Ball — Description of two large Spinel Rubies. 399 



NOTE ADDED IN THE PRESS. 



While these pages were passing tlirough the Press, I paid a visit 

 to the India Office in Whitehall, and took the opportunity of examin- 

 ing the life-size oil-paintings of the Shahs of Persia which are pre- 

 served there. Most unexpectedly I found among them one of Nadir 

 Shah, by an unknown native artist. It represents, with minute 

 fidelity, his jewels ; and on the left arm, high up, there is a lazu-land, 

 the central jewel of which is a ruby whose form justifies the belief 

 that it is the very one the history of which has been rescued from 

 complete oblivion by the preservation of the sealing-wax impressions,, 

 of which the readings are given above, and in the accompanying Plate.. 



