On the relative value of specimens of native gold from the different countries whence it is brought to market in these colonies

The circumstances in which these colonies are now placed give a special interest to communications which may in any way tend to elucidate the structure and combinations of the metals generally, more especially of that precious metal, the discovery of which on the main-land of Australia has been productive of such serious effects upon the inhabitants of Van Diemen's Land.
The extent to which gold is daily bought and sold renders it very desirable to establish, within as narrow limits as possible, the value of a commodity whose intrinsic worth, great in itself, is very liable to deterioration by admixture with foreign bodies.