16 ANNUAL OF SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERY. 



ment, an emerald and diamond bridle and martingale ; a gold mounted 

 saddle, set with diamonds, emeralds, and rubies ; a brocaded robe, dec- 

 orated with pearls ; and an emerald girdle, the stones of immense size, 

 and mostly of very fine quality. 



Among Messrs. Hunt and RoskelPs brilliants was a Diamond Bou- 

 quet, in seven sprigs, containing nearly 6000 diamonds, the largest 

 weighing ten carats and the smallest the thousandth part of a carat. 

 Another fine specimen was a Ruby and Diamond Bouquet, valued at 

 15,000. 



The third diamond in point of size and value exhibited, is the prop- 

 erty of Mr. Hope, and weighs 172 carats. It has a delicate, bluish 

 tinge, like the sapphire ; is cut in small facets in the shape of a medal- 

 lion, surrounded by twenty large diamonds of the purest water, and 

 from its size and color is said to be unique. Its value among lapidaries 

 is estimated at about 30,000 ; but it is understood that Mr. Hope 

 obtained it for thirteen thousand guineas, the diamond-merchant, in 

 whose possession it was, being in want of money, and finding some 

 difficulty in meeting with a customer for so valuable a gem. Mr. Hope 

 also exhibited the largest known pearl, together with a number of 

 other valuable and curious stones ; opals of great size ; a sapphire 

 once the property of Philippe Egalite, and to which a literary interest 

 attaches in connection with the name of Madame de Genlis ; a splendid 

 aquamarine which formed the hilt to the favorite weapon of Murat ; a 

 cat's-eye taken from the King of Kandy, a jacinth ring once the prop- 

 erty of Gregory VIII., and a very interesting collection of pearls, 

 placed in the oyster shells in which they were found. 



The fourth great gem of the Exhibition was a gigantic crystal of 

 emerald, the property of the Duke of Devonshire, partially cut. A col- 

 lection of jewels of great value w r as contributed by the Emperor of Rus- 

 sia. Its chief ornament was a casket of ebony, ornamented on its sides 

 and lid with precious stones, executed in relief, and representing, with 

 marvellous fidelity, a variety of fruits. An immense cluster of grapes 

 is typified by amethysts, bunches of cherries by cornelians, and leaves 

 by jasper beautifully shaded. In the Russian department, also, was a 

 pair of folding doors, of malachite, 13 feet high, panelled and orna- 

 mented with gilt bronze, valued at 6000. The manufacture of these 

 articles is in itself a work of art, the surface being made up of some 

 30,000 variously-shaped little pieces, carefully selected to produce 

 various patterns. The doors are of wood, covered with copper, the 

 malachite veneer being about a quarter of an inch thick. 



A Jewelled Hawk, the property of the Duke of Devonshire, was 

 exhibited : it contains a gold drinkiug-cup ; the wings and body of the 

 bird are chiefly covered with rubies, turquoises, emeralds, and other 

 precious stones. The bird stands about a foot high, and cost its noble 

 owner 600 guineas. 



The jewels of the Queen of Spain, exhibited by Lemonnier, in the 

 French collection, were very attractive. In the centre was a bouquet 

 of large diamonds, on elastic sprigs ; the buds were enormous pearls, 

 and the green foliage were emeralds. Above were a tiara of sapphires, 

 surrounded by diamonds, and festoons of diamonds and pearls. There 



