The Beryl or Aquamarine. 137
angles
to its axis; so that in Indian ornaments, we often see very flat
emeralds of large size. The one in the possession of Dhuleep Singh is
about three inches long, two inches wide, and half an inch thick, of a
fine colour, with few imperfections. It is to be remarked, that the
size of the emerald does not increase its value in a cubic ratio; that
is to say, it does not progress in' price like the diamond or ruby.
The
treasuries of Europe and Asia are rich in this gem; the comparatively
low price which it formerly brought, and its pleasing colour, having
caused it to be collected and worn in every country. The Russian,
Saxon, and Papal crowns, contain emeralds of wonderful beauty, and of
large size. In the Austrian treasury there is said to be a crystal of
emerald weighing 2000 carats, and the Duke of Devonshire possesses one
weighing nearly 9 ounces. The mines now seem to produce crystals very
inferior to those formerly coming thence, and at present it is rare to
meet with fine stones. Few, if any, emeralds possess an historic
interest; a description, therefore, of the large emeralds known would
be useless.
The
beryl, or aquamarine, is much more generally diffused over the surface
of the globe. Some magnificent specimens are found in Siberia : this
stone is also met with at Invercauld and Kinloch Rannoch, Scotland; in
the Mourne Mountains, county Down; at Dalkey, and the Three Rock
Mountain, county Dublin, and in Glen Macnap, county Wicklow; at
Limoges, in
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