294 ANNUAL OF SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERY. 



found imbedded in the strand, when he struck his crow bar in a spot 

 which surprised him by its hollow sound. lie repeated its blows, and 

 soon struck the iron through a crust of siliceous particles cemented 

 together by oxide of iron. On removing the concrete mass, the slave 

 discovered a bed of diamonds, which were afterwards disposed of for 

 300,000. Such an immense number of diamonds being thrown upon 

 market, so overstocked it that nearly all the dealers became bankrupt, 

 and upon the diamonds being introduced into England, the glut was 

 so great that the results to the trade were equally disastrous, only 

 three English houses being able to stand up against it. One of these 

 persons was a gentleman in Leadenhall street, who was so largely 

 engaged in the trade, that he had actually shown him (Mr. Tennant) 

 a peck full of diamonds. 



A London journal furnishes the following account of the re-cutting 

 of the famous Koh-i-noor diamond : 



This precious stone, which was the synosure of the World's Exhi- 

 bition of 1851, attracted, from the multitudes who last year gazed 

 upon it, expressions of disappointment at the somewhat dim radiance 

 of its lustre, not fulfilling the expectations entertained from the high 

 flown descriptions which had been given of the Mountain Light a 

 title which many beholders held to be a misnomer. This disappoint- 

 ment having come to the knowledge of those into whose possession it had 

 passed, suggested the desirability, if practical, of effecting such altera- 

 tion in the shape of the diamond as would remove the admitted defects 

 of the oriental cutting, to which it had been subjected by its original 

 proprietors. With this view, the opinions of various scientific gentle- 

 men were taken, and some doubts having been expressed as to the 

 possibility of cutting the gem without incurring, a great risk of its 

 destruction, Professor Tennant and Mr. Mitchell were especially 

 requested to examine and report upon the practicability of the sug- 

 gested improvement. These scientific gentlemen accordingly prepared 

 a report, wherein they admitted the improvement which the proposed 

 alteration in shape would effect upon the Koh-i-noor, but expressed 

 fears that any lateral cutting would endanger its integrity. It was 

 then determined to submit the matter to the opinions of practical 

 lapidaries ; and with that view the Crown jewellers, Messrs. Garrard, 

 were instructed to obtain a report from competent persons versed in 

 diamond cutting. Those gentlemen thereupon consulted Messrs. M. 

 & E. Coster, of Amsterdam, (the diamond cutting trade having been 

 entirely lost to this country,) who, while admitting the accuracy of the 

 fears expressed in the report of Professor Tennant and Mr. Mitchell, 

 nevertheless were of opinion that the dangers were not so formidable 

 as to prevent the intended operation from being safely effected, pro- 

 vided the necessary skill of superior artists was employed. This opin- 

 ion was sufficiently encouraging to induce an order for the preparation 

 of the requisite machinery to be erected on the premises of Messrs. 

 Garrard, and accordingly a small steam-engine of from two to four- 

 horse power was erected, and put in operation. As this is the largest 

 diamond which has been cut in Europe for a long period, the com- 



