270 Scientijlo Proceedings, Royal Dublin Society. 



1^ pounds had been found in the upper part of one of the rivers 

 but, as it was supposed to be copper, it remained for several years 

 in the possession of a family named Byrne (who used it as a 

 weight). However, about this time it was sold to an itinerant 

 tinker, who again sold it to a jeweller in Capel-street, Dublin. 



When the riches to be obtained from the valley became known, 

 the peasants congregated from the surrounding districts to take 

 part in the spoil, and " over 300 women, besides great numbers of 

 ipen and boys, were engaged in the work." They continued in 

 undisturbed possession at Ballinvally for about six weeks, ob- 

 tainino-, according to Mills, who wrote immediately after they 

 ceased, about £8,000 (Irish) of gold (or as it sold for £3 15s. per 

 oz., about 800 oz.). Mr. Graham, however, estimated it as £10,000 

 worth, or 2,666 ounces. 



The work being quite novel, the peasants' method of extracting 

 the gold was extremely rude, and after rain metallic specks were 

 to be seen on the waste heaps, which subsequently afforded a 

 profit on re-washing. They found that the richest place was from 

 200 yards below the Ballinasilloge ford to 150 yards above it. 

 The largest nugget* they obtained is recorded as having weighed 

 20 oz. 2 dwt. 21 grs., but Mills mentions one as having been found 

 that weighed 22 oz., others of 5 oz., and of 2 oz. 17 dwt. 



In October (1795) the Government sent the Kildare Militia to 

 occupy the place, " when the great concourse of people, who were 

 busily engaged in endeavouring to procure a share of the treasure, 

 immediately desisted from their labour and peaceably retired," or 

 migrated to explore other streams. 



The Government having obtained an Act of the Parliament of 

 Ireland,-f started regular streaming works in the August of the 

 following year, 1796, under Messrs. King, Weaver, and Mills, who 

 were directed — 



" In the first instance, to endeavour to collect all the gold deposited, 

 and thereby to remove every temptation for the assembling of mobs, 



* This was weighed by William Molesworth, who found it to have the remarkably low 

 specific gravity of 12 although worth £4 per oz. ; he foxmd it full of cavities and pores. 

 Kirwan found the specific gravity of another piece to be 13. 



, f This was an Act " To enable the Lords Commissioners of His Majesty's Treasury to 

 conduct the workings of a gold mine in the county of Wicklow," which received the Royal 

 assent, 24th April, 1797. 



