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SCIENCE libRAtº
Q E
3 °3
, /M 43
A MEMOIR,
ON
T H E D I A M O N D.
A.
M. E. M. O I R.
ON
T H E TX I A M O N D.
:
BY
JOHN MURRAY, F.S.A., F.L.S., F.H.S., F.G.S.
Member of the Meteorological Society of London, and of the Wernerian
Society of Edinburgh ; * Honorary Member” of the Medico-Chirurgical
Society of Hull, of the Medical Society of Inverness, of the Philoso-
phical Societies of Sheffield and Hull ; and of the Mechanics’
Institutes of Eaſeter, Devonport, Portsmouth, Hull, York,
Halifax, and Bristol: * Corresponding Member” of the
Northern Institution, the Horticultural Society
of Edinburgh, &c. &c.
LONDON :
L6NGMAN, REES, ORME, BROWN & GREEN.
MDCCCXXXI.
To
ADVERTISEMENT.
I am indebted to a great variety of sources for
the materials which form this Memoir. Among
the Works consulted, have been—“Jefferies on
Diamonds,” “ Mawe on Diamonds and Precious
Stones,” “Mawe's Travels in the Brazils,” &c. :
but the greater part is obtained from notes and me-
moranda collected from numerous insulated chan-
nels of information, at various times. I am also
much indebted to the personal communications of
private friends for some of my remarks connected
with the history of individual Diamonds.
The diamond is a gem altogether unique—itself
alone, and separated from all other precious stones
by peculiar and distinct characters, physical as well
as chemical. Though thus distinguished, it has had
viii
few separate chroniclers, yet it surely merits a par-
ticular memoir. The private history and adven-
tures of this imperial and princely gem have
been often curious, and connected as they have
occasionally been with state machinery, and the
vicissitudes of private fortune, may sometimes
“point a moral, or adorn a tale.” I have endea-
voured to be as little diffuse as possible. My
information has been drawn from the best authori-
ties I have had access to ; and only regret that the
materials are so limited. Its natural, commercial,
and economical history are themes of interest and
curiosity.
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EXPLANATION OF THE PLATE.
Fig. I. Superficies of the Diamond of the Rajah of Mattan.
2. Ditto of the Austrian yellow Diamond. Sé
3. Ditto of the Diamond of the Sceptre of Russia.
4. Ditto of the Nassac Diamond belonging to the East
India Company.
5. Ditto of the Piggott Diamond.
6. Ditto of the largest Diamond in the British Crown.
7. Ditto`of the fine blue Diamond worn at the Corona-
tion of GEORGE the FourTH.
8. Ditto of the “ Regent Diamond,” the largest and finest
among the Crown Jewels of France.
9. A Scale of the comparative sizes of Brilliants, 12, 8,
4, 3, 2, and I carats, exhibiting the girth of each
taken round the “girdle,” and the depth; the lower
figures representing the latter—taken from a Dia-
mond guage.
Note—The Figures represent the several Diamonds, of
their real size, copied from a series of correct and beautiful
models in the author's possession.
C O N T E N T S.
CHAPTER. I.
Introductory Remarks—Knowledge of the antients on the Dia-
mond—Combustibility of this Gem—Its chemical mature—Artificial
production questioned—Its physical and peculiar properties.
CHAPTER II.
Gangue of the Diamond, and its geological associates—Its crystal-
line forms—Conjectures on its origin—Localities: Asia, the Brazils
—lately discovered in the Ural Mountains, and in Ireland.
CHAPTER III.
Various forms into which Diamonds are cut—Mode of estimating
the value of Diamonds—Applications of the Diamond—Coloured
Diamonds—That of Austria—“George IV.”—The blue Diamond
of France—The black Diamond of His late Royal Highness the
Duke of York.
CHAPTER IV.
The large uncut Diamond of Portugal—The great Mogul Diamond
—That of the Rajah of Mattan—The Sceptre Diamond of Russia—
The Pitt or Regent Diamond—The Sanci—Piggott—Nassac, &c.—
Diamonds of the Brazilian Treasury—Experiments on the Diamond.
A
M E M O I R,
&c.
CHAPTER I.
INTRODUCTORY REMARKS-KNOWLEDGE OF TIIE ANTIENTS ON
TIIE DIAMOND–COMBUSTIBILITY OF THIS GEM-ITS CHE-
MICAL NATURE–ARTIFICIAL PRODUCTION QUESTIONED–
ITS PHYSICAL AND PECULIAR PROPERTIES,
THE diamond seems to have been known from
the most remote period of antiquity. We find
it was associated along with the emerald and the
sapphire in the second row of the twelve precious
stones on which the names of the children of Is-
rael were engraved, “every one with his name
according to the twelve tribes,” and these were
set in the breastplate of judgment worn by the
High Priest. What the URIM and THUMMIM*
were, which also adorned the breastplate, when
he went into the “holy of holies,” we have now
no accurate means of ascertaining, but as the
* URIM, Lights. THUMMIM, Perfections.
12
terms imply what is luminous and perfect, it is by
no means unlikely that these were diamonds of
great beauty and splendour, which reflected the
glories of the symbol of the Divine Presence.
Thus we know distinct names were given to the
two pillars that were reared in the porch of the
temple at Jerusalem; and the two chief diamonds
belonging to Persia are hyperbolically termed, in
the language of the east, “the Sea of Glory,” and
“ the Mountain of Splendour.”
The antients seem to have been well acquainted
with the use of the diamond in etching, and it is even
stated that the figure of Mars, or of Hercules sur-
mounting the Hydra, was engraved on it. The
diadem, which is more antient than the crown,
was not worn until after Constantine, in the lower
empire. This was a fillet, tied in a knot behind,
and adorned with pearls and diamonds, either in a
single or a double row, which empresses were
also permitted to wear. The diadem thus decorated
may be observed on some of the coins of Constan-
tine and Jovian. There is in the British Museum
an antient Roman gold ring, with an octoboedral
diamond set in it; and in the clasp of the mantle
of Charlemagne, still preserved at Paris, there are
four diamonds, natural crystals. It was sometimes
considered a talisman, and when under the planet
Mars, esteemed favourable. In former times it
13
was supposed to cure insanity, and to be an an-
tidote to poisons; notwithstanding which, Pa-
racelsus was said to have been poisoned by dia-
mond powder:* we believe it to be as inert in the
one case as it is harmless in the other. The Greeks
called this gem adapac (unconquerable); and ADA-
MANT was given to it in consequence of this supposi-
tious virtue, in that it was esteemed victorious over
fire, and to resist the hardest things. Antient Greek
writers describe it as only found in Ethiopia, be-
tween the island Meroe and the temple of Mercury.
The notions of the antients about it seem to be
altogether confused and indistinet. According to
Pliny, there existed between the diamond and the
magnet a natural antipathy. “There is,” says he,
“such a disagreement between a diamond and a
loadstone, that it will not suffer the iron to be at-
tracted; or if the loadstone be put to it and take
hold of it, it will pull it away.” It is needless to
* I was informed that diamond-powder, mixed up with oil,
for polishing, being left accidentally exposed by the lapidary,
some mice during the night had chuckled it up as a bonne
bouche; and that they felt no inconvenience from the dose
was evident, from repeated disappearance of a similar mix-
ture thus inadvertently neglected. They seem to have been
rather expensive inmates, as they thus devoured diamond-
powder to the amount of some pounds.
+ Pliny, lib. 37, chap. 4.
14
observe, no such antipathy can now be discovered
in the case; and if the grand test of inductive
...truth, “experimentum fiat,” had been then applied,
it would, like the witty monarch's problem pro-
pounded to the Royal Society, have been found an
equally gratuitous assumption. We, at least, have
found no diminution of the attractive powers of the
magnet, when we interposed between a magnet and
a fine needle no less than five fragments of diamond.
It has been stated, that the diamond was able to
resist the power of the highest temperatures, but
that it must be carefully removed from the furnace,
and suffered to cool gradually, otherwise it will
crack and fall to pieces. We have seen a large
and costly Brazilian diamond fractured accident-
ally in two by some such means ; but if we re-
member right, this was occasioned by a fall, after
having been subjected to heat. Many authors have
permitted their fancy to rove on some attribute
peculiar to the diamond, either real or supposed;
thus, we are told, that a diamond is softened and
broken if steeped in the blood of a goat; but not,
according to others, unless it be fresh and warm,
nor even then, fractured without blows; and that
it will also break the best hammers and anvils of
iron. Sir Thomas Brown says, that a diamond
being steeped in goat's blood rather receives thereby
an increase of hardness; “for,” he observes “the
15
best we have are comminuible without it; and are so
far from breaking hammers, that they submit to pis-
tillation, and resist not an ordinary pestle.” The
truth is, as far as the goat's blood is concerned it
makes no difference either way; and we know very
well that it is a matter of no difficulty to crush
the diamond in a steel mortar; from its lamellar
texture it is also capable of being split and cleaved,
and jewellers are by these means enabled to work
it. The test of a diamond, in the Brazils, we be-
lieve to be this: when placed on a hard stone,
and struck with a hammer, if it either resist the
blow, or separate into laminae, it is concluded to
be one. The introduction of a steel point will
easily separate the laminae of the diamond. Small
round diamonds cannot however be split.
From the extreme brilliancy of the diamond, and
its purity, it was consecrated to all that was ce-
lestial, and accordingly supposed that it would
triumph over all means employed to subdue it,
the solar ray, excepted. It did triumph indeed
over the hot furnaces to which it was exposed
in the crucible of the alchymist, but the spell which
united it to the sunbeam is now dissolved, and
it has yielded to the severity of the “torture and
inquisition” of modern chemistry. Newton, rea-
soning from its great density and high refractive
* Sir Thomas Brown, b. 2, p. 92,
16
property, concluded that the diamond was com-
bustible, or, to use his own language, “an unctuous
substance coagulated,” though he was in some
measure anticipated by Boetius de Boot, in 1609.
