds of miserable beings are drafted out
here daily for other convict stations in the
interior oil the island, TO work out in chains
their respective terms OF punishment
Whilst on the other hand. as many are
daily pouring in from other points OF this
"ocean JAIL" whose term of slavery has
expired for the time being This is what
the Government term probationary pun
ishinent. 10
A writer in the Alta California, gives the
following description Of the manner Of
working the convcts at this station:
"When a convict ship arrives from
England, the prisoners are Immediately,
under strong guard, marched into the
penitentiary. From this place they are
Immediately sent away in companies to
different stations in the colony, to work in
chains, for stated period, which entirely
depends on the term Of their original sem
tence in England. Some are sent out for
five years, others for seven, fourteen, and
twenty. Zone; and many for life. The lat.
ter class are termed Bellowsers. Should
those on probation misconduct themselves
whilst in chains, they are severely dealt
with, and have to perform double term
of probationary punishment; but in case
of good conduct, they are, at the expira.
ton of their time, marched down to head
quarters, and permitted now to 60 to SER
vice in the towns and villages. For in
stance, should the convict be tradesman,
he goes to work at his trade, if he can find
~ master to take him; and for this purpose
he is permitted al certain hours to search
the town in quest of one. He is now bound
to do regular days work; the only re-
muneration he receives is his food, and
about $45 per year, just sufficient to keep
him in tobacco. He is not permitted to
quit his masters house for moment,
without written permission to that effect
from his employer, and on no considera-
ton is he allowed to be absent after 8 o.
clock, P. M. If he should at any time be
guilty of insolence or intoxication, he is
forthwith handed to policeman, who con-
ducts him to the Police Court; here he is
very summarily dealt with; if he is not
fogged, he is sent back again to the noun.
tains TO work in chains another term Of
probation, or perhaps he gets treated to a
three or six months step on the treadmill.
But, on the other hand, should he con-
duct himself properly at his masters house
for period Of years, depending again on
the length of his original sentence, he re.
ceives. for his good conduct "Ticket Of
Leave;" this now enables him to choose
his own master and to keep his evenings
to his own use. However, he is still -un.
der the surveillance Of the police, and has
to register all his proceedings at the Office
for that purpose.
There are thousands Of this class, both
male and female, employed in this man.
ner. Scarcely family in the Island, who
are in the habit Of keeping servants, can
be found. who do not employ or have not
am nloved tho class referred N