l2 Olnisled on the Gold Mines of JSorth Carolina. 



which is a lower level than any I had heard of before^ 

 The idea of an aqueous deposit, which is apt to be im- 

 pressed upon us whenever we either inspect the formation 

 or reflect upon its origin, would lead us to expect, on ac- 

 count of the great specific gravity of gold, that the largest 

 masses would be found at the lowest depths. But I am 

 Dot aware that any uniformity exists in this respect. The 

 largest mass hitherto discovered was, as has been mention- 

 ed already, found within a few inches of the surface. It 

 is evident that the thin stratum which contains the metal, 

 will be buried at different depths, by variable quantities of 

 alluvial earth, that are accumulated over it by causes still in 

 operation ; and consequently, that the depth at which the 

 stratum happens to be met with in any given place, is no 

 criterion of its richness. Nor does the fact that this fortu- 

 nate discovery was made at a lower level than ordinary, af- 

 ford any encouragement to work lower than the usual 

 depth. It might interest geological curiosity, however, to 

 learn the nature of the strata below the gold deposit, al- 

 though I do not know that the existence of this furnishes 

 any reasonable grounds for supposing that there are other 

 similar deposits below it. I could not find that any search 

 had been made with such an expectation except in a single 

 instance. Near the spot where the largest mass was 

 found, the earth was penetrated a few feet below the gold 

 bed. Immediately beneath this was a thin layer of green 

 sand, and next a similar layer of a bright yellow sand. 

 These had a very handsome appearance, but neither of 

 them seemed to contain any thing more precious than mica. 



The ter-nis on which the pro[)rietors of the mines per- 

 mit them to be worked, vary with the productiveness of the 

 earth which is worked. Some of the miners rent for a 

 fourlh of the gold found 5 some for a third, and others claim 

 half, which is the highest premium hitherto, paid. The 

 average product at Reed's mine was not more than sixty 

 cents a day to each labourer; but the undertakers are 

 buoyed up with the hope of some splendid discovery, like 

 those which have occasionally been made. 



The mines have given some peculiarities to the state of 

 society in the neighbouring country. The precious metal 

 is a most favourite acquisition, and constitutes the common 

 currency. Almost every man carries about with him a 