The event has amply verified this conjecture, and
the Tuscan philosophers and the Honourable Mr.
Boyle ascertained the fact. The first grand expe-
riment to prove the combustibility of the diamond
took place in the presence of Cosmo the III. Grand
Duke of Tuscany, wherein the diamond being ex-
posed in the focus of the great lens (still in the
Grand Duke's laboratory at Florence), it was en-
tirely volatilized. Guyton de Morveau, and others,
consumed the diamond, and it was readily dissipated
in the focus of the great mirror of Tchirnhausen, as
we believe it subsequently was in that of Parker's
burning lens. In the year 1771, Macquer observed
the diamond to inflame. Guyton de Morveau had
proved that the diamond was destroyed when pro-
jected into red-hot nitre; and it was also burnt by
means of melted nitre in a gold tube, by Mr. Ten-
nant. When fragments of diamond were intro-
duced into the brilliant arch of flame, evolved be-
tween points of charcoal in the galvanic batteries of
the Royal Institution, consisting of 2,000 double
plates, and exposing a surface of 128,000 square
inches, they rapidly disappeared, being completely
volatilized. The diamond may be easily consumed
I7
by being placed in a cavity of charcoal, and urging
on it the flame of a spirit lamp, by means of a
stream of oxygen.
So far the combustibility of the diamond was
completely ascertained, but its nature remained
still undetermined. Lavoisier had proved and
pointed out that carbonic acid gas was evolved as a
product both in the combustion of the diamond and
that of charcoal, and thus their identity was in-
ferred. The researches of Clouet, Messrs. Allen and
Pepys, and others, have confirmed this conclusion.
Sir George Mackenzie converted iron into steel
by powdered diamonds. Mr. Children's immense
battery consisted of twenty triads, each six feet
long, by two feet eight inches broad, exposing a
total surface of thirty-two feet; when iron, with
diamond powder interposed, was exposed to its
influence, the iron was converted into steel, and
the diamond disappeared; and Mr. Smithson Ten-
nant, having placed a diamond in a gold tube,
supported in a state of incandescence; a stream of
oxygen, by means of gentle pressure, was made to
traverse it," and the result proved that the oxygen
was transformed into an equal volume of carbonic
acid gas, which was found in an opposite receiver
resting over mercury. Sir Humphry Davy, when
at Florence, made some experiments with the
Grand Duke's burning lens, on the combustion of
18
the diamond. He found that when the gem was in-
troduced into a glass globe supplied with oxygen,
and kindled by the lens, it continued to burn af-
ter it was removed from the focus—the oxygen was
supplanted by an equal volume of carbonic acid
gas, while there was no deposit of aqueous vapour.
On the other hand, when plumbago and charcoal
were consumed under similar circumstances, there
was a sensible diminution of volume, and also a
formation of watery vapour, clearly proving that
the latter contained hydrogen.* Experiment has
thus unequivocally demonstrated that the diamond
is pure crystallized CARBON.
It was once stated that some approximation had
been made to the formation of the diamond in the
laboratory of the Royal Institution, with their ex-
tensive galvanic battery. By acting on charcoal in
vacuo, minute hard crystals were said to be formed
round the superior wire. Our informant, how-
ever, had but an indistinct idea of the mode
adopted, and the general features of the experi-
ments; and as it has never been announced or de-
scribed, in all probability there is some mistake in
the case. It does not seem to us at all probable that
diamonds are likely to be formed by an artificial
process, though we know the attempt has been
made both by means of the galvanic battery and
* Phil. Trans. Part II, 1814.
19
the compound-gas blowpipe; no fear need, how-
ever, be apprehended from any such rivalry, more
than from the method of forcing by artificial means
the unio margaritifera or meleagrina margaritifera
to form pearls at command. These molluscae either
would not obey the commission, or they were mis-
shapen, unsightly, and worthless. Spherules of
shells, or some other substance, flattened at the bot-
tom, are forcibly inserted between the animal and
the shell, in such a way as the animal may not be able
to displace them. These, in a short time, are covered
with a layer of pearly matter, which is supposed to be
secreted by the mantle. It has been stated in France,
that a solution of phosphorus in sulphuret of car-
bon yields minute diamonds. We have been in
the habit of using this compound for many years,
and have never discovered any thing of the kind;
and the diligent search we have made, since this
strange announcement, has been equally unsuccess-
ful—we believe diamonds are not so easily formed.
From the result of our experiments, we are inclined
to think, that in steel the charcoal assumes a crys-
taline form and arrangement.
The diamond is a gem characterised by its ex-
treme hardness; notwithstanding this, it often pre-
sents, in its rough state, sufficient evidence of having
undergone abrasion by friction. There is a pecu-
liar and almost indescribable grating sound produced
20
by rubbing two diamonds together in the hand,
which is a tolerably good test.* The diamond is
sometimes externally, and always internally, bright,
and causes a single refraction of the rays of light.
It is generally crystallized of various forms, of a
lamellar structure, strikes fire with steel, and is
the hardest of all known bodies; it cuts the hardest
crystals, even rubies and sapphires, and the oriental
amethyst. Nothing but diamond powder, obtained
by rubbing two diamonds against each other, can
polish it, and it is cut by fragments of diamond
set in a maule. The diamond is stated to be con-
sumed and volatilized at a temperature which melts
silver. It requires a temperature of 5000°F. for
its combustion. When exposed to the sunbeam,
and carried afterwards into darkness, it exhibits
phosphorescence, and it has been stated that such
diamonds as do not display this peculiarity may
be made to do so by dipping them into melted bo-
rax. It becomes phosphorescent also when fixed to
the prime conductor of an electrical machine, and
a few sparks are taken from it. The diamond be-
comes electric by friction, and the Honourable Mr.
* It has been stated that a test of distinguishing between
real and factitious diamonds, consists in the property which
the former has of adhering closely to black mastic, in which
it is said they are sometimes set in order to give them greater
lustre.
21
Boyle obtained electric gleams on rubbing two dia-
monds together in the dark. It is said, that when
fulminating silver is exploded in contact with the
diamond, reduced silver is precipitated on it. Byig-
miting fulminating mercury both on and near some
diamonds, I found however only faint and equivocal
evidence of reduction. The specific gravity of the
diamond has been estimated at 3500, water being
1000,—though it must be admitted, that the com-
parative hardness and specific gravity have been va-
riously estimated, thus:—An oriental diamond from
Ormus, possessed a specific gravity of 3° 4, and a
comparative hardness equal to 20–a pink diamond
with a similar specific gravity, exhibited a hardness
equal to 19—while a bluish diamond, and one of a
yellowish tint, with a similar hardness of 19, pos-
sessed a specific gravity of 3’ 3, and a cubic dia-
mond of 18, a specific gravity of 3’ 2.
CHAPTER II.
GANGUE OF THE DIAMonD, AND ITS GEOLOGICAL ASSOCIATES-
* ITS CRYSTALLINE FORMS-CONJECTURES ON ITS ORIGIN–
LoCALITIES, ASIA, AND THE BRAZILS-LATELY DISCOVERED
IN THE URAL MOUNTAINS, AND IN IRELAND.
UNTIL lately the habitat of the diamond had been
confined to localities ranging within the limits of
18° on either side of the equator, in Asia and South
America. In Asia the diamond is found most abun-
dantly in the kingdom of Golconda, and Visapour,
in Bengal; chiefly in the central and southern
parts of India Proper, the Peninsula of Malacca,
and Island of Borneo; and in the Brazils, in the
mountainous districts, called Serro Dofrio, and
other places. It appears from the specimens in the
various cabinets of Europe, that the true gangue
of the Brazilian diamond is a brown oxyde of iron.
The matrix of the diamond appears to be what the
Geognost calls an amydaloid, belonging to the
newest floetz trap formation of the Wernerian ar-
rangement. In India, it appears, that the diamond
is found in a species of indurated ochery gravel, in
23
the form of detached crystals. Specimens of the
alluvial rocks in which diamonds occur both in the
East Indies and the Brazils may be seen in the Bri-
tish Museum. Mr. Heuland, an eminent mineral-
ogist, possesses a diamond in its matrix.
According to Mawe, the diamond in the Bra-
zils is found in a loose gravel-like substance, imme-
diately incumbent on the solid rock, and covered
by vegetable mould, and recent alluvial mat-
ter. This gravel consists principally of rounded
quartz pebbles of various sizes, mixed with sand
and oxyde of iron, and accompanied with blue,
yellow, and white” topazes, together with grains
of gold. The late Mr. Mawe, who visited the dia-
mond district, and whose scientific skill may be
credited in the description he gives of the spot, pre-
sented me with a specimen of this cascahlāo. The
diamonds of Rio Pardo are superficially, of a pale
green tint, and costly. The Serro do Frio, in the
Brazils, according to this author, is the best dia-
mond ground, and it has passed its zenith.
The crystalline forms of the diamond are the pri-
mitive regular octohaedron; or this with truncated
solid angles, or with truncated edges, passing into
the rhomboidal dodecahedron. There are also va-
rieties of the latter which give rise to the six-sided
prismatic and tetrahaedral forms; also cubes with
* Known under the trivial name of Nova Mina Diamonds.
24,
truncated and bevelled edges, &c. According to
the Earl Marshal of England, it would appear that,
in Golconda, both the merchants and miners go
generally in a state of nudity, with only a sash on
their heads, and a rag round them; they dare not
wear a coat, he states, lest the governor should say
they have prospered and become rich, and thus
find an excuse to rise in his demands on them; not-
withstanding, he observes, that when perchance
they find a large stone, it is engulphed in a trice,
till an opportunity occurs for their retiring with
their wife and children into Visapour, where they
are safe and well used.* In the diamond district of
the Brazils, Mr. Mawe observed a half starved cat,
which may remind us of the moral of one of AEsop's
fables.
