so Particulars of the Swoid of Meteoric Iron presented ly 



gin as that so celebrated whicli Professor Pallas discovered some 

 years ago in Siberia, and which is now placed in Your Majesty's 

 museum, being in my possession, I have presumed it would be 

 agreeable to Your Majesty to accept a sword made from it, as a 

 mark from an individual, of that gratitude every Englishman is 

 so anxious to express, and of respect for the familiar way in 

 which Your Majesty has been pleased to visit my country. 



*' May it please Your Majesty, 



*' The meteoric iron of which the blade has been hammered, 

 was found about 200 miles within the Cape of Good Hope by 

 CaptainBarrow. It has been examined by mv countryman Smith- 

 son Tennant, Esq. who established its nature by discovering about 

 JO per cent, of nickel in it. It is the only sword ever made of 

 that rare and extraordinary material. That Your Majesty may 

 be graciously pleased to honour an humble individual by receiving 

 it, is the ambitious hope of 



Your Majesty's most obedient 



and ever grateful servant, 

 " July 3, 1814. " Jas. Sowerby.'^ 



Besides this letter, a paper accompanied the sword, of which 

 a copy is subjoined. 



•* The descent of solid stones or masses of ductile iron from 

 the sky, or from meteors, is so inconsistent with the familiar ope- 

 rations of nature, as to excite at first disbelief: but when the fact 

 is estabhshed by incontrovertible evidence, wonder and reverence 

 .succeed. The ore of the mine or the diamond of the Indies are 

 indebted for their value to their usefulness or rarity; their origin 

 ii too familiar to excite any extraordinary emotion. We are little 

 surprised at meeting with hail or rain ; but meteors strike the be- 

 holder with amazement, and stones or metal falling from them 

 com])lete his astonishment. 



" This is the only blade ever formed of unadulterated meteoric 

 iron ; a material that derives its value from its quality, which is 

 superior to other iron, from its scarcity, and, above all, its extra- 

 ordinary coelestial origin, with the terrific phsenomena attending 

 its fall : a value no other substance possesses, and which renders 

 it worthy to become a sacred pledge of national gratitude to- 

 wards, and esteem for, the heroic " giver of blessings," who, in 

 alliance with the magnanimous and lawful sovereigns of Europe,, 

 hfts generously fought for " peace alone," and whose arms the 

 Almighty has favoured against the scourge of the earth, to chase 



away 



