Remarks on the Gold Mines of Virginia. 115 



The ptoduct of the four trials was — 

 1. For one hundred pounds, 



Q <f a " . . . . 



3 " "■ " 



4 " ''■ " 



$165 69 



Division by four gives the average ^41 42 for one hundred 

 pounds. 



This result, startling as it is from its magnitude, is, I am certain, 

 below the truth, because some of the gold was lost in the washings. 

 That there was no imposition is equally certain. I went with the 

 master miners to the ore-house the moment of my arrival : the pro- 

 cesses were, from beginning to end, conducted under my constant 

 inspection and that of two confidential companions, and during this 

 time the ore-house, including every thing relating to the processes, 

 was double-locked whenever I left it, and the keys were always 

 about my person until we resumed our work, nor did I ever, at any 

 moment, leave the premises while they were open. 



It may be added also, that the character of the master miners 

 places them above all suspicion, and neither they nor any one con- 

 cerned in assisting in the labor, had the smallest interest in the re- 

 sult. 



I can truly say, that I could have wished the product had been 

 less rather than more, for I greatly fear the effect on the community 

 of the golden dreams which it may produce, and therefore repeat 

 the cautions already thrown out. I would suggest, that an average 

 much lower than that actually obtained, should be the one adopted, 

 to be acted upon. It would certainly be wise to throw the fourth 

 trial aside, as one which, although it may be sometimes exceeded at 

 this mine, (which I am informed has been the fact,) may not often be 

 attained, and never except upon selected or accidental specimens. 

 The three first trials would appear to give results such as may often 

 be looked for ; their average is $ 10 32 to the one hundred pounds of 

 ore, but it would probably be unwise to form any important arrange- 

 ments even upon this result. It is, I suppose, certain, that one far 

 below this, even as low as that obtained in the first trial, would form 

 a very safe basis of proceeding, granting that speculation has not 

 enormously enhanced the price of the stock. As to this, as I can 

 form no calculations whatever, I wish distinctly to disclaim any re= 



