280 Scientific Intelligence. 
with all the fabulous wealth the Persian host bore with them to Khoras- 
san. From Nadir Shah it passed into the hands of his powerless repre- 
sentative Shah Rokh; but it was not one of the jewels —— ex- 
torted from him by such frightful torture. The history of Ahm 
founder of the short-lived Douranee empire, is that of many uke hie. 
re names. The realms conquered by Nadir fell wea at his death ; 
into an empire, schich extended from Moultan to Herat, from Pokaan 
to Candahar. From his Affghan eyrie he descended to aid his old mas- 
ter’s son in the hour of his adversity, sealed an alliance with him, and 
bore back the great diamond whose beauties “its blind owner could no 
longer see,” and which became once more an eeu symbol of friend- 
reg between sovereigns of whom the recipient of the diamond was 
stronger. om Ahmed Shah it descended with the throne to his sons. 
The wild romance of Shah Soujah’s life was in no small degree linked 
with this gem. Long hidden in the wall of a fortress that had been Shah 
Zemaun’s prison, it shone on the breast of Shah Soujah when the Eng- 
lish embassy visited Peshawur. Mahmoud reasserted with success the 
claim of might to the empire of his brother, and Shah Soujah became an 
exile. But his companion in that exile was the Koh-i-Noor, and, hunted 
challenge the pages of romance. The Koh-i-Noor hdl n been true to 
in the tiara of Indian empire. But it is no more the Mountain of 
It is no longer the finest diamond known in the world : it has been 
as well perhaps as it was possible to recut it*, and is now a brilliant, 
~~ but 103 carats. Although no more the 8 mishkals of Dia- 
that Baber valued at half the rent-roll of a world, it is the identi 
oak gem that has contributed its light to the glories of every dynasty that 
has — the East by the supremacy of its arms for perhaps a 
yes 
2. On the origin of Greensand, reer saya an the Oceans 
of the 
present epoch ; by Prof. J. W. Battey, (Proc. Bost. Soc. Nat. Hist., vol. ¥; 
p. 364.)—As an introduction to the subject of this r, it is proper to 
ae to various observations which have been a eet facts Pua tely 
: waiver artistic Metre. Gerard of the work, performed by Dutch artists under the pe superntend 
rrard, the Queen's Jeweller, was admirably executed. 
ae “he 