Professor Jameson has very ingeniously con-
jectured that the diamond may be a vegetable secre-
tion, perhaps that of some patriarch and antidiluvial
boabab or banian tree. Dr. Brewster also traces
the diamond, like amber, to a vegetable source :
his inference being founded on its high refractive
powers, conjoined with its inflammability. When
we consider how abundantly silica is secreted in
some grasses, as the calamus rotang, the equisetum
hiemale, and others; and carbonate of lime, as in the
chara tribe—we must admit its plausibility. In the
* Earl Marshal. Phil. Trans. No. 136, p. 907.
25
joints of the female bamboo, the tabasheer or vegeta-
ble opal has been found, curiously, however, display-
ing properties the very reverse of the hydrophane ;
besides, we know that a mass of wood-stone was
torn from a log of teak wood (tectona grandis) some
years ago, in His Majesty’s dockyard at Calcutta, in
which it seemed evidently to be a secretion, and was
interlaced by the fibres of the wood. In hard woods,
as in lignum vitae and iron wood, some approach
seems to be made to the adamantine state. We
have already stated that vegetable mould and re-
cent alluvium are incumbent over the cascalhão in
which diamonds are found; moreover, plants in
their ashes yield metallic oxydes, as those of iron
and manganese, and gold has been discovered in
the ashes of the vine. The tree, scathed by the me-
teoric blast, might not only have thereby imparted
to it such a peculiar susceptibility, but absorb the
oxydes of nickel and chromium, and from such
metallic sources the colours that sometimes tinge the
diamond may be easily supposed to arise. We are
not aware, however, that these colouring matters
have ever been ascertained by direct experiment.—
We possess a fine yellow diamond, but confess are
unwilling to make the sacrifice. The various tints
of yellow, &c., are likely produced by oxydes of
iron or manganese ; and green, &c., by nickel or
chromium. The colouring matter of the spinelle
H
26
ruby would appear to be chromic acid. The orien-
tal sapphire seems to be coloured with oxyde of
iron, and the emerald with oxyde of chromium.
The crysoberyl or crysolite, beryl, tourmaline, and
garnet, contain oxyde of iron.
The stratum of cascalhão consists of precisely si-
milar materials to that in the gold district; on
many parts of the edge of the river are large con-
glomerated or rolled masses of rounded pebbles, ce-
mented by oxyde of iron, sometimes enveloping
'gold and diamonds. “Thesubstances accompanying
diamonds, and considered good indications of them,
are bright beam-like ore, a slaty flint-like substance,
approaching Lydian stone of a fine texture, black
oxyde of iron in great quantity, rounded bits of
blue quartz, yellow crystal, and other materials,
entirely different from any thing known to be pro-
duced in the adjacent mountains.” It by no
means appears that diamonds are peculiar to the
beds of rivers or deep ravines, though usually found
there, for diamonds have been discovered in cavi-
ties and water-courses on the summits of the loftiest
mountains. Linschoten says, that in the East-In-
dies when they have cleared the diamond mines of
all they can find, a new crop is produced in a few
years; this, however, is very problematical.
The Brazilian diamond mines have some advan-
* Mawe, on precious stones.
27
tages over the Eastern: the diamonds are more nu-
merous, and proportionally there seem to be far
fewer of an inferior description. It does not appear
that the mines net £40,000 per annum, though the
expence of labour rarely exceeds 6d. to 8d. a-day,
and yet the diamond ground must be occasion-
ally rich in this precious gem. “That piece of
ground,” said the intendant to Mr. Mawe, speak-
ing of an unwashed flat by the side of the river,
“will yield me 10,000 carats of diamonds”—so ac-
curate seem to be the indications obtained from long
acquaintance and practical experience, although
unaccompanied by science. From 1801 to 1806
inclusive, the expenses appear to have amounted
to £204,000, and the diamonds sent to the treasury
at Rio de Janiero weighed 115,675 carats; the va-
lue of gold in the same period amounted to £17,300,
consequently the diamonds cost government
33s. 9d. per carat; and, had such been entirely
composed of small diamonds, not worth the ex-
pense of working: on the other hand, a number
of diamonds of a considerable size would have
afforded an ample return to the Brazilian go-
vernment. The years to which we refer were con-
sidered singularly productive, and in general the
Brazilian diamond mines do not average more than
20,000 carats annually.
The diamond appears to have been discovered in
28
the Brazils, in Serro do Frio, about a century ago,
and at this period some having been sent to Hol-
land, were pronounced equal to those from the
mines of Golconda. At one time it was generally
supposed that the Brazilian diamond was less hard
than that of Asia, and even now the idea is some-
times entertained; how true, may be open to ques-
tion. It would appear that the diamond mines
of the East have long been on the decline, nor do
those of the Brazils, judging from present appear-
ances, promise permanence. The European market
chiefly depends, at the present time, on the Brazilian
mines. In the history of the diamond, it appears,
two grand influxes have occurred: the first from
the Brazils, very shortly after its discovery in that
region, and when they were with difficulty recog-
nized in Europe as real diamonds ; the second
period appears to have been during the French re-
volution of 1793, when the unfortunate refugees
were necessitated to sell their jewels at what they
would immediately bring : of course, the very sud-
den influx would operate as one cause of deprecia-
tion, and on the other hand, advantage would be
taken of the panic consequent on the disastrous
event. At this time, I am informed, the diamond
might be purchased and was purchased as low,
in some cases, at £4 the carat, when the current
price in the British market was as high as £8. The
29
first-rate gems are always dull in sale, for these
require imperial and princely fortunes for their
purchase. -
The diamonds which embellish the Imperial
treasury of the Brazils are, beyond doubt, the most
superb of any crown possession either in antient
or modern times; the finest and largest are re-
tained to swell that magnificent casket of jew-
ellery, and government consign the rest for sale
to the Brazilian ambassador, for which purpose they
are deposited in the bank of England.
Hitherto we have considered the diamond as
confined to specific localities. In June, 1829, how-
ever, two of the Baron Von Humboldt's companions,
when exploring the western declivity of the Ural
mountains in Asiatic Russia, discovered diamonds.
Seven in all, of various sizes, were found on the es-
tates of Count Porlier, about 160 miles to the west
of the town of Perm. They were stated to be of
the finest water, and of a quality that approached
more nearly to the Asiatic than the Brazilian dia-
mond.* During last summer (1830) the search was
* It appears that the first Russian diamonds were found on
the 22d June, 1829, on the western side of the Ural, at the
Biszer Gold Wash of the Countess Porlier, by a boy, aged
thirteen years. The search for diamonds seems to have been
first suggested by Maurice Engelhardt, in a journey to the
Ural, in 1826, from the resemblance of the platina sand to
30
renewed with increased activity, and Professor En-
gelhardt, of Dorpat, who is now employed in a se-
cond visit to those regions, writes to a friend in
Germany, that seven other diamonds have been
discovered amongst the gold dust, on the same pro-
perty, and on the same spot where a similar mum-
ber were found the preceding year. They weigh
from #ths and Érds of a carat to one carat. These
are indeed but small, but the quality seems first-
rate, and may be the earnest of an eventually rich
and brilliant harvest.
A diamond has also been found in Ireland, in the
bed of a brook flowing through the district of Ferma-
naugh. It possesses a red tint, and was brought
to a lady resident there, by a little girl, who said
she had picked it up in the bed of the brook: the
bearer was rewarded with 6d. by the lady, who
had been in the habit of collecting pebbles, &c.
from the rivulet. This rough diamond was after-
wards submitted by the lady to Mr. Mackay, an
eminent jeweller of Dublin, who pronounced it to
be a diamond; and not long after, the opinion of
that of the diamond district of the Brazils. Humboldt also
recognised a similar resemblance between the Ural and
Brazilian mountains. Count Porlier found a diamond in a
species of gold and platinum sand: three more were soon
found, and since that period several others, equal to those of
the Brazils.
3]
the late Mr. Rundell, of Ludgate-Hill, was ob-
tained, who valued it as a diamond worth twenty
guineas, in its then rough attire. On ascertaining
this, the lady issued a notice, desiring to see the
girl again, but she never afterwards made her ap-
pearance; perhaps fearful to lose the 6d., for it ap-
pears that even this remuneration was only granted
conditionally. We received our information in per-
son from the Rev. Dr. Robinson, of the royal ob-
servatory, at Armagh, a gentleman of high scientific
attainments, who had the gem in his possession,
and was well qualified to judge.”
# Accident may sometimes reveal rich treasures. The dis-
covery of the original gold mine in one of the districts in the
Brazils, was in consequence of opening and scattering an ant-
hill of considerable magnitude. Thus the vine in Hungary is
found occasionally to absorb minute portions of gold, which
are afterwards found in the ashes of the plant. The teeth of
sheep are also sometimes plated with a film of supposed gold,
but in reality that of persulphuret of iron; and the late Mr.
Irton, of Irton-Hall, Cumberland, informed me that in carving
a pullet at table, he found a small plate of gold in contact with
the breast bone, and which he very naturally supposed the
bird had picked up from the bed of a brook that flowed
through a farm on his estate.
CHAPTER III.
VARIOUS FORMS INTO WHICH DIAMONDS ARE CUT-MODE OF
ESTIMATING THE WALUE OF DIAMONDS—APPLICATION OF
THE DIAMOND–COLOURED DIAMONDS—THAT OF AUSTRIA—
GEORGE IV.-THE BLUE DIAMOND OF FRANCE—THE BLACK
DIAMOND OF HIS LATE ROYAL HIGHNESS THE DUKE OF
YORK.
