52 Particulars of a Sword of Meteoric Iron. 



ten hours. The mounting and engraving occupied the two follow- 

 ing days. Thus no sword was ever completed from the crude 

 material in so short a space of time. 



" Mr. Sowerby under all these circumstances considers it liliely 

 to be revered by posterity, and hopes it will attract attention, and 

 continually be a memorial of the grand example of the merciful 

 Emperor." 



The length of this sword is two feet: it is slightly curved, 

 pointed, and sharpened at both edges to eight inches from the 

 point: its width is 1 inch and 3-8ths. The part that is blunt 

 at the back is nearly filled on one side with engraving : beneath 

 the imperial crown is a wreath of laurel and palm inclosing the 

 word " Mercy:" under this is the Russian spread eagle, and then 

 the following inscription : "This iron having fallen from the 

 heavens, was, upon his visit to England, presented to His Ma- 

 jesty Alexander Emperor of all the Russias, who has successfully 

 joined in battle to spread the blessings of peace through Europe, 

 by James Sowerby, F.L.S. G.S. Honorary Member of the Physi- 

 cal Society of Gottingen, &c. June 1814." On the other side, 

 *' Pure meteoric iron found near the Cape of Good Hope." 



The surface is not quite free from blemish, in consequence of 

 the spreading of some minute flaws in the material; but they are 

 only superficial, and will serve to distinguish this blade from any 

 imitation that might be made of it. It possesses an excellent 

 spring, much hardness, considering it is not steel, that is, equal 

 to an old Highland broad sword, and a whiter colour with a 

 more silver-like lustre than other iron. 



It is highly probable that the foliated structure of most of the 

 other meteoric irons* will render them unfit for hammering out 

 to such a length as is necessary for a sword blade, if they \vill 

 bear hammering at all. Thus the blade above described is not 

 likely soon to have a rival : it was fitted up in a black scabbard 

 mounted with steel, — a material by no means generally used in 

 Russia. 



• An account of several of these will soon appear in No. 27 of Sowerby s 

 Exotic Mineralogy, ^ith figures showing this structure, from wMch, how- 

 ever, the Siberian is exempt. 



VII. Me- 



