EMIGRANT DIAMONDS IN AMERICA. 83 



will not take a scratch from emery is a gem stone and of sufficient 

 interest to be referred to a competent mineralogist. 



The dissemination of information regarding the lake diamonds 

 through the region of the moraine should serve the twofold pur- 

 pose of encouraging search for the buried stones and of discovering 

 diamonds in the little collections of " lucky stones " and local curios 

 which accumulate on the clock shelves of country farmhouses. 

 When it is considered that three of the largest diamonds thus far 

 found in the region remained for periods of seven, eight, and six- 

 teen years respectively in the hands of the farming population, it 

 can hardly be doubted that many other diamonds have been found 

 and preserved as local curiosities without their real nature being 

 discovered. 



If diamonds should be discovered in the moraines of eastern 

 Ohio, of western Pennsylvania, or of western l^ew York, con- 

 siderable light would thereby be thrown upon the problem of locat- 

 ing the ancestral home. More important than this, however, is 

 the mapping of the Canadian wilderness to the southeastward and 

 eastward of James Bay, in order to determine the direction of ice 

 movement Vvithin the region, so that the tracking of the stones 

 already found may be carried nearer their home. The Director 

 of the Geological Survey of Canada is giving attention to this 

 matter, and has also suggested that a study be made of the mate- 

 rial found in association with the diamonds in the moraine, so that 

 if possible its source may be discovered. 



With the discovery of new localities of these emigrant stones 

 and the collection of data regarding the movement of the ice over 

 Canadian territory, it will perhaps be possible the more accurately 

 and definitely to circumscribe their home country, and as its bound- 

 aries are drawn closer and closer to pay this popular jewel a visit 

 in its ancestral home, there to learn what we so much desire to 

 know regarding its genesis and its life history. 



William Pengklly related, in one of his letters to his wife from the 

 British Association, Oxford meeting, 1860, of Sedgwick's presidency of the 

 Geological Section, that his opening address was " most characteristic, full 

 of clever fun, most imperative that papers should be as brief as possible 

 — about ten minutes, he thought — he himself amplifying marvelously." 

 The next day Pengelly himself was about to read his paper, when " dear old 

 Sedgwick wished it compressed. I replied that I would do what I could 

 to please him, but did not know which to follow, his precept or example. 

 The roar of laughter was deafening. Old Sedgwick took it capitally, and 

 behaved much better in consequence." On the third day Pengelly went 

 to committee, where, he says, " I found Sedgwick very cordial, took my ad- 

 dress, and talks of paying me a visit." 



