lively
green, perfectly matched, every one as large as a half-crown piece, and
as thick as three crown pieces; and another of small emeralds,
perfectly round. But her ear-rings eclipsed all the rest. They were two
diamonds shaped exactly like pears ; as large as a big hazel nut. Round
her talpoche she had four strings of pearls, the whitest, and most
perfect in the world, fastened with two roses, consisting of a large
ruby for the middle stone ; and round them twenty drops of clear
diamonds to each. Besides this, her headdress was covered with bodkins
of emeralds, and diamonds. She wore large diamond bracelets, and had
five rings on her fingers;—except Mr. Pitt's, the largest diamonds I
ever saw in my life. 'Tis for jewellers to compute the value of all
these things ; but, according to the common estimation of jewels in our
part of the world, her whole dress must be worth a hundred thousand
pounds sterling. The magnificence of her table answered very well to
that of her dress. The knives were of gold ; and the hafts set with
diamonds. But the only articles of luxury which grieved my eyes were
the table-cloth, and napkins, which consisted all of tiffany,
embroidered with gold, after the finest manner, in natural flowers. It
was with the utmost regret that I made use of these costly silken
napkins, which were as finely wrought as the finest handkerchiefs that
ever came out of the country. You may be sure that they were entirely
spoilt before dinner was over. The Sherbet (which is the liquor they
drink with their meals) was served in china bowls, but the covers, and
salvers were of massive gold. After dinner water was brought in gold
basins, together with towels (of the same kind as the napkins), which I
very unwillingly wiped my hands upon ; and
