Miscellaneous Intelligence. 295 
sults obtained by putting specimens or “ nuggets” through the regular 
On one occasion a lump, weighing over 
200 pounds, came to us for this purpose. It was sent by the Isthmus 
to them, and with attachments for weighing in water. We therefore 
had frequent recourse to the method advised by the elder Dr. Patterson 
Garmactly President of this Society), which consisted in using a jar or 
pitcher, rather larger than the specimen, and not over-large at the 
mouth ; this was filled with water up to a marked line; and then, by in- 
troducing the specimen, and bringing back the water to the same line, 
so much water was removed as was just equal in bulk to the bulk of the 
specimen ; the weight of this water gave the divisor, the weight of the 
oe (taken while dry), the dividend, and the quotient was the spe- 
avity. 
f ie thus obtained were, generally, as satisfactory as those by 
the usual method. And here it may be interesting to cite a few exam- 
ples from our minutes, of specimens estimated by one or other of the 
Processes mentioned, and afterwards melted down and assayed as regular 
deposits, 
or lump of quartz, containing gold, found by two Mexicans of the 
“Sonorian camp,” in California, weighed 2654 ounces: assuming the 
Sate at the sp. gr. of 2°60, the amount of gold appeared by sp. gr. of 
¢ lump, to be 2094 ounces; the actual amount was 2114 ounces.—2. 
rt lump, where we assumed the matrix at 2°64, gave an estimate 
Of 1003 ounces of gold; the actual product was 100;5 ounces—3. Four 
Pebbles taken together, estimated at 77 ounces; actual content 76% 
In practice 
us now shown was found to answer best. t 
vate satisfactory substitute for the tedious and irk- 
