DIAMOND. 
391 
rats, and is said to be worth 380,000 guineas. This 
diamond has a small flaw underneath near the bot- 
tom ; before this stone was cut Tavernier tells us it 
weighed 900 carats, consequently its loss in cutting 
must have been prodigious. Another diamond in 
the possession of the king of Portugal, which weighs 
215 carats, is extremely fine, and worth at least 
369,800/. 
The famous diamond which belonged to the late 
king of France, called the Pitt, or Regent , weighs 
nearly 137 carats, and has been valued at 208,333 
guineas, although it did not cost above half that sum. 
This beautiful gem was found in the diamond mines 
at the foot of the Gaut mountains, about twenty 
miles from Golconda. Another diamond belonging 
to the same monarch, called the Sancy , was reckoned 
a very fine stone, though it weighs only 55 carats. 
It cost 25,000 guineas, but is said to be worth a 
much larger sum. 
We must not omit to mention the diamond of 
the emperor of Germany, which weighs 139 carats, 
and is valued at 109,520 guineas. It is of a light 
citron colour. 
It is well known that the diamond is the hardest 
of all the precious stones, and only to be cut by the 
assistance of its own powder. We are informed, 
that to bring it to the degree of perfection which so 
much augments its price, they begin by rubbing 
several against each other while rough, after having 
previously glued them to the ends of two wooden 