DIAMONDs are cut into various forms; these are
called the Brilliant, the Rose, and the Table. The
first of these displays the gem to the best advan-
tage, ranks first in estimation, and is always set
with the table upwards. The rose may be consi-
dered as formed by covering the entire surface with
equilateral triangles, terminating in a sharp point
at the summit, and it is employed when the spread
of surface is too great for its depth, since being
thus disproportional, a great loss would be sustained
were it to receive the brilliant form. The table
is applied to such diamonds as may be considered
plates, laminae, or slabs, such whose shallow depth
is widely disproportioned to their superficial ex-
tent. The brilliant and the rose lose in the process
33
of cutting and polishing somewhat less than half
their weight, consequently the value of a cut stone
is double that of an uncut one, independent alto-
gether of the expense of the process. The diamond
cutters in England have been considered the best
in Europe, but from their number being limited,
many diamonds are sent to Holland for this pur-
pose. The art of cutting and polishing diamonds
does not appear to have been known in Europe be-,
fore the fifteenth century. Small diamonds are
Sometimes set on black or coloured foil, but a fine
proportioned brilliant of extreme purity is best
displayed when entirely exposed.
The rose diamond, as has been already observed,
is flat underneath, and its upper surface, raised in
the form of a dome, is cut into facets: it has com-
monly six facets in the centre, which are triangu-
lar in shape, and united or converge into a point at
their summit; the bases of these again abut on ano-
ther range of triangles, which are in a reversed
order, their bases being above and conjoined with
the bases of the higher facets, their points forming
what are called feuillets or leaves; these last trian-
gles have spaces between them, each of which are
cut into two facets. The rose diamond is thus cut
into twenty-four facets, and the surface of the stone
is divided into two parts, of which the higher part
is called the crown, and the lower portion the teeth.
34
That part of the brilliant which rises in relief is
always thinner than the rose diamond, and the en-
tire thickness of the stone is divided into two une-
qual parts; 3rd is reserved for the upper surface of
the stone, and Érds form the lower portion, and is
that embedded and so far concealed; this part of the
brilliant is called the culasse. Mr. Jefferies calls the
lower flat part the culet, and the superior one the
table; the central line of the entire diamond he
calls the girdle, and terms the facets skil and steel
facets. In a perfectly formed and due proportioned
stone the lower table should be #th of the upper
table. The table has eight panes, and the circumfe-
rence is cut into facets termed pavillons. It is impor.
tant that the pavillons should be placed in the same
order as the upper facets, in order that by such an
arrangement of symmetry all false play of light may
be avoided: the great beauty of the brilliant de-
pends on the sparkling splendour of its light, and
the grand object must be to give full scope and
play to all the laws of refraction, the high powers
of which so eminently characterise the diamond.
The rose diamond darts a great splendour of light
in proportion as it is more spread than the brilliant;
the advantage obtained in the latter, which was an
improvement on the table diamond, introduced in
the 17th century, is caused by the difference in
cutting it. It is formed into 32 facets of different
35
figures, and inclined at different angles around the
table, upon the superior surface of the stone: the
culasse is cut into twenty-four facets round a small
table, which converts the culasse into a truncated
pyramid: these twenty-four facets below, as well as
the thirty-two above, are differently inclined, and
exhibit different figures. The facets above and be-
low, as has been stated, must perfectly correspond,
and the proportions be so exact as to multiply their
reflections and refractions, so that the prismatic
rays may be perceived to the best advantage.
We shall next proceed to some brief remarks on
the value of diamonds. The small diamonds and
fragments are sold in the east, by the diamond mer-
chants, contained in small bags, sealed up, so that
to the purchaser it is a complete chance-medley :
in this way, too, are pearls, carnelians, &c., disposed
of at the India-House. According to the rule sup-
plied by Mr. Jefferies, the value of diamonds is in
the duplicate ratio of their weights. Thus, sup-
pose an uncut diamond, of one carat, to be worth
£2, that of one cut and polished would be valued
at £8 sterling in the brilliant. A carat weighs pre-
cisely four grains, even beam, as the balance is not
allowed to decline. At this rate, a cut diamond of
two carats would be 2 × 8 × 2–3:32; one of three,
3 × 8 × 3=#72; one of four, 4 × 8 × 4=#128; and
one of five carats, 5 × 8 × 5=f200. The rose dia-
36
mond is of inferior value, but may perhaps be on
the average rated at £4 the carat, when polished;
a fine rose diamond, however, may have its value
enhanced, but can never approach that of a well-
proportioned brilliant; and on the other hand, a
brilliant of the finest water, and cut with mathe-
matical exactness and true ratio of proportion, may
bear a higher corresponding value. Hence a bril-
liant of the finest water, with a superb refraction
and a perfect form, may be valued at much more
than an ordinary brilliant. When a ruby amounts
to three or four carats, it is more valuable than a
diamond of the same weight. Sometimes oriental
sapphires when deprived of colour by exposure to
intense heat, are sold for diamonds. The rose may
be considered as formed from the superior section of
the brilliant, having its base corresponding to the
dimensions of the superior table before it is bevelled
at the edges. A brilliant of three carats may have
a spread on the upper table of one of five carats,
and therefore may make the same appearance as
one of the latter size; but as it is deficient in es-
sential depth, the light it irradiates must have a
corresponding diminution, and the rose supplied
by it must be less elevated than in a right-propor-
tioned stone. For the purpose of estimating dia-
monds of inconsiderable size, the jeweller employs
a gauge, in the handle of which are embedded small
37
crystals, of various relative sizes, from à to 3th of
a carat, and a comparison is therewith made when
there are numbers of various minute sizes, and the
calculation proceeds accordingly. The rough dia-
mond is called bort, and points are those minute
fragments which are set in what are called glaziers’
cutting diamonds. It is a singular and interesting
fact, that the natural point only of the diamond will
cut, as that obtained by polishing does not cut
glass.
Besides the diversified forms of ornamental jew-
ellery into which the diamond enters as a consti-
tuent part,” it is used, as has been already re-
* This costly and beautiful gem seems now chosen to figure
away as the prime ornament of dress. At the late drawing-
room it was displayed in rich profusion, forming a perfect ga-
laxy of diamonds. Diamonds are costly things:—the present
Queen of Spain has just had a necklace and earrings reset in
France: they are composed entirely of brilliants, and cost
half a million of francs. Doubtless at routs and assemblies
many figure away in factitious show,
“Faux brillians, et morceaux de verre.”
but real diamonds can seldom be mistaken : there is a spark-
ling lustre and luminous brilliancy, which so far transcends
all other gems, that those who have once seen will easily
recognise them again. The cymophane (crysoberyl or cryso-
lite), is the only gem that may compete with it. The cryso-
lite is valued by the carat. We possess a fine one of five
* Boileau.
38
marked, by the glazier, where, from a point invisi-
ble even to the lens,” the glass immediately rends
under it, and though of considerable thickness, is
cut with a facility and dispatch altogether remark-
able. This gem has also been employed, we be-
lieve, under a patent, as well as the sapphire and
ruby, for wire drawing, and it is sufficiently evident
that its superiority over the steel plate must be im-
mense, since a wire of invariable diameter must be
thereby obtained, while, from its unyielding hard-
ness, permanence and uniformity must be secured.
The diamond is employed in chronometers, as end
pieces, to close the socket in which the pivot
moves, and against which it abuts; we believe,
however, the ruby cylinder has been recently aban-
doned. It seems, above all other gems, pre-emi-
mently calculated to form small deep lenses for sin-
carats, cut in the form of the brilliant. The crysolite is found
along with the sapphire and ruby in Ceylon, and with the
diamond in the Brazils: it has been found of ten carats, but
this is very rare. Mr. Mawe observes that “the colour, high
lustre, and exquisite polish which it can receive, makes it
sustain a competition with the diamond. It is a fine gem,
coming into great repute, has great brilliancy by candle light,
and sustains the rival presence of the diamond without
injury.”
* Dr. Wollaston has proved that a specific angle imparted
to crystals of inferior hardness, enables them to cut glass.
39
gle microscopes, possessing a vast compass of refrac-
tive power conjoined with one of inferior disper-
sion, and very little longitudinal aberration. Mr.
A. Pritchard, of 18, Pickett-Street, Strand,” has
formed a very thin double convex lens of the dia-
mond, of equal radii, and about #-in, focus, from
a very perfect stone of the first water. Its polish
is truly beautiful, and by its powerful and match-
less reflection proves the peculiar and unique ma—
terial of which it is formed, while the considerable
angle of aperture which it bears, attests its faint
spherical and chromatic aberration. A diamond
and a piece of plate glass, ground into a similar
form, and possessing the same radius, will be in
their comparative magnifying powers as 8 to 3: so
far will the former transcend the latter. If the
power of the glass lens be 24, that of the diamond
would be 64. The late Mr. Lowry applied the
diamond instead of the steel point in etching on
copper; a considerable improvement, especially for
architectural subjects, the azure of the sky, and the
sea in maps, as the steel point soon gave way.
The diamond is always transparent, as already
mentioned, and, for the most part, colourless: stains,
flaws, cross veins, and muddiness, materially de-
tract from the value of the gem, as well as from its
* He has also employed the colourless sapphire, but this,
of course, is altogether inferior.
40
beauty. The diamond is found of a light yellow,
passing into wine colour, and thence through cin-
namon brown into almost black; also, pale green,
passing into yellowish green; blueish grey, passing
into Prussian blue; and pink, passing into rose
red. Sometimes ferruginous specks are found in
the diamond. Occasionally, though rarely, the dia-
mond may possess more than one tint, as partly blue,
partly yellow, and partly opalescent; and I am
informed there are party-coloured diamonds among
the jewels in the treasury of the Brazils. The
value of the diamond is much enhanced if pink,
blue, or green, and eagerly sought after ; on the
other hand, yellow-coloured diamonds are of infe-
rior value. ©e
Coloured diamonds of a large size are compara-
tively few in number. The Maximilian, or Austrian
diamond, is of a yellow colour, and rose cut, and has
been an heir-loom in the family ever since the Em-
peror of that name. We believe it passed from the
hands of the Grand Duke of Tuscany into the im-
perial family, and, if we mistake not, it is the same
which has been rated at 139; carats and valued at
4:155,682. This diamond formerly belonged to
one of the Grand Dukes of Tuscany, who came
possessed of it by purchase, and it was for a long
time preserved in the family of the Medici, but
ultimately fell into the hands of the Emperor of
Germany.
