The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1851-08-09
The Diamonds and JeWelry in tn
Great Exhibition.

10 be attacneQ 10 II, anu HOW l .
many precautions have been rec Y
and so much difficulty attends
spection the crowd is enormoT ~"'
HANGED, and the policemen at either end
of the covered entrance have much trou-
Bile in restraining the struggling and inn
patient multitude. For hours yesterday
there We're never less than a couple Of
hundred persons waiting their turn OF
admission, and vet, after all, the diamond
does not satisfy. Either from the i'm
perfect cutting, or the difficulty of pla-
cling the lights advantageously, or the
Immortality of the stone itself, which
should be made to revolve slowly upon
its axis, few catch any Of the brilliant
rays that it reflects when viewed at a
particular angle. The Derrea-i-noor, or
Sea of Light, although comparatively
insignificant in point of value, is much
more brilliant and effective, from the
large surfase it exposes. The diamond
is IN the northern compartment OF India,
and is set with some smaller ones as an
armlet Next to the Mountain and Sea
ofLight is Mr.. Hopes great diamond,
which which weighs one hundred and
seyenty-seven carats. 1t is in the south
central gallery, among the British jew
elry enclosed in massive casket, the top
of which is secured with plate glass and
bars Of brass. 1t has delicate, blush
tIngc, like the sapphire; is cut in small
facets in the shape of a medallion, sur
rounded by twenty large diamonds oithe
purest water, and, fromtS size and color,
Is said to be unique. Its value among
lapldaries is estimated at about + 80, 900;
but it is understood that Mr.. Hope OBJ
tanned it for thirteen thousand guineas,
the diamond-mcrchant in whose posses
sion it was, being in want Of money. and
finding some difficulty i'll meeting with
a customer for SO valuable gem. The
fourth great gem OF the collection must
be sought for in one ofthe most remote
corners of the Exhibition, on the ground
floor near the western entrance. 1t is
in Mr.. Tenants we'll arranged colIec
on Of minerals and gems, and is a large
crystal Of pure emerald, only partly cut,
the property of the Duke ofDevonshire,
who, without regarding the risk, placed
it in Mr.. Tenants case. To those who
are curious in meteorological specimens,
this little visited corner will prove a
rich treat. Mr.. Tenant hassomc large
specimens of oriental ruby, cylindrical
crystals of Beryl, from Siberia; crystals
oftopaz, onyx and opal. There is saol
hT s yaGst%nd" G fFyib31d! 25 EF 81
gems in the rough state.
In the British department, among The
gorgeous and cost y display Of jewelry of
ewelry and gold and silver plate, there
Is a small case which attracts particular
attention. 1t contains limitations in
crystal Of all the largest diamonds i'll the
world. The largest and most valuable
Of these is the ugliest and most uninvl-
ting in its appearance; it is one of the
Portuguese brown Jewels, and from its
astounding value, which is set down at
t5,644, 900, it has never been entrusted
to any diamondmerchant to cut or pol
ish. In size it resembles a large turkey
egg, with piece notched out ofthe side !;
1t is semi-transparent on the surface, and
weighs one thousand six hundred and
eighty carats. The great Russian scep-
tire diamond is next in point of size and
value; its weight is seven hundred and
scvcnty-nne carats, and its value, being
without flaw, and of very fine water,
GA, $4,000. The great Mogul rose dia-
mond is estimated at GG32, 900, and the
Portuguese brilliant at e369, 900. Rus
sia has also another ovoid brilliant. worth
G297,OOO, and there is little fiat
smooth-faced Persian diamond, with the
tanciful name of the "Sea of Glory"
set down al, e3l, 900, There is also the
great German brilliant, valued at L l55,
900, and another finely cut Persian gem
called ''tle Mountain of Splendour,"
valued at E1l5,000. The Pigott dia-
mond, sold by Rundcll and Bridge, for
$50, 900, is cut in very small facets, and
is of an oval form. France possesses the
great Pitt or Regent diamond, worth
El5O,000; an English gem, called the
Horribly diamond, sold to Persia for
$4,000, and afterwards obtained by
France; and the third great French dia-
mond is of a sky-bluc color, and is esti-
mated at fl50,000. Two smaller
round Persian diamonds are set down at
Gl6,OoO and .G1S,OOO. The Russian
cone diamond is valued at & 10000, and
Russian table diamond, perfectly fiat,
with very little cutting, G35, 900. One
ofthe smallest, but not the least inter-
esting specimen in this singular collec-
ton, is little round diamond valued at
$500 its interest centres ~ the fact that
its finding obtained the freedom Of the
lndian-a's~e BY whom it was discovered
q the Brazilian mines. A lump
&c California gold about the