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King: Precious Stones and Gems

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PREFACE.
vii
the most authentic descriptions attainable of note-worthy jewels, and of celebrated gems; especially of those possessing an historical interest: and from their very nature, as once appertaining to the mightiest in bygone times, no class of relics is richer in similar memories. A large series of col­lectanea, illustrating this branch of antiquity, will be found arranged together in the Appendix, under the respective heads to which these monuments belong. With these details another consideration is connected. The uncertainty as to the weights of celebrated Diamonds, owing to the varying statements of the same given by different writers, is a constant subject of complaint. Much care has therefore been taken to ensure accuracy in my notices of this particular. Again, there is no class of relics (except sacred) whose whole history swarms so largely with confused and conflicting stories, re-copied and re-blundered by careless writers, of which the " Sancy " and the " Mogul " perpetually furnish the most glaring examples, whenever some fresh event (like the recent sale of the former) occasions their being quoted, and these fictions to obtrude themselves in newspaper paragraphs. The facts here adduced from contemporary and trustworthy authorities will suffice, it appears to me, to settle these points to the satisfaction of all who wish to know the true origin and fortunes of these long-famed jewels. The outlines given of the dimensions and patterns of the largest known Diamonds, besides serving to establish most important data in their history, will be found accurately to represent their appearance; and at the same time are instructive, as exemplifying the fashions after which all other gems are cut.
The modern division of this treatise is reviewed in its due place in the respective articles; and is furthermore elucidated by the Table of the Chemical Analysis of the different species. and by the accurate diagrams of their crystallization accom­panying it. This arrangement seems to me to convey quite as much information upon the scientific part of their natural
King: Precious Stones and Gems Page of 453 King: Precious Stones and Gems
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