4]
“George IV. diamond,” is of a rich and splen-
did blue colour, and of great beauty and rarity. It
was purchased by his late Majesty from Mr. Elia-
son, for £22,000. Its weight is stated to be 29%
carats. It formed the chief ornament in the crown
on the day of the coronation.” Mr. Mawe states,
in his work on “Diamonds and precious Stones,”
p. 16, that “there is at this time a superlatively
fine blue diamond, of above 44 carats, in the pos-
session of an individual in London, which may be
considered matchless.” If we mistake not, that in-
dividual’s name is Mr. Eliason; and it has been
mentioned to us by an eminent jeweller that this
diamond was sold for £20,000 to the King of Hol-
* It has been stated, in “ The Court Journal,” &c. that, at
the coronation of His late Majesty, George IV., the jewels
in the British crown were lent by Messrs. Rundell, Bridge,
& Rundell, of Ludgate-Hill, at 10 per cent. interest, forming
an annual charge of £6,500, which was continued for four
years afterwards. We have no means of knowing whether this
on dit be right or wrong, nor have we been able to get any
accurate information about the jewels belonging to the Bri-
tish Crown. When the notorious Blood attempted to steal
the regalia from the Tower, on the 9th May, 1671, it appears
no gem of any consequence or value was eventually lost.—
“A large pearl, a fair diamond, and a number of smaller
stones were bulged from the crown in this robustious struggle,
but both the former, and several of the latter, were picked up
and recovered. The Ballais ruby, which had been broken off
the sceptre, was found in his accomplice (Parrot)’s pocket.”
42
land, and stated to be 44} carats. It is not impro-
bable that these have been confounded.
Perhaps one of the largest and most beautiful
coloured diamonds is a rich sky-blue brilliant, be-
longing to the crown jewels of France. It is stated
to weigh 67; carats, and estimated at three mil-
lions of livres. There was a fine blue diamond in
the possession of the late Mr. Greville.
I am informed that His late Royal Highness the
Duke of York was once possessed of a diamond al-
most approaching to jet black; and my informant,
who mentioned his having seen it, described it as
possessed of peculiar beauty and brilliancy: it was
valued, I understand, at about £8,000. I have seen
brown diamonds of different shades of intensity.
CHAPTER IV.
THE LARGE UNCUT DIAMOND OF PORTUGAL-THE GREAT MO-
GUL DIAMOND–THAT OF THE RAJAH OF MATTAN – THE
SCEPTRE DIAMOND OF RUSSIA — THE PITT, or REGENT
DIAMOND–THE SANCI — PIGGOTT– NASSAU, ETC.— DIA-
MIONDS OF THE BRAZILIAN TREASURY — EXPERIMENTS
ON THE DIAMOND.
FT has been stated, that the number of diamonds,
of the weight of 36 carats and above, known, do
not really amount to more than nineteen. The
entire number of diamonds of a large size in Eu-
rope, scarcely amount, according to Mr. Mawe, to
more than half a dozen. The largest uncut dia-
mond, is that belonging to the House of Braganza,
and weighs 1680 carats, or about 11 oz. Mr. Mawe
says it is thought to be a white topaz. We have been
favoured by a friend, who has seen it, with the
following account. When the Prince Regent of
Portugal, afterwards Don John VI., arrived at the
Brazils in 1808, a negro, from Minas Gerais, con-
trived to send him a letter, desiring to present,
in person, a large diamond which he had found.
44
The Prince ordered the Captain-General to allow
the negro to proceed to court with an escort of sol-
diers. In a few months the negro arrived and
presented the diamond, remarking at the same time
that it was the largest ever found in the Brazils.
The Regent granted him his freedom, and a pen-
sion for life for himself and family.” He further
described this supposed diamond as resembling
a darkish yellow pebble, about the size of a
pullet's egg, somewhat kidney shaped, rather ob-
long, and a little concave on one side. The lapi-
daries in the Brazils value it at 3,000 millions cru-
sades, or nearly equal to 300 millions pounds ster-
ling. It is represented to us as a little polished
on one part, to shew its properties.
One of the largest of undoubted diamonds is
that mentioned by Tavernier, in the possession
of the Great Mogul. It is of a fine rose colour,
somewhat resembles a half hen's egg in form and
size, and being weighed by Tavernier was found to
be 297; carats, or about 860 grains (156 carats
form about an ounce troy). It has been valued at
£624,962, according to Mr. Jefferies' rule, and was
discovered about the year 1550, in the mine of
Colore, in Bengal, not far to the east of Golconda.
It has been stated that the handle of the sabre of
* A diamond of an octavo, and which weighs 174 carats,
entitles the negro to his freedom. May many such be found !
45
the Dey of Agiers is resplendent with diamonds,
and his turban adorned with the most magnificent
brilliants.
The Rajah of Mattan, in the island of Borneo, pos-
sesses a diamond, which was found there upwards
of fifty years ago. It is shaped like an egg, with
an indented hollow near the smaller end, said to be
of the finest water, and weighs 367 carats; and
allowing 156 carats to the ounce troy, is two
ounces 169,87 grains troy. Many years ago, the
Governor of Batavia tried to effect its purchase, and
sent Mr. Stewart to the Rajah, offering 150,000
dollars, two large war brigs, with their guns and
ammunition, and a considerable quantity of powder
and shot. The Rajah however, it appears, refused
to despoil his family of so rich an inheritance, to
which the Malays, indeed, superstitiously attach
the miraculous power of curing all kinds of diseases
by means of the water in which the diamond is
dipped, and with it they believe the fortune of the
family is connected.
The history of the diamond which studs the
sceptre of Russia, is not a little remarkable. It
formed, for a long time, the solitary eye of an in-
dian idol, and was ultimately dislodged from its
socket by an Irish soldier, by whom it was sold
for a trifle; and after passing through the hands of
several masters, it was sent to England to be cut,
46
and seems to have been finally sold to the Empress
Catherine, of Russia, in 1775, at Amsterdam, for
£90,000, an annuity of £4,000, and a patent of
mobility. It is of the size of a pigeon’s egg, and
of a flattened oval form: it is a faultless and per-
fect gem, and without flaw of any kind: its weight
is stated at 179 carats. This is the diamond evi-
dently referred to in a letter from the Hague, dated
2d January, 1776, quoted by Boyle, in the Mu-
seum Britannicum :*——“We learn from Amster-
dam, that Prince Orlow made but one day's stay
in that city, where he bought a very large brilliant
for the Empress his sovereign, for which he paid
to a Persian Merchant there, the sum of 1,400,000
florins (Dutch money). A florin in Holland is
valued at 200.”
The Pitt, or Regent diamond, was purchased by
Thos. Pitt, Esq. (grandfather of the Right Hon.
William Pitt), when governor of Fort St. George,
Madras, who obtained it for £12,500, the sum of
£20,000 having been first asked for it. It cost
£5,000 cutting, and the chips and filings were va-
lued at from £7,000 to £8,000. It was purchased
* London, folio, 1791, p. 75.
+ Afterwards Earl of Londonderry, who, it has been
stated, in virtue of its possession, obtained the privilege of
a seat in the Commons House of Parliament.
4.7
by the Regent Duke of Orleans, during the minor-
ity of Louis XV. in the year 1717, for £135,000,
£5,000 being expended in the negociation. Its
weight is 1363 carats: its value, as estimated by a
commission of jewellers in 1791, is twelve millions
of livres. It is almost faultless, and was cut in this
country in the form of the brilliant. It is the prime
ornament of the crown jewels of France, and is al-
lowed to be the finest in the world, though not the
largest. The kings of France wore this diamond
in their hats: Napoleon Buonaparte had it fixed in
the pommel of his sword. We have been informed
that Charles X. would have willingly laid claim to
it, and brought it with him, but this was not per-
mitted. The diamond may be certainly considered
a portable form of property, and, in a general
point of view, not liable to very variable fluc-
tuation. The regent diamond, report says, was
played with such success before the king of Prussia,
by the wily Seyez, as to produce for the service of
France, 40,000 horses with their equipments. This
diamond, it has been stated, was found in Malacca,
in the famous mine of Porteal, in the kingdom of
Golconda. Its form is somewhat round, an inch
broad, 14th of an inch long, and #ths of an inch
thick.
This diamond seems to have subjected the pur-
chaser, Governor Pitt, to the imputation of having
48
unfairly obtained possession of the prize. One ac-
count was, that a slave having found it in its native
bed, concealed the diamond in a wound made in
his leg for that purpose. Such a gash as would
have imbedded or concealed it in its rough or even
its polished form, must indeed have been extensive
In the Journal des Savans, for July, 1774, p. 553,
is inserted an extract from the letter of a French
missionary, to the following effect:-that one of
the principal diamonds of the crown of France, and
which was purchased of an Englishman, was one
of the eyes of the god Jagrenat, a famous idol,
placed in a pagoda, at Chandernagar, in Bengal.
That the said idol, Jagrenat, had since continued
with only one eye; and moreover, that the French
had done all they could to blind him entirely, but
have not succeeded, since it was better guarded.
