PLATE LXXIII. 



lain to Catherine queen to Charles II. presented her majesty with a 

 pearl (taken in this river) which is to this day honoured with a place 

 in the regal crown. They are called by the Welsh Cregin Diluw, 

 or Deluge Shells, as if left there by the flood. 



" The Irt, in Cumberland, was also productive of them. The 

 famous circumnavigator, Sir John Hawkins, had a patent for fishing 

 that river. He had observed pearls plentiful in the straits of Magel- 

 lan, and flattered himself with being enriched by procuring them 

 within his own island. 



" In the last century, several of great size were gotten in the 

 rivers in the county of Tyrone and Donegal, in Ireland. One 

 weighed thirty-six carats, was valued at 40l. but being foul lost 

 much of its worth. Other single pearls were sold for 4l. 10s. and 

 even for 101. The last was sold a second time to lady Glenlealy, 

 who put it into a necklace, and refused 80l. for it from the duchess 

 of Ormond." 



" Suetonius reports, that Caasar was induced to undertake his British 

 expedition for the sake of our pearls ; and that they were so large 

 that it was necessary to use the hand to try the weight of a single 

 one*- I imagine Caesar only heard this by report; and that the 

 crystaline balls in old leases, called mineral pearl, were mistaken for 

 themf." 



" We believe that Caesar was disappointed of his hope : yet we are 

 told that he brought home a buckler made with British pearl J, which 



* Suetm. V\t. Jul Cat. c. Ixiv. + Woodward's Method of Fossils, 29. part. Z. 



X Plinii, lib. 9. c . 35. Tacit. Fit. Agrinla. 



B " 



