PRECIOUS METALS IX TUK WEST OF ENGLAND. 109 



It is also worthy of consideration that tho tine alhivial 

 matter waslied away in obtaining- so large a (piantity of tin must 

 have contained a good deal of float-gold, part of wliicli could 

 have been saved had the use of mercury for that purpose })een 

 known, so that the actual quantity of metallic gold present may 

 have very largely exceeded the estiiuate given above. Still I do 

 not wish to suggest tliat these alluvials would ever have paid to 

 work for their gold contents alone-^ although gold might not 

 infreij^uently have been a somewhat important bye-product." 



Gold in the metallic state has been found, but only in small 

 quantities, in several of the cross-courses, and in particular at 

 North Molton, in Devon, at Wheal Sparnon, in Eedruth,"^ in 

 Woolf's f'.ross-course in Breage, at Beacon Hill, Falmouth, on 

 the cliffs to the north of Camborne, and at a few other places. 

 It probably exists in many of the cross -courses and perhaj)s in 

 some of tho E. and W. lodes. This will plainly apj)ear from 

 what follows : — 



In the year 1840 Mr. S. Moyle reported to the Eoyal 

 Institution of Cornwall that he and Mr. Percival Johnston had 

 about eight years since "found gold in the jiy rites of a mine near 

 Wheal Grorland to the extent of 89 ozs. to the ton, and in five out 

 of seven samples taken from a mine in Perranzabuloe from four 

 to seven ozs. to the ton.-'' 



of the Penzance Antiquarian Society), which was 4^ inches long and weighed 10 dwt. 

 16 grains. A massive fibula of gold found near the Lisard which weighed 514; ozs., is 

 also figured in the same volume. 



Gold lunettes, or torques, have been foinid in I)arrows on several occasions and 

 one is figured by Lysons in his J/ai;?i/t BriH ,• another was found in the parish of St. 

 Juliott ; this weighed down eight sovereigns. The most interesting find was that of 

 two torques at Harlyn near Padstow, which are described and figured in the second 

 volume of our journal. The gold in these torques is worth ;^50 ; and that amount was 

 paid to the finder by a few members of this institution, so as to secure it for the 

 museum, the Prince of Wales, our present King Edward, having waived his right to 

 them as treasure-trove. Among other finds may be mentioned the chain of gold 

 found by Mr. Davies Gilbert [see his History, Vol. 4, p. .^3, Talland.] 



21. In very ancient times gold was no doubt the product of .slave labour or of the 

 pastime of the women and children having little to do with their time. 



22. An analysis of native gold from the St. Austell moors made many j-ears ago bj' 

 Mr. David Forbes gave gold go. 12 per cent, silver g.05 per cent, silica and oxide of 

 iron Q.83 per cent. 



23. Found by Mr. John Garbj^ in the year 1845. 



24. Rep. R.I.C. 1841 p. 77. 



