790

(1850'S GOLD MINING)

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(1850'S GOLD MINING)
Good content grouping of seven letters from Newton Manross, professor and botanist from Amherst College, 2pp.- 4pp. 8vo.- 4to., penned between Mar. 1854 and June 1856. Manross traveled extensively in search of gold and adventure in the Americas, and relates many interesting experiences, in small part: "...Lapuquien Mar. 20, 1854...their misfortune has provided a great drawback to the expedition…I found it utterly impossible to procure any assistance which would enable me to commence digging with any prospect of profitable results…the best thing I could do would be to…ascertain the direction and extent of the gold formation…I am preparing to explore the river…stopping at intervals to wash for gold…[we] dragged our boat over rapids finally arriving at Lapuquien in a bark canoe…since the discovery of the gold in '47…very few have been found more than 7 oz…richer deposits are to be found in other parts of the gold formation which I have traveled for 100 miles…men of the right sort. [Manross' partners] Had they arrived in season…could have afforded time to prospect…Spartanburg S.C. Oct. 29, 1854…Col. Leitner…has several mines to examine several miles apart…the whole country here is full of gold. You can wash it in every brook and dry it on every hill…Steamer George Law May 5, 1856…there are perhaps two hundred people around me and as many out deck overhead…the passengers are of all ages…German, French…and nigger…which…hiss and grumble and chatter…we passengers saw the iron lighthouse that stands ten miles in the sea…we entered the harbor of Havana…hundreds of black…cannon yawned at us…I visited [a hill] where the 52 Americans were shot in the time of Leapez…just as we passed the Moro castle we saw something…there was a hearse with black plumes drawn by two black horses…soldiers wheeled into line and took aim at something…the crack of the muskets…told plainly what it was…Bocus del Toro June 5, 1856…we had a very pleasant cruise around the coast of the lagoon…hunting wild hogs, monkeys, parrots…I never saw anything so fine as those coral groves…". Two of the letters have paper affecting content, but overall are very legible. Along with an A.L.S. 2pp. 8vo., New Haven, Ct., May 6, 1853 introducing Manross to parties in Chile, and two others letters that are fragmented and when restored should yield good content. Nine items.