This is evidently a version of the history of the
diamond of the Russian sceptre, with which it
seems to be confounded. Thomas Pitt, Esq. (of
the family of Blanford, in the county of Dorset,)
governor of Fort St. George, in the East-Indies,
in the reign of Queen Anne, felt and repelled ca-
lumnies which had not even the shadow of a basis to
rest upon. Mr. Pitt, however, condescended to
reply to the insinuations in a letter addressed to
the editor of the “Daily Post,” dated 3d Novem-
ber, 1743, in which, after censuring the unparal-
4.9
leled villainy of William Fraser, Thomas Frede-
rick, and Surapa, a black merchant, who brought
a paper before Governor Addison, in council, to the
intent that he had unfairly got possession of a large
diamond; he proceeds, after, as we conceive, unne-
cessary protestations and appeals to all that is sa-
cred, to enter on the detail of the circumstances
connected with the transaction by which he became
possessed of it, and thus continues:—
“About two or three years after my arrival at
Madras, which was in July, 1698, I heard there
were large diamonds in the country to be sold,
which I encouraged to be brought down, promising
to be their chapman, if they would be reasonable
therein; upon which, Jamchund, one of the most
eminent diamond merchants in those parts, came
down, about December, 1701, and brought with
him a large rough stone, about 305 mangelms, and
some small ones which myself and others bought;
but he asking a very extravagant price for the
great one, I did not think of meddling with it:
when he left it with me for some days, and then
came, and took it away again, and did so several
times, insisting upon not less than 200,000 pago-
das; and, as I best remember, I did not bid him
more than 30,000, and had little thoughts of buy-
ing it for that. I considered there were many and
great risks to be run, not only in cutting it, but
C
50
whether it would prove foul or clean, or the water
good; besides, I thought it too great an amount to
adventure home in one bottom; so that Jamchund
resolved to return speedily to his own country; so
that, I best remember, it was in February fol-
lowing he came again to me (with Vincaty Chittee,
who was always with him, when I discoursed him
about it), and pressed me to know whether I re-
solved to buy it, when he came down to 100,000
pagodas, and something under, before we parted,
when we agreed upon a day to meet and to make a
final end thereof one way or other, which I believe
was the latter end of the aforesaid month, or
beginning of March, when we met in the consult-
ation-room; when, after a great deal of talk, I
brought him down to 55,000 pagodas, and ad-
vanced to 45,000, resolving to give no more, and
he likewise not to abate, so delivered him up the
stone, and we took a friendly leave of one another.
Mr. Benyon was then writing in my closet, with
whom I discoursed what had passed, and told him
now I was clear of it; when, about half an hour
after, my servant brought me word that Jamchund
and Vincaty Chittee were at the door, who, being
called in, they used a great many expressions in
praise of the stone, and told me he had rather I
should buy it than any body; and, to give an in-
stance thereof, offered it for 50,000. So, believing
51
it must be a pennyworth if it proved good, Ioffered
to part the 5000 pagodas that were between us;
which he would not hearken to, and was going out
of the room again, when he turned back, and told
me I should have it for 49,000; but I still adhered
to what I had before offered him, when presently
he came to 48,000, and made a solemn vow he
would not part with it for a pagoda under; when I
went again into the closet to Mr. Benyon, and told
him what had passed, saying, that if it was worth
47,500, it was worth 48,000; so I closed with him
for that sum, when he delivered me the stone, for
which I paid him honourably, as by my books ap-
pear.” The letter concludes with renewed appeals
to the Deity, in a tone entirely objectionable; it
closes thus:—“Written and signed by me, in Ber-
gen, July 29, 1710. THoMAs PITT.”
The whole transaction affords a good example of
what is in common parlance termed, “driving a
hard bargain;” but the sum was a serious one, and
the risk very considerable: flaws, specks, cross-
grains, &c., which could only become apparent
after the stone was cut, might have made it even a
serious loss. Calculating the pagoda at 8s. 6d., the
rough stone thus cost £20,400 sterling, no trifle,
certainly : the sum first asked was £85,000. Mr.
Salmon, who was on the spot at the time the trans-
action took place, verifies this statement. It ap-
52
pears that this celebrated diamond was consigned
by Mr. Pitt to Sir Stephen Evance, of London,
Knight, and from an original bill of lading, that
it was sent in the ship Bedford, Captain John Hud-
son, Commander, March 8, 1701-2, and charged
to the captain at 6,500 pagodas only. The Editor
of the Museum Britannicum states that the cutting
and polishing of the stone cost £5,000. Jefferies
states that it was sold for £135,000, but 265,000 of
this sum was given and spent in negociating the
sale of it. The diamond is admitted to approach
very nearly to one of the first water—Jefferies says
that it has only a foul small speck in it, and that
lying in such a manner as not to be discerned when
the stone is set. He describes the mistakes in the
cutting of the gem, and also states how it may be
improved. There is a model of the “Pitt,” or
“Regent” diamond in the British Museum, and
on the silver frame which surrounds it is engraved,
“This is the model of Governor Pitt's diamond,
weight 136% carats: was sold to Louis XV. of
France, A. D. 1717.”
The Sanci diamond, so called from Nicholas de
Harlai de Sanci, once its owner, weighs, it has
been stated, 55 carats and cost £25,000. This dia-
mond belonged to Charles the Bold, the last Duke
of Burgundy, who wore it in his cap at the battle
of Nancy, and was found by a Swiss soldier among
53
the spoils of battle after the famous defeat of his
army in 1475, near Morat, in Switzerland, and in
which he himself was killed. The Swiss sold it to
a Priest for a florin, or about 206., and the latter
again disposed of it for 2s. 6d. In the year
1589, it was in the possession of Antonio, King
of Portugal, and by him was first pledged to a
French gentleman, named de Sanci, for 40,000
livres, and subsequently sold for 100,000 livres.
—The family of this gentleman preserved the
diamond for nearly a century, and till the period
when Henry III. of France, after having lost his
throne, employed a descendant of this family, who
was commander of the Swiss troops in his service,
to proceed to Switzerland, for the purpose of re-
cruiting his forces in that country; and having no
pecuniary resources at command, he persuaded the
same gentleman to borrow of his family the Sanci
diamond, in order to deposit it with the Swiss
government, as security for the payment of the
troops. Accordingly the diamond was despatched
for this purpose, by a confidential domestic, who
disappeared, and could no where be heard of for
a great length of time; at last, however, it was
ascertained that he had been stopped by robbers
and assassinated, and his body buried in a forest;
and such confidence had his master in the pru-
dence and probity of his servant, that he searched,
54
and at last discovered the place of his burial, and
had the corpse disinterred, when the diamond was
found in his stomach, he having swallowed it when
attacked by the robbers. The Baron de Sanci sub-
sequently disposed of this diamond to James II. of
England, then residing at St. Germain's, from
whom it passed to Louis XIV. and now remains
among the crown jewels of France.*
The Piggott diamond was brought to England
by Earl Piggott, when Governor-General of In-
dia. It was disposed of by Lottery, in 1801, for
£30,000. Its weight is 47% carats. In 1818, it
was in the possession of Messrs. Rundell, Bridge,
and Rundell, but we are unable to say where it
now is, or by whom possessed.
The Nassac diamond, now in the East - India
House, was taken from the Peshwa of the Mar-
hattas, in the Marhatta war: its weight is stated
to be 89% carats, and was originally valued by the
East-India Company at £30,000.
Russia has several large diamonds independent
of that which adorns the imperial sceptre. One of
these is valued at £369,800. There is also a large
table diamond belonging to the imperial treasury.
Holland has one of 36 carats, valued at £10,368:
and we believe it is of a conical shape. Persia has
* The Morning Post made a mistake in supposing it to
belong to England.
55
several diamonds, four large ones, of a rose-cut,
besides brilliants; the two principal diamonds are
called, as already stated, the “Sea of Glory,”
and the “ Mountain of Splendour;” one com-
puted to be worth £145,800, and the other valued
at £34,848.
When Mr. Mawe was in the Brazils, two large
slabs of diamonds were shown him, each an inch
superficies, and ºth of an inch thick: the river
Abaité, from whence these pieces came, has pro-
duced a diamond of an octohaedral form, which
weighs 4ths of an ounce troy. The Brazilian
Treasury is extremely rich in diamonds of great
magnitude and beauty, such as the Portugal round
brilliant, “Slave diamond,” and others. There
are blue diamonds, but of an inferior size, gene-
rally impure and with flaws. In the walking-stick
of King John VI., which is a Brazilian cane, and
the handle of which is of wrought gold, there is a
beautiful brilliant surmounting its summit, and cut
in the form of a pyramid, valued at about £30,000
sterling. The tassels consist of numerous orders
attached to variously coloured ribbons. The but-
tons on the silken stole of King Joseph I. of Por-
tugal, worn as a court dress, are twenty in all,
each a brilliant; the aggregate value of these
amounts to £100,000, and we believe they are at
the present moment in this country.
56
We were informed by a gentleman (who saw it
in Mr. E.'s possession) that a brilliant of 34 carats,
set in a ring, was sold by Mr. Eliason to Napoleon
Buonaparte for £8,000, to be worn on his wedding
day, when married to the Empress Josephine. It
was not, however, a diamond of the first class.
There do not seem to be any diamonds among
the crown regalia of Hungary, which are preserved
in an iron chest in the arsenal of the citadel of
Ofen. Here, however, is the identical crown worn
by Stephen 800 years ago; and ever since 1799,
these have been watched by two keepers, night and
day. The crown is of pure gold, and weighs 9 marks
6 ounces (14 lbs.), and the precious stones, &c.
consist of fifty-three sapphires, fifty rubies, one eme-
rald, and three hundred and thirty-eight pearls.
The imperial sceptre resembles a mace in form,
and is ornamented with a tip of crystal set in solid
gold. No sovereign of Hungary is legally invest-
ed with royal power and dignity until the diadem
has been seated on his brow. It is shown to the
populace three days prior to, and three days after,
the coronation.*
The dress of Henry VIII. and his Queen, on
their procession to the Tower, previous to coro-
nation, are described by Hall:—“ His grace
wared in his uppermost apparell, a robe of crimsyn
* Journal of a Nobleman.
57
velvet, furred with armyns; his jacket or cote of
raised gold ; the placard embrodered with dia-
monds, rubies, emeraudes, greate pearles, and
other riche stones; a great banderike about his
necke of large bolasses. The Quene was apparel-
led in white satyn, embrodered; her haire hangying
down to her backe, of a very great length, bewte-
ful and goodly to behold; and on her hedde a co-
romall, set with many riche orient stones.”
The coronation-robe of Napoleon Buonaparte
weighed eighty pounds, and was lined with the
skins of sia, thousand ermines. This imperial robe
was afterwards converted into vestments for the
priesthood of Notre Dame.
