Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1838-01-25
AMERICAN CE1lS.


lusre the sigh, description Of the "bright jewels
OF The mne"-to the ulusilivc child, who, AZ he has
read the description uf Aarnns i.wced breast plate or
wondered al the surprising brauiy oil the grn-aFt
walls of Nrw Jerusalem, imagined the crystal mag
niicrncr of Aaddins fairy palace has "ngrd to read
and hear about the treasures Of the care and noun
tain; or whose national feeling Interests him in
all the national beauties, wonders, products OF his
country, we are confident that catalogue an! descrP
ton OF tie gems of this country will possess sumc in
trrest.
From The fact that lapdaries give the of oren.
ti all gems Of peculiar beauty led To the i'm
preston that no gems Of much value found in this
country. 1t Is true that we have not the aP,llrc or
opal, and but specimen Of the diamond has been
found in North America. But though America does
require these ornaments for the crown she can show
snne gems in The cubnes OF her naturaIss which equal
in beauty and surpnss those of eastern royalty.
II we may believe The legends of the hunters, New
Hampshire has among her State jewels gem which
srpasses thnse OF the palaces of larry tales and though
the mneralrgss have not described il. and the jrwel
hunters from the days Of The Purlans to The present have
searched for it in valnand though we are not sure that
the geological survey which our Governor has re-
commended will make it available, yet tradition says that
the great Caruncle has slirteed fur centuries in tie
crown of the king of American mountans and thnt the
hunters have olteumps roaed through the dark forest
bv the light of lis flashing beams.
Blu, gems dn not exist only in fairy tales The To-.
caty of The amelhys;s Of the most beautiful OF the
gems The ninth stone on the Jewish high priest breast
pIae, among the White Mountains is not matter Of
nrr. tradition These stones are found in beautiful
crystals, and Of violet color of all shades. in divers
places in this country. They found in this Stale al
Hampton Fails in rolled masses, and in beautiful crys
tails at the White Mountains We had the good fortune
TO find large and beautiful crystal among the Debris
near the Wiley house at the Notch We gave il away
TO lady virluuso, which we blush TO aver we have
mourned since, until the bread which had thrown
upon The waters returned 10 us again, in 4 beaU
ul specimen which another sister mrrangst gave
who had picked il up with her own fair hands from the
mountains in Nova Scotia These specimens from Nova
Scotia frequently consist Of beautiful crystals, lining
cup cavity Of charedony. To the ancient Prrsians
they would have been invaluable for they believed that
wine drank fom cup Of amethyst would never ntox.
cate.
OF TIE other gems upon The pontical breast. plate the
cabunre, topaz, emerald agate, bery and jasper are
found in this country The ancient carbnnclc the pre-
cious garnri, which is found in immense quantities in
Hanover in this Stale: and which, il polished, would
equal those Of Bohemia.
The inpaz is perhaps tn, mnst remarkable Of The
American precious snncs, being found Of size
known in any other part Of the world. A topaz has
been found in Huntington, Connecticut, which weighed
pound and three quarters, and fragment Of another
weighing two pounds and one ounce.
The largest crystal knnwn in Europe, weighs but
ven ounces. Although chrysals of this size have
many flaws to be valuable t" lapdaries smaller
found, which much estimated for jewelry.
The beryl and emerald found in several localities,
although the precious emerald is very rare. The most
remarkable bery!s in The world those found in this
country We have seen single crystal found at Acton
in this State, which weighed hundred pounds and
which is probably The largest gem in the world. The
same gigantic proportions characterize other American
precious Stones A spInelle ruby has been found in
Warwick, New York, which neurly four inches in
circumference. The two other minerals, agate and Jas
per- esteemed Of less value since the art Of
upon gems has gone into dsuse; for these stones
held in peculiar esteem for this purpose. Both If these
found IN this country the agate in New Je
sey and n beautiful red jasper in Saugus. Mass.
We cannot give any other interest 10 this catalogue Of
the American precl"us stones, than that which is associa
with the bare mention of The names. We can give more
of the spirit Of life TO description which may be shown
in describing other portions Of natural history for I'M
less go into scientific analysis description Of pre-
stones is but description Of their coors We can
then add 10 the catalogue the of The chacedouy
white cornrlian, which is found abundanty in Con-
neclcnt and Massachusetts, throughout the green
stone ranges of the Connecticut river the yellowish
green cryso bery which is found mbedded in granite in
East Haddam Connecticut; the rebeli,e or red tour.
mane, beautiful specimens OF which found in Paris
Me, which when cut, form very rich in Jew.
elry; the Cinnamon stone, valuable gem which has
usually been obtained nj Ceylon bn which is found of
fne quality in Carlisle, Massachusetts; the heotrope
blood stone, of deep green, with blood red spots
spnkled over II, which is found near Troy New York:
the aduario moonslone, beautiful mineral Of The
color which its name imports is found in several places
in Massachusetts and New York.
This extensive catalogue Of precious stones shows
what is not always believed that Nature has bestowed
upon this country the minute md delicate, well the
coarse and more massive treasures that she has given
the loftier features of landscape with mountain
scenery, and made the most delicate flowers blossom
under our lofty forest trees she has planted The gem and
the crystal in granite rocks not 10 minister mans
luxurant tastes but 10 exhibit the exquisite skill which
adnrns the stupendous power Of the creative hand
Portsmouth, On. H. Journal
VrLocirr-Tbe planet Venus, one Of the nearest ond
most brilliant of The celestial bodies aud about the ga me
size The EARTH is found 10 through the space.