APPENDIX. 



i. 



Proposal for an Exhibition of Works of Colonial Jewellery and 

 Colonial Gems, whether wrought or in the natural state ; as, 

 also, of Colonial Works in Plating, Gilding, and Burnishing. 

 By Rev. John J. Bleasdale, D.D. 



[Read 10th October, 1864.] 



Mr. President and Gentlemen. — Last year I brought before 

 the Royal Society the results of my pleasant labours on the subject 

 of the Gems found in Victoria ; and the favourable reception which 

 my little paper received at your hands, and those of the public 

 generally, has encouraged me to prosecute my inquiries in this 

 direction during the past year : in such moments as I could devote 

 to the subject. I have some few new specimens of interest by me, 

 which I intend to bring before you probably at our next meeting, 

 But they are hardly sufficient to form matter for a separate paper. 

 I allude to this now in a cursory manner for the purpose of in- 

 troducing another subject, which has occurred to me whilst studying 

 how best to get together as large and varied a collection as possible 

 of all kinds of colonial gems, whether wrought or in the rough state. 

 At first, my object was little more than to enable myself to state 

 positively in a pamphlet, which, together with a friend, I have been 

 preparing for the press, in order to give some description of 

 precious stones, the places where they are likely to be found, and 

 their probable marketable value, to persons mining in those districts 

 of this favoured country in which they have already been, or may 

 reasonably be expected to be, hereafter found. 



As I turned the matter about in my mind, it gradually assumed 

 the dimensions of the present* proposal, which I will very briefly 

 lay before you. I know I have no right to trespass to-night on the 

 public time, but I trust you will allow me a few minutes to give a 

 bare outline of what seems to me a scheme likely both to benefit 

 this Society and a large and increasing interest in the Colony at 

 large. 



In order to get together for my own purposes as large a collection 

 as possible of Colonial Gems, which lie scattered about in private 



