PLATE LXXIIL 



lain to Catherine queen to Charles II. presented her majesty with a 

 pearl (taken in this river) which is to this day honoured with a place 

 in the regal crown. They are called by the Welsh Cregin Diluw,^ 

 or Deluge Shells, as if left there by the flood. 



The Irt, in Cumberland* was also productive of them. The- 

 famous circumnavigator, Sir John Hawkins, had a patent for fishing 

 that river. He had observed pearls plentiful in the straits of Magel- 

 lan, and flattered himself with being enriched by procuring them 

 within his own island. 



In the last century, several of great size were gotten in the 

 rivers in the county of Tyrone and Donegal, in Ireland. One 

 weighed thirty-six carats, was valued at 401. but being foul lost 

 much of its worth. Other single pearls were sold for 4l. 10s. and 

 even for 101. The last was sold a second time to lady Glenlealy, 

 who put it into a necklace, and refused 80l. for it from the duchess 

 of Ormond." 



" Suetonius reports, that Csesar was induced to undertake his British 

 expedition for the sake of our pearls ; and that they were so large 

 that it was necessary to use the hand to try the weight of a single 

 one*- I imagine Caesar only heard this by report; and that the 

 crystaline balls in old leases, called mineral pearl, were mistaken for 

 themt.' , 



" We believe that Caesar was disappointed of his hope : yet we are 

 told that he brought home a buckler made with British pearl J, which. 



» Suetcm. Vtt. Jul. C*:. c. lxiv. f Woodward's Method of Fossils, 29. part 2, 



X Plim, lib. 9. c . 35. Tack. Fit. Agrkofa 



E 3 



