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PRECIOUS STONES.
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Thomas Overbury in the Tower of London, at the beginning
of the seventeenth century, was ascribed to a potion given to him by an enemy, containing a preparation of the diamond. Uses. — A difference of opinion has prevailed among nations
and individuals as to the rank this gem is entitled to among precious stones. The ancient Romans and the people of India assigned it the highest place for beauty and value, while the Persians esteemed it less, giving it only a fifth rank, the pearl, ruby, emerald, and chrysolite taking precedence ; other nations have considered it inferior only to the ruby and the emerald, though the majority of mankind have regarded the diamond as the queen of gems and the nonpareil of all material things, whose possession was once claimed as a regal privilege and none except those of distinguished rank presumed to appropriate it for personal ornament ; but now the imperial gem has become the legitimate property of any one who can purchase it. The Syrians and Phoenicians are supposed to have been the
first nations who employed it for jewelry, and their example was soon imitated by others. At a later period it was introduced into Europe and became conspicuous at all the courts and in all the circles of rank and fashion, while at the present time it maintains a pre-eminent distinction as an ornamental stone in both hemispheres. The French collection of diamonds was large at the time
of the great robbery, and since that affair, accessions were made from, time to time until the list reached, in 1838, the enormous sum of nearly sixty-five thousand specimens, including many of distinguished size and beauty. Additions continued to be made to the collection until the number was almost without a parallel. In 1872 the Buonaparte family alone, within one year,
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