DIAMONDS AND PEARLS. 49
carat,
ought to be manufactured; because all that are of less value must be
very defective, carrying many, or all of the follow-ing blemishes :
fouls, or stains, specks, flaws, being veiny, craggy, ill-formed, and
of an ill colour; which, consequently, must obstruct and defeat the
purposes of manufacture ; for with all that art can do, they will be
void of lustre, which will sink them below the rank of a jewel.
Next,
it is to be observed, that all under that value will sell for as much,
to be used in cutting and forming the better sort, as any one can
afford to give for them, with the view of manufacturing them ; for the
expense of workmanship must be the same as for better stones, if well
done ; and if not well done, it will add to the other defects; and
the loss of weight must be greater than what attends better stones, by
its being frequently necessary to discharge or lessen the defects
before mentioned : indeed, when a stone of a very large size falls in
the way, it may be thought worth the expense of working, as its size
may recommend it; these being rarely to be met with, but not as orna-