It has been stated that the Czar Peter, with his
whole army, when surrounded by the Turks, owed
their safety to the fascinating and dazzling splendour
of the diamonds of the Empress; and even Prince
Potemkin amused the tedium of the latter years of
his life by sitting and contemplating the magni-
ficent display of his costly diamonds.
Without stating our several repetitions of the
experiments of others, we may now superadd a de-
scription of such as have been made independently
of these :—
1. Two cages of platinum wire, containing dia-
monds, were connected by the same wire, and,
with the two poles of a powerful galvanic battery,
58
by similar metallic wire; but though the wire im-
mediately connected with the poles were ignited,
the cages were not, and the connecting wire in the
centre remained unkindled.
2. When these were severally suspended from
each pole and brought in contact with the surface
of mercury, they were not kindled, but when one
pole was plunged into the liquid metal, and the
cage containing diamonds, attached to the other
pole, was made to touch the surface of the mercury,
the ignition of the platinum and combustion of the
diamond was vivid and beautiful.
3. A platinum cage, containing several dia-
monds, was suspended in a globe of oxygen, by
means of two copper wires, and finally connected
with a powerful galvanic battery; but the cage re-
mained still unignited, from the multiplicity of the
platinum wires that traversed each other in the tis-
sue which formed the cage.
4. We have succeeded, by various simple me-
thods, to effect the combustion of the gem; thus it
may be easily ignited by the flame of ether, &c.,
and when quickly introduced into a medium of
oxygen, the combustion will continue—or a small
cup containing a few drops of ether, or sulphuret
of carbon, &c., suspended to the cage, and kindled,
will support the ignition a sufficient period for its
continued combustion in oxygen afterwards; or the
59
eage of platinum may be ignited by a thread of
fine steel wound round the cage, its lower extremity
being kindled by a bead of melted sulphur applied
to it.*
5. The following is a very elegant, though less
simple, method of shewing the combustion of the
diamond:—On a minutely perforated cup, or shal-
low disc, containing spongy platinum, with the
diamond partially embedded into it, is propelled a
small stream of the gas, by means of a minute jet
connected with a bag of hydrogen: this ignites the
platinum, and with it the diamond, in the medium
of oxygen into which, by a lateral orifice, it had
been previously introduced; and when once kindled,
it will continue to burn after the appendages of
hydrogen, &c., are screwed off and removed.
6. The succeeding we have found a very elegant
experiment:—Two diamonds enclosed in a cage of
platinum of ºth part of an inch diameter, after
* Apparatus have been constructed for the exhibition of
the combustion of the diamond in oxygen, but such will be
found to be expensive and complicated, and to succeed but
rarely; our great object has invariably been to simplify che-
mical apparatus and thus render the science more certain
and available. Nothing has injured the progress of science
more than the penchant of some to perpetuate these costly
and pictured raree shows of apparatus. We have found the
combustion of the diamond a very simple affair,
60
having been previously ignited by the flame of a
spirit lamp, were introduced into the mixed vapour
of sulphuric ether, and atmospheric air, incumbent
over liquid ether, in a wide-mouthed glass cylinder;
the ignition continued intense and beautiful, and
the diamonds continued to burn. When lifted out
of the vapour, the ignition of the platinum cage
ceased, but the diamonds continued red hot, so
that when re-introduced, the cage was thereby re-
kindled, and the beautiful phenomenon perpe-
tuated.* *
Having placed some diamond powder in a cavity
of pumice-stone, and brought the inflamed jet of
he mixed gases in the oxy-hydrogene or compound
gas blowpipe to play upon it, the entire powder
was instantly inflamed, and dispersed into the air
in the form of brilliant stars. On another occasion,
we imbedded a fragment of diamond in a nidus of
hydrate of magnesia, and having submitted it to
the intense flame of this powerful though danger-
ous instrument, the diamond parted suddenly into
minute fragments, displaying on their surfaces, as
determined by the lens, the conchoidal fracture,
and became as black as jet.
* When the diamond is burnt in a cage of platinum, as
Mr. Herapath, of Bristol, informs us, the marks of the
wires are left impressed on the diamond. The conjoined
temperature of both fuses the platinum, if of fine diameter.
61
In 1818, we succeeded in fusing the diamond,
an experiment since successfully repeated by Pro-
fessor Silliman, of New-York, who has assigned
the priority to us. In this case, the diamond was
fixed in a fragment of pumice-stone, and the com-
pound-gas flame made to bear for a continued pe-
riod on a specific spot; the portion in immediate
contact with the apex of the flame, entered into
complete fusion, assuming an appearance somewhat
spherical, as if it were in relief from the walls of
the cavity, evidently in a seated of liquid motion,
and exhibiting a vivid halo of intense light at this
particular point.
F I N I S.
P O S T S C R. I. P. T.
I am very anxious to record in this place my
deep sense of gratitude to those distinguished
individuals who have done me the honour to sup-
ply me with testimonials, as a candidate for the
Chemical Chair, of KING's College, London, and
thus rear my memorial by inserting their names.
It is necessary, however, to premise, in explanation,
that though these documents have been unsuccess-
ful, it was not for want of ample praise, and the
kindest complimentary expressions; of which, in-
deed, I have sufficient cause to be proud. It was
discovered, that, being a member of the CHURCH
of Scotland, I was not eligible, since none but
members of the CHURCH OF ENGLAND are eligible;
and by an enquiry of a Right Reverend Pre-
late, I found that, to constitute a member of the
Established Church of England, it was necessary
that I should take the Eucharist according to the
prescribed ceremony of that church. I am far
POSTSCRIPT.
from thinking that there would have been any
thing objectionable in this; and that, under common
circumstances, I might not have been able conscien-
tiously to conform to it. But my scruples could ad-
mit of no compromise whatever, when secular inter-
ests were to be weighed over against such a rite, as
the test of eligibility to a chair of chemistry. I
had already been admitted into the Church of Scot-
land. I did think, and do still think, that this was
enough; and could not conscientiously reject my
alma mater, or by such an act fling away my alle-
giance to her, and to the land of my fathers.
Mr. I. F. Daniell; well known as a skilful
Meteorologist, has been elected Professor of Che-
mistry; and I sincerely wish him every success.
The Right Hon. Lord GEORGE O’BRYEN, Bath.
The Hon. and Right Rev. the Lord Bishop of Lichfield
and Coventry
Sir G. S. GIBBEs, M.D., F.R.S., F.R.S.L., Bath
Sir GeoRGE CAYLEY, Bart.
Sir MATTHEw BLAKISTON, Bart.
Rear Admiral BULLEN, Bath
Dr. Forbes, Professor of Natural History, and Che-
mistry, King's College, Aberbeen
Dr. Davidson, Professor of Natural History, Marischal
College, ditto
Dr. HENDERSox, Professor of Chemistry, ditto
POSTSCRIPT.
Dr. JAMES MILLAR, Professor of Chemistry, Edinburgh
Dr. BARON, F.R.S., &c. Gloucester
Dr. DUGARD, F.G.S., &c. Shrewsbury
Dr. ALDERSON, President of the Philosophical Society
of Hull
Dr. Wilkinson, Bath
Dr. PRATINtoN, Bewdley
Dr. Robinson, Doncaster
Dr. NicoL, Inverness, Vice-President of the Northern
Institution
Rev. Joseph EATON, M.A., F.S.A., &c. Chester
Rev. W. Vickers, Rector of Chetton and Deuxhill
Rev. G. H. HASLEwood, Rector of Morvill and Aston
Rev. W. V. VERNoN, F.R.S., &c. President of the
Yorkshire Philosophical Society
Rev. J. B. SMITH, Head Master of the Grammar School,
Horncastle
Edward RUDGE, Esq. F.R.S., F.S.A., &c. Evesham
John GUILLEMARD, Esq. F.R.S., M.R.I., &c. London
J. F. A. Dov Aston, Esq. M.A. West Felton
GEORGE ANDERSON, Esq. F.R.S.E., &c. Inverness
J. E. Bowman, Esq. F.L.S. Wrexham
J. FLETCHER, Esq. Surgeon, Gloucester
JAMES FRYER, Esq. Bewdley
Thomas SANDw1th, Esq. Surgeon, Bewdley
C. LEwis, Esq. Surgeon, Wrexham
B. DILLON. Esq. ditto
R. THURSFIELD, Esq. Surgeon, Broseley
W. H. How, Esq. Shrewsbury
RICHARD HUGHES, Esq. Surgeon, Stafford
J. GRIFFITHs, Esq. Surgeon, Hereford
Richard SAUMAREz, Esq. Bath
P. B. DUNCAN, Esq. Bath
POSTSCRIPT.
J. J. Jones, Esq. Surgeon, Hereford
G. DAY, Esq. ditto
E. G. WRIGHT, Esq. ditto
FRANCIs ELLIS, Esq. Bath
F. Hunt, Esq. ditto.
I feel an honest pride in thus recording my
respectful gratitude. These honoured my prelec-
tions in person, and have, in their respective tes-
timonials, borne evidence to the uniform success
that attended my numerous experiments, many
of which were entirely novel. It would have been
very easy for me to have extended the number to
a century of names. Such a list would have been,
however, altogether unnecessary. Some of these
eminent individuals had attended the lectures of that
distinguished teacher, Dr. Black, others those of
Professor Afzelius, of Upsal, &c., and there are
many names that will be easily recognised as dis-
tinguished in the republics of Science and Lite-
rature. My aptitude otherwise must be judged of
from what the public are already possessed of, and
what may yet appear.
In recording my grateful sense of the high es-
teem in which I hold the flattering testimonials
of those who were good enough thus to honour
me, I but acquit myself in justice and in duty.
