d effect in such a colony as Ceylon. We have before us
the two pictures of California and Australia, which have been changed
as though by the magician's wand within the last few years. It becomes
us now simply to consider the probability of the gold being in such
quantities in Ceylon as to effect such changes. We have it present
these simple data--that in a soft, swampy soil gold has been found
close to the surface in small specks, gradually increasing in size and
quantity as a greater depth has been attained.

From the fact that gold will naturally lie deep, from its specific
gravity, it is astonishing that any vestige of such a metal should be
discovered in such soil so close to the surface. Still more astonishing
that it should be so generally disseminated throughout the locality.
This would naturally be accepted as a proof that the soil is rich in
gold. But the question will then arise, Where is the gold? The
quantities found are a mere nothing--it is only dust: we want "nuggets."

The latter is positively the expression that I myself frequently heard
in Ceylon--"We want nuggets."

Who does not want nuggets? But people speak of "nuggets" as they would
of pebbles, forgetting that the very principle which keeps the light
dust at the surface has forced the heavier gold to a greater depth, and
that far from complaining of the lack of nuggets when digging has
hardly commenced, they should gaze with wonder at the bare existence of
the gold in its present form and situation.

The diggings at Ballarat are from a hundred to an hundred and sixty
feet deep in hard ground, and yet people in Ceylon expect to find heavy
gold in mere mud, close to the surface. The idea is preposterous, and
I conceive it only reasonable to infer from the present appearances
that gold does exist in large quantities in Ceylon. But as it is
reasonable to suppose such to be the case, so it is unreasonable to
suppose that private individuals will invest capital in so uncertain a
speculation as mining without facilities from the government, and in
the very face of the clause in their own title-deeds "that all precious
metals belong to the crown."

This is the anomalous position of the gold in Ceylon under the
governorship of Sir G. Anderson.

Nevertheless, it becomes a question whether we should blame the man or
the system, but the question arises in this case, as with everything
else in which government is concerned, "Where is the fault?" "E