cules,
an upright column, made of a single emerald. Appian, too, describes a
colossal statue of Serapis, of the height of nine cubits, carved out of
a single emerald.
It
is evident that these descriptions do not apply to our modern emerald.
The productions they refer to were probably jasper and malachite; and,
above all, vitreous masses artificially coloured by metallic oxides.
REMARKABLE BERYLS AND AQUAMARINES.
The finest beryl known is in the collection of Mr. Hope. It weighs nearly 6-1/2 ounces, and cost $2325. It came from the mine of Cangayum, in the district of Coimbatoor, in the East Indies.
A
magnificent beryl surmounts the globe in the royal crown of England. It
is perfectly clear, and of a lovely colour. It is cut in an oval form,
and is 2-1/10 inches long, 1-1/2 in width, and 1-1/5 in depth.
A
celebrated aquamarine adorned the tiara of Pope Julius II. It measured
2-1/10 inches in length, and 2-2/3 in thickness. Notwithstanding a
slight flaw, it was considered by amateurs a very remarkable gem.
Caire
mentions an aquamarine which he had seen in London that weighed when
cut 250 carats, and was valued by its possessor at $465.
