head
of her present majesty. The new crown weighs little more than three
pounds. It is composed of hoops of silver, inclosing a cap of deep
purple, or rather blue, velvet ; the hoops are completely covered with
precious stones, surmounted with a ball, covered with small diamonds,
and having a Maltese cross of brilliants on the top of it.
The
cross has in its centre a splendid sapphire ; the rim of the crown is
clustered with brilliants, and ornamented with fleurs-de-lis and
Maltese crosses equally rich. In the front of the Maltese cross which
is in front of the crown is the enormous heart-shaped ruby, once worn
by the chivalrous Edward the Black Prince, but now destined to adom
the head of a virgin queen. Beneath this, in a circular rim, is an
immense oblong sapphire. There are many other precious gems, emeralds,
rubies, and sapphires, and several small clusters of drop pearls. The
lower part of the crown is surrounded with ermine. It is, upon the
whole, a most dazzling and splendid crown, and does infinito credit to
those by whom it has been designed and put together. Her majesty has
expressed herself highly pleased with it.
The following is an estimate of the value of the "jewels:
