[ 445 1 



XX. On the Topaz of Scotland. 

 By Professor Jameson. 



[Readgth December 1809-3 



It is said that the greater number of the preci- 

 ous stones have been, at different times, discover- 

 ed in the mountainous districts of Scotland ; but 

 hitherto no accurate account of them has been pu- 

 blished. This is owing to a deficiency of mi- 

 neralogical skill, and the interested motives of the 

 discoverers, who have always endeavoured to con- 

 ceal the knowledge of the spots where these stones 

 have been found. According to the jewellers and 

 lapidaries of Edinburgh, the ruby occurs at the 

 Ely in Fifeshire, also near Portsoy in Banffshire, 

 in Inverness-shire, and Aberdeenshire : The eme- 

 rald at the mountains of Cairngorm in Aber- 

 deenshire : The aqua marine, or precious beryl, at 



