128 Remarks on the Gold Mines of Virginia. 



I visited and explored the tracts in question, on both sides of the 

 river, after having also examined, to a sufficient extent, the adjacent 

 gold mining estates. 



My visit to these grounds was reserved for the last, among a series 

 of examinations of gold mines, and of tracts of gold-producing lands, 

 which occupied me during several weeks, and which carried me 

 through a continued line in the gold region, extending from the 

 Union mine, in Fauquier County, to the mines of Buckingham — 

 about eighty miles. 



During these investigations, in which I have been very ably as- 

 sisted by persons having exact local knowledge, and much acquaint- 

 ance with the peculiar indications of gold mines in the region in 

 question, I myself acquired the requisite familiarity with the phys- 

 ical features of the country, and a degree of skill in judging of the 

 indications that are important to be observed. My last occupation 

 antecedent to visiting these lands, was in the grounds of the Cul- 

 peper Mining Company, on the Rapidan river, which forms the 

 boundary, on one side, of the narrow neck of land included between 

 the river just named and the Rappahannock : this tract does not, at 

 this place, exceed three miles in breadth. The Culpeper mine, as 

 appears from the facts stated above, is one of decided value. 



For the same reason that I mentioned the Walton mine and other 

 gold tracts in its immediate vicinity, in connexion with the notice of 

 the lands of the Virginia and New England Company in Louisa 

 County, I name the Culpeper mine here, and also the other mines 

 in the same region,* because their vicinity to this tract makes them, 

 in some measure, a key to the true nature of the territory. I allude 

 to the gold mines that are intermediate between the Culpeper and 

 the present territory, namely, the Rossin, the Cromarty, and the 

 Millbank, all of which, we are assured, are valuable gold grounds, 

 and they form an uninterrupted line of communication to these lands. 

 I visited the Millbank mine, and although I had no opportunities of 

 investigation while there, the favorable opinion entertained by the 

 proprietors of the value of this mine, is sufficiently indicated by the 

 extensive adit which they are now cutting there, preparatory to other 

 still more important operations. The Millbank mine completes the 

 series, beginning at the Culpeper and proceeding N. E. until we 



* I am informed by Mr. James Williams, of Fredericksburg, that several places 

 of richer ores have more recently been discovered at the Culpeper Mine. 



F. Shepherd, 



