313 



Mr. Dubois laid before the Society a specimen of Australian 

 gold, in grains, from Mount Alexander, 



^ Until within a few months, no specimen of gold from Australia 



could be obtained by the mint, except by sending to the London mar- 

 ket. Recently, however, there have been four parcels brought hi- 

 ther for coinage, amounting to about $14,000. The sample herewith 

 shown is from one of those parcels, and is from the well-known min- 

 ing district of Mount Alexander, about 70 miles north of Port Phi- 

 lip, and 500 miles south-west from Sydney. The grains are quite 

 different in shape from those of California, being more globular or 

 shot-like; and the proportion of accompanying oxide of iron, and 

 extraneous substances, is found to be less by the loss in melting. 

 That loss scarcely exceeds H per cent, on the average, while the 

 best shipments of gold from California will average double that loss. 

 There is also a conspicuous difference in the amount of silver alloy 

 present. The particles from Anstraha varied from 960 to 966 thou- 

 sandths in fineness; the California gold may be said to average 875 

 to 885; making a difference in favour of the Australian gold, of 

 about ten per cent, in value. 



The value of the latter, in the unmelted grains, may be stated at 

 il9.67 per ounce; after melting, twenty dollars per ounce, within a 

 few cents. 



Mr. Fraley mentioned, in connection with this subject, that 

 a workman in the chemical manufactory of Mr. Lennig, in 

 this eity, had obtained gold by washing from the sand on the 

 bank of the Delaware river, near Bridesburg, about five miles 

 above Philadelphia. The gold thus obtained, by a day's la- 

 ' hour, was worth about twenty-five cents. 



On motion of Mr. Trego, it was resolved that the Secretary 

 be instructed to communicate to Mr. George Parish, the thanks 

 of the Society for the liberality of his family in relinquishing 

 their claim to the collection of coins and medals deposited with 

 the Society by the late David Parish, in the year 1816; — and 

 that he be directed to return to Mr. George Parish, the two 

 medals mentioned in his letter read this evening, which the 

 family wish to retain. 



Mr. Trego, as Reporter, presented No. 48 of the Proceed- 

 ings of the Society, recently published. 



