the Native Gold discovered in Ireland. 
45 
found lying on the surface. The situation of the place, and 
the constant command of water, do, however, very clearly 
point out the great facility with which the gold might be se- 
parated from the trash, by adopting the mode of working 
practised at the best managed tin stream works in the county 
of Cornwall ; that is, entirely to remove (by machinery) the 
whole cover off the rock, and then wash it in proper buddies 
and sieves. And by thus continuing the operations, constantly 
advancing in the ravine towards the mountain, as long as gold 
should be found, the vein that forms its matrix might probably 
be laid bare. 
The discovery was made public, and the workings began, 
early in the month of September last, and continued till the 15th 
of October, when a party of the Kildare militia arrived, and 
took possession by order of government ; and the great con- 
course of people, who were busily engaged in endeavouring to 
procure a share of the treasure, immediately desisted from their 
labour, and peaceably retired. 
Calculations have been made, that during the foregoing pe- 
riod, gold to the amount of three thousand pounds Irish ster- 
ling was sold to various persons ; the average price was three 
pounds fifteen shillings per ounce; hence eight hundred ounces 
appear to have been collected within the short space of six 
weeks. 
The gold is of a bright yellow colour, perfectly malleable ; 
the specific gravity of an apparently clean piece 19,000. A 
specimen, assayed here by Mr. Weaver, in the moist way, 
produced from 24 grains, 22-/^- grains of pure gold, and l-^y 
of silver. Some of the gold is intimately blended with, and 
adherent to quartz; some (it is said) was found united to the 
G 2 
