Richmond Indiana palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1837-1839, 1838-02-10
GLEANINGS IN NATURAL HISTORY.


wondered at the surprising beauty Of the gem
built walls of New jerusalem, or inmagined the
cbrystal magnifcencc Of Aladdns fairy palace
has longed to read and hear more about the treas
urcs of the cave and mountain; whose ma
tional feeling interests him in all the nationa
beauties, wonders, products Of this country
VIC are confident that catalogue and description
OF the gems Of this country possess some interest
From the fact that Iapidaries give the name Of
oriental tn all gems Of peculiar beauty. are
led ofhe impression tina, gems Of much value
are found in this country. It is true that we have
not the sapphire opal, and but one specimen oil
the diamond has been found in Nortl, America
Bat though America does not require these orna-
ments for the crown she can show some gems IN
the cabinets of hor naturaIists which equal in
beauty and surpass IN size those OF eastern roy
atty.
! II we may believe the legends Of the hunters,
New Hampshire has among her state jewels gem
which SURPRISES those Of the palaces OF fairy
tales; and tho ich tho mineralogsts have not de-
scribed IL, and the jewel hunters from the days OF
the Puritans to the present have searched for 1t
in vain, and though VIC arc not sure that even the
geological survey which our Governor has rec
commended will make it available, yet tradition
saws that the great Carbunclc has glittered for
centuries in the crown of the king Of American
mountains and that the hunters have often
times roamed rough the dark forest by the light
Of its flashing beams.
-
The locality Of the amethysts, one Of the most
beautiful Of the gems, the ninth stone on the
Jewish high priests breastplate, among the White
Mountains, is not matter Of moro tradition.
These stones found in beautiful chryssas,
md Of violet color Of all shades, in divers places
in this country. They are found in this State,
| ut ii mpton Falls, in rolled masses, and IN beau
tiful chry stalls Mt the White Mountains. We had
the good forfuee n find large and beautiful
chrysfal among the debris noar the Wiley house
- 1rlsv
oso, which blush to aver we have mourncd
ever since, until the bread which we had thrown
upon the water was returned TO again, IN
beautiful specimen which another sister mineral
ogst gave us, who had picked it up with her own
Eair hands from the mountains in Nova Scotia
These Specimens from Nova Scotia frequently
consists Of beautiful chrysta's, lining a cup or
cavity Of chalccdony. To tho ancient Persians
they wold have been invaluable, for they be-
loved that wine drank from a cup OF amethyst
would never lntOxicatc.
Ofthc other gems upon tho pontifical breast
plate, the carDuncc, topaz. cmorald agate, beryl
and jasper are found in this country. Tho an
cicnt carbunclo is the precious garnet, which IS
found in immense quantities in Hanover, in this
State, and which if polished, would equal those Of
Bohemia.
Tho topaz, is perhaps the most remarkable Of
the American precious stones, being found OF n
size unknown in any other part of the world. |
topaz has been found in Huntington, Conncct- /
cnf. which weighed one pound and three quarters,
and fragment of another weighing two pounds
and one
The largest chryst,l known in Europe, weighs
but seven ounces. Although chrvstals Of this
size have too many flaws to be valuable to lapi-
da ries, smaller ones are found, which are much
for icwclrv.
Tho bcrvl and emerald are found in several
localities aliho' the precious emerald is very rare
The most remarkable bervls in the world are
hnun
. single crystal found at Action in this State.
weighed over an hundred pounds, and which
IS probably the largest gem in the world. The
,ame gigantic proportions characterize other
American precious stones. Aspinellc ruby has
,ccn found in Warwick, N. York, which was near
v four inches in circumference. The two other
minerals. agate and jasper, are esteemed Of less
'aluc since the art OF engraving upon gems has
zone into disuse; for these stones were held III
peculiar esteem for this purpose. Both OF these
stones found in this country, the agate IN New
Jersey, and beautiful red jasper III Slugus, MISS.
We cannot give any other interest to this cat
locIe of the American precious stones. than that
yi,:n is associated with the bare mention of the
James. We can give more of the spirit Of life
0 description which nav be shown in describing
thcr portions If natural history. for unless We
% into a scientific analysis. description of pre-
io:iS stone is but description of the co!ors. We
an then add to the catalogue the names OF the
hnIcedonv or white cornclian. which is found
bundantlv in Connecticut and Massachusetts,,
e throughout TIE green stone ranges Of the Con- !
ecticut river; the ycllowish green crysoberyl ,
,hich IS found imbcddcd in granite in East-Had-
en- Connecticut the rubellite, or red tourmaine,
cautifi,! specimen, Of which are found in Paris,
Ic, which when cut, form very rich ornaments
, jewery; the Cinnamon stone. a valuable gem
,hich has usually been obtained at Ceylon, but
hitch is 70 md OF fine quality in Carlisle. Massa-
husct,s; the hcliotropc or blood stone, OF deep
rccn with blood red spots sprinkled over it, which
found near Troy, New York: the ad,aria or
,oon stone, beautiful mineral Of the color which
S name imports is found in several places in
las, chuse,ts and New York.
This extensive catalogue Of precious stones
bows what is not always believed, that nature
as bestowed upon this country the minute
nj delicate we'll as the coarse and more mas O
i've treasure; that she has given the lostier
,aturcs Of landscape with our mountain scenery,
ID made the most delicate flowers to blossom
nder our lofty forest trees she has planted the
en- and the chrystal in granite rocks. not TO
mister to mans uxnriant tastes, but to exhibit
e exquisite skill which adorns the stupendoue Il
'wer Of the creative and.--Porssmoseh{N ". ~ q