Some explanation seemed due to them; and as it
was well known I stood a candidate for the Che-
POSTSCRIPT.
mical Chair of King's College, was anxious that
the public should know the precise reason of my
want of success, that there might be no misappre-
apprehension or mistake, and the event stated
as it really was. At the same time, I find no
fault with the Council for exclusion on the basis
of my being a member of the Church of Scot-
land. They had a right to act as they thought pro-
per, and to proscribe me. I do not question the
propriety or impropriety of the proscription. I
have stated the fact as it stands, and leave the
question with the public. If the enjoyment of se-
cular fortune is, at any future period, to be pur-
chased by the sacrifice of conscientious principles,
I hope I shall always be accounted worthy to en-
dure the privation which such an adherence may
entail upon me. -
In my little Work entitled “ Invention of an unfailing
and effective Method of forming a Line of Communication
with the Shore in Shipwreck,” I find that I have inadvertantly
assigned the priority of the observation that oil stills the waves
of the sea, to Dr. Franklin, when it was clearly so stated by
PLINY: thus, in Book II, chap. 103,-‘The divers diffuse oil
with their mouths, because it sweetens and allays the unplea-
sant nature thereof, and carries a light with it; moreover,
all seas are rendered calm and still with oil.”
Somerton, Printer, Bristol.
WOW 3 2 1917
ERRATA.
Page 46, lines 20 and 21, lege £20,400, and £85,000,
CRITICAL NOTICES OF WORKS
By JOHN MURRAY, F.S.A., F.L.S., F. H. S., F. G. S., &c.
I.
In 12mo., Price Sir Shillings.
A TREATISE
ON PU L MO N ARY CONSU M PT ION,
Its PREVENTION AND REMEDY.
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“A valuable little work,”— The Record.
“Mr. Murray is entitled to the highest praise for his exertions—if
the happy result should follow, History will place his name on a level
with that of Jenner.” Monthly Gazette of Practical Medicine, Sept. 1.
“How can we refuse to assent to testimony as to the power of an
avowed agent which has science and experience to give it weight?—
with the example of Harvey, Jenner, Davy, and others before his
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is most congenial to the high and noble pursuit of Chemical Investi-
gation which he has chosen.”—Monthly Review, September 1.
“Mr. Murray's zeal is laudable.”—Dondon Medical and Physical
Journal, No. XLIv.
“Mr. Murray has succeeded in giving a popular form to a great
deal of interesting information,-his efforts are dictated by the purest
ºntory.”—Nort. of England Medical and Surgical Journal,
O. II.
“Mr. Murray, in his recently-published work on Consumption,
has deserved the gratitude of his countrymen. He has examined the
disease and its remedies chemically, and appears to us to have taken
new and original views of both. is work is, moreover, full of very
interesting and curious facts, of a nature to escape the unscientific
observer.”— The Spectator, Feb. 12.
“Praise is justly due to Mr. *...*& for his philanthropy.”—
Midland Medical and Surgical Register, No. XI. February, 1831.
II.
In 12mo., Price 7s.
A GLANCE AT SOME
OF
THE BEAUTIES AND SUBLIMITIES
OF
SWITZERLAND,
With excursive Remarks on the various objects of interest presented
during a Tour through its Picturesque Scenery.
“This is a delightful little volume, which none will repent having
13 e º
purchased.”—Magazine of Natural History.
“‘A Glance at Switzerland' is really deserving the notice of a
traveller in that country. We can recommend it as containing a
great deal of information and pleasant description.”—Monthly ite-
view, July, 1829.
“Mr. Murray is entitled to take an honourable place among the
scientific travellers of the day.”—Edinburgh Literary Journal, April25.
“This is the work of a gentleman who has evidently travelled with
a scientific and intelligent eye.”— Court Journal, May 2.
“We have now given extracts sufficient to show the entertainment
and instruction to be derived from this pleasant work.”— Gentleman's
Magazine, October 1.
“This work is the production of a gentleman whose scientific at-
tainments are of the first order, and with an unpredending title, it is
a most amusing volume, containing a great variety of information,
and blending pleasing description with philosophic observation.”—
Hereford Journal, April 21. III
In 12mo., Price 4s.
REMARKS ON THE DISEASE
CALLED
HYDRO PHO BIA :
PRO PHYLACTIC AND CURATIVE.
“Mr. Murray (who always recommends himself to our attention
by his skill in the valuable art of condensation,) has furnished us with
a great deal of what may be called the Literature of Hydrophobia.”
–Monthly Review, July 1.
“The work displays both ability and learning, and is calculated to
be Fº and useful.”—Leeds Mercury, June 19.
“We hail with pleasure the excellent little volume of Mr. Murray,
an able Chemist, on this subject. We think his opinions of the nature
of the disorder areworthy of great attention, and that his chemical plans
ofcuredeserve an extensive trial.”—Monthly Gazette of Health, July 1.
IV.
A TREATISE
ON ATMOSPHERICAL ELECTRICITY.
SECON D EDITION,
In 12mo., with a PLATE, 6s.
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“A useful little work, full of amusing as well as valuable anecdotes
and instances.”—Atlas, July 18.
“This work contains much curious and useful information.”—
Leeds Mercury, December 5.
“Mr. Murray prefaces his work with a very intelligent and inter-
esting history of Electricity and description of Atmospherical Phoe-
nomena.”—New Monthly Magazine, February 1.
“Sincere is our declaration of the keenness and value of Mr.
Murray's research.”— Gentleman's Magazine, September 1.
“Mr. Murray, in his little treatise on Atmospherical Electricity,
has collected the Phoenomena with Industry.”—Monthly Magazine,
September 1.
“This, though a brief, is a very interesting History of Electricity.
It presents a satisfactory view .its agency in almost all the phoeno-
mena of Nature; shews how it may be collected, directed, and ma-
naged by art; and describes its wonderful powers, and the instruments
which have been invented to detect its presence and character.”—
Magazine of Natural History, No. xvi. for November, 1830.
“A volume of simple and conclusive facts.”—Bristol Mercury.
'V.
A MANUAL OF EXPERIMENTS,
ILLUSTRATIVE OF CHEMICAL SCIENCE,
Second Edition. — In 12mo., Price 5s.
“This little volume contains a series of interesting experiments
intended to excite the attention of the young chemist.”—Annals of
Chemical Philosophy.
VI
T.ESEARCHES IN NATURAL HISTORY.
SECOND EDITION,
In 12mo. with a PLATE, 6s.
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remarkable phoenomena in nature, for description and illustration,
treated with much practical knowledge, gained, it would appear,
'#. extensive and patient investigation.”—Magazine of Natural
istorv.
6& #. chapter on the Chameleon is particularly interesting, and
contains the fullest account of that singular animal. A learned disquisi-
tion on the ascent of the Spider follows in the second and third chapters.
On the question of torpidity, and the numerous instances of torpid
animals brought before us, with the facts that illustrate their habits,
the author is very happy. The whole of the remarks on migration are
valuable.”—Atlas, July 4.
“His work is curious and instructive.”— Gentleman's Magazine,
September 1.
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tural History.”—Author of the Journal of a Naturalist.
“Mr. Murray is a zealous student of Natural History.”—Monthly
Magazine, September 1.
NOTE OF
MECHANICAL INVENTIONS, &c.
Proposed by JoHN MURRAY, F.S.A., F.L.S., &c.
I. A SAFETY LAMP FOR COAL MINES, founded on
the Specific gravity of “Fire Damp.” June, 1815. The first ever
proposed.
II. A New SHOWER BATH.
III. An APPAl{ATUS FOR RESTORING THE AC-
TION OF THE LUNGS IN SUSPENDED ANIMATION.
IV. A MACHINE for Impregnating Wood with Sulphate of
Iron, as a Remedy against Dry Rot. Submitted to the Admiralty
in the Spring of 1827.
V. A WAPOUR OF ETHER ENGINE. Communicated
to Professor Jameson.
VI. An AQUARIAN, for Watering Exotics, communicated to
the Caledonian Horticultural Society.
VII. A MACHINE to Illustrate the Intermitting Phenomena
of the Geysers of Iceland.
VIII. An APPARATUS to Secure the Safety of the “Dry
Grinder,” communicated to the “Sheffield Iris.”
Fermentation in Close Vessels, or the Application of the CON-
DENSOR and EXHAUSTING PISTON, to retard or facilitate
Fermentation. tº,
The Vapour of Water or Steam to increase Combustion, in relation
to the Economy of Fuel.
An INDELIBLE INK, and Method of restoring illegible MSS.
&c. &c. &c.
LIST OF WORKS BY
JOHN MURRAY, F.S.A., F.L.S., F.H.S., F. G.S., &c.
I.
ELEMENTS OF CHEMICAL SCIENCE,
In 1 vol. 8vo. (SEconD EDITION)—price 8s.
II.
PRACTICAL REMARKS ON MODERN PAPER, &c.
In 12mo.—price 4s.
III.
REMARKS on THE CULTIVATION of THE SILK-WORM,
In 8vo.—price Is. 6d.
IV,
DESCRIPTIVE ACCOUNT of A NEw SHOWER-BATH.
In 8vo. with a Plate (SEconD EDITION)—price 2s. 6d.
W.
RESEARCHES IN NATURAL HISTORY.
In 12mo, with a Plate (SEcond EDITION)—price 6s.
& VI.
A MANUAL of EXPERIMENTS ILLUSTRATIVE OF
CHEMICAL SCIENCE.
In 12mo, (SEcond EDITION) price 5s.
VIIs
A GLANCE AT SOME OF THE BEAUTIES AND
SUBLIMITIES OF SWITZERLAND.
In 12mo.—price 7s.
VIII,
A TREATISE ON ATMosºgenical ELECTRICITY,
C.
In 12mo, with a Plate, (SEconD EDITION.)—price 6s.
IX.
REMARKS ON THE DISEASE called HYDROPHOBIA.
In 12mo.—price 4s.
X.
: A TREATISE ON PULMON ARY CONSUMPTION.
In 12mo.—price 6s.
XI.
AN INVENTION FOR FORMING AN INSTANTANE-
O US COMMUNICATION IN SHIPW RECK.
In 8vo. with a Plate.—price 2s 6d. $2.
.#
i. ill









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