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own country, and yet for a two-carat stone and not perfect at that, I was 

 asked the moderate sum of $7 by a prominent jeweller in Montreal- 

 This stone would be worth in Ceylon about twenty five cents. 



You will perhaps rely more on the weight of my statement if I 

 read you an abstract from the Hand-book of Exhibits of Ceylon at the 

 Colonial Exhibition : '" Moonstones were credited to other countries 

 in past ages, besides Ceylon, and were known to the ancients, who as- 

 sociated the moonlike lustre with the phases of the moon. These 

 stones are found in large numbers in several places and are not of any 

 considerable value ; indeed the large quantities found prevent their 

 commanding a high price." I do not mention this to throw ai.y more 

 reflection on the Moonstone, but tnerely as a comparison between the 

 intrinsic value of it and the Quartz Astena. 



The taste for the one has been acquired ; for the other it has yet 

 to be acquired. You will say, if the stone with its attractive qualities is 

 what you claim for it, why is it not more in demand ? To which I 

 would reply, that vendors of precious stones are not generally min- 

 eralogists, they therefore decline handling gems that are not known in the 

 market until the demand on the j)art of the public forces them to do 

 so ; and again, the introduction of a new stone may perhaps seriously 

 retard the i-ale of a large stock of gems on hand, not to mention the 

 many vexatious questions that might be put by customers concerning 

 its durability, etc. 



Besides the above variety, the colourless transparent crystals of 

 Quartz found in many parts of Canada will afford at times clear gems. 



The brilliant crystals found in the neigbourhood of Quebec and 

 known as Quebec Diamonds look well when mounted in their natural 

 state, and when cut as brilliants are exceedingly bright. 



The rose and smoky varieties of Quartz are occasionally met 

 with, and according to Prof. Howe, some years ago, large crystals of 

 the latter kind could be found in the stone heaps of the fields in the 

 neighbourhood of Paradise Village, JN.S. I have also seen some fine 

 crystals of this variety from British Columbia, fit for cutting. 



Rose Quartz although occurring at a number of places in Canada, 

 has not yet to my knowledge been mei with as a gem material. 



The perfectly transparent variety, Rock crystal, referred to above 



