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Californian Quicksilver. — It is not improbable that gold may be found to 
constitute but a small proportion of the wealth derivable from California. It 
has for some time past been known that quicksilver abounds in that locality 
to an enormous extent. About twelve months ago a capitalist embarked with 
the requisite machinery for working a mine, and the result has more than 
realised his most sanguine expectations. On his return to England in quest 
of additional machinery, we are informed that he found a letter from the 
great Rothschild — the present mercury monopolist — requesting an interview 
with him in London— for what purpose it is easy to guess. We believe 
this request was not acceded to. The reports respecting the extent of the 
supply in the new mines are almost incredible. We have been informed 
that within a few weeks of the commencement of operations by the party 
alluded to, assisted by five men, a quantity of mercury was raised equal in 
value to 5^100,000 at the present market price. Even allowing a large 
discount for exaggeration, there is no reason to doubt that the supply is 
almost unlimited, and that the metal can be profitably sold at less than half 
its present price. The silver mines in Mexico, which have for years been 
unproductive, on account of the prohibitory price of mercury, may now be 
supplied on reasonable terms, and every branch of trade and manufacture 
in which mercury is used, will acquire a similar stimulus. — Pharmaceutical 
Journal, November 1, 1850. 
Consumption of Spirits in Great Britain. — According to a return re- 
cently made, the total number of gallons of proof spirits distilled in the 
United Kingdom during the year ending January 5, 1850, was 24,775,128, 
distributed among the three kingdoms thus: — England, 5,573,411 gallons, 
of which 5,362.600 were from malt with unmalted grain, 17,337 from sugar 
or molasses with unmalted grain, 13,931 from sugar, and 176,533 from mo- 
lasses; Scotland 10,846,634 gallons, of which 6,058,086 were from malt 
only, 4,788,548 from malt with unmalted grain; Ireland 8,355,883 gallons, 
of which 85,756 were from malt only, 8,047,077 from malt with unmalted 
grain, and 222,250 from sugar or molasses with unmalted grain. The num- 
ber of gallons of proof spirit on which duty was paid for home consumption 
in the United Kingdom was 22,962,012, the total amount of duty being 
£5,747,218 Is., distributed as follows: — England, 675,036 gallons from malt 
only, 8,166,226 from malt mixed with unmalted grain, 14,740 from sugar, 
and 171,052 from molasses; total, 9,053,676 gallons, on which ^3,546,023 
2s. duty was paid, at the rate of 7s. lOd. per gallon ; Scotland 4,950,736 gal- 
lons from malt only, 1,984,115 from malt mixed with unmalted grain, and 
152 from sugar ; total, 6,035,003 gallons, on which the duty at 3s. 8d per 
