Correspondence.

Colonist, Issue 24, 12 January 1858, Page 2

Correspondence.

To the Editor of the Colonist. Sir, —The perusal of your article, extracted from the Leader, entitled "A Revised..English.. Bible," brings to my recollection a passage in a speech of one ofthe greatest ornaments of British literature, I mean Mr. Burke. In a speech delivered in Parliament nearly a century ago, on the presentation of a clerical petition for relief from subscription, he is,reported to . have expressed himself as followsj in speaking of the " sacred volume," as the book called the Bible is styled:—"The Scriptures is no one summary of doctrines regularly digested in which man could not mistake his way. It is a most venerable, but most multifarious collection of the records of the Divine economy—a collection of an infinite variety of cosmogony, theology, history, prophecy, psalmody, morality, apologetic legislation, and ethics, carried through different books by different authors at different ages, for different ends and purposes. It is necessary to sort out. what is intended for example ; what is only narrative} what i 3 to be understood literally; what figuratively; where oue precept is to be contrasted and modified by another ; what is used directly and what only as am argumentum ad hqminem ; what is of temporary and what of perpetual obligation; what* • appropriate to one state and to one set of men; and what to the general duty of Christians.,, He then goe3 on to say—" If we do not get some security for this, we not only permit biit we actually countenance and justify all the dangerous fanaticisms which can be produced to corrupt, the people and derange the public worship of the country. That a revision of the English Bible is called for by the growing intelligence of the human race, the thousand and one Dissenting congregations that may he seen tracing their way to their various chapels and conventicles, sufficiently attest; but that the Church of England, as by law established, should express any such want is, I think, very problematical., Should, however, so desirable an object be un-' dertaken, it is to be hoped that the revisers will see the propriety, as well as the Christian charity of expunging some passages in the Gospel according to St. Mark, and in the latter part of the last chapter of Revelation!" • As I am sure the smallest .contributions towards Effecting so desirable an object , will be thankfully, received by those who may set about so laudable an undertaking, ... Your insertion of the above will oblige . Yours, &c.,' SENEX ALBUS.

To the Editor ofthe Colonist. Sib, —Some time ago when I was in Sydney I had sent to me, in order to get to know its commercial value, two samples generally known' as black sand, and which remains with the gold in the tin dish or riffle box of tbe digger. I took it to a competent assayer in Sydney, and the enclosed is his report on the same. If you think it will prove *>f service to any one you are at liberty to publish the same. .- Ycurs, &c, G. W. LIGHTBAND.

Assay Office, 212, George-street, Sydney. October.2Bth, 1857. Sir,—l regret that a prolonged absence from town on judicial business, should have occasioned a delay in forwarding you a report upon: the two samples placed in my hands for examination. I find the two specimens to be similar in composition, though differing considerably in the relative proportions of tlieir component parts.. - No. 1, (the smaller sample) may be said to consist principally of three formations; Ist, minute grains, having considerable magnetic attraction; 2nd, larger grains, approaching the octohedral crystallization, and not. magnetic; and 3rd, silicious sand, nearly free from any admixture. The specific gravity of the crystals, =3*7. ■ On analysis I find principally the oxides of iron as the sole constituents of the two first divisions, with traces of silica. I could detect the presence of tin, or titanic acid, in neither. • ■ ■ The only difference between the first sample and that contained in the leather bag, consists in the much greater quantity of magnetic iron in the former. This sand has been proved by experiment in other localities, to produce metallic iron of a very superior quality, but oifers many difficulties in working owing to its minute division, which causes it to blow away when subjected to the action of a b ast furnace. I need hardly mention the presence of gold in these samples, as I presume they have been collected on that account principally. I have deemed it unnecessary to institute a quantitative analysis; the object being merely to ascertain the commercial value -of the samples. Allow me to remain, Sir, your obedient servant, Chas. J.Hodgson. To Mr. G. W. Lightband, Nelson.