The times., 1901-03-24
GEMS IN THE ENGLISH CROWN
Jewels and Historic stones to Excite
the Envy of DespOts.
CFrom the London Globe

According to usage in a full state cere-
monial at the opening OF Parliament py
the sovereign. the crown is carried on
cushion by a nObieman IN the royaI pro-
cession as il enters the House OF Peers;
The crown was recently seen at the foHal
funeral by many thousands OF spectators
who had little idea what 1t contained.
The following description of II, taken
from "Debrett's Peerage,' may be OF IN
terest: The imperial state crown was
made in the year 1893 with JeWeIs taken
from old crowns and others furnished by
command of her Ma jesty Queen victoria.
n consisted of diamonds. pearls, ruoies,
sapphires, and emeraids set IN SILVER an. anu
gold: il has a crimson velvet cap with
erniue border, and is lined with Whlte
silk Its gross weight Is thlrty-hlle
ounces five pennyweights Troy. Inc lower
mart of the band above the ermine border,
consists OF a row of l20 pearls, ana the
upper part of the band row or ilZ
pearls, between which, In front OF the
/ crown. is q large sapphire (partly dtliied)
n1lrcbased for the crown by King George
" At the back is sapphire OF smaiIer
size and six other sapphires tthree on
each side). between which are eight ehler-
aids. Above and below the seven zap
uhires are fourteen diamonds, ana around
the eight emeralds l2S diamonds. Be
/ tween the emeralds and the sapphires are
sixteen trefoil ornaments, containing SIX
teen diamonds Above the band are eight
sanphires surmounted by eight diamonds,
between which are eight festoons consist
ing of l4S diamonds. IN 'front.' OF thS
Maltese cross, is the famous ruby, sald
TO have been given to Edward, Prince OF
Wales son of Edward III, called the
RIacl Prince by Don Pedro, King OF cas-
tile after the battle Of Najera, near Wit
toria. a. D. 1861. This ruby was worn IN
the helmet of Henry Y at the battle OF
Agincourt A. ID. 14lo-
In is pierced quite through after the
Eastern custom. the upper part or the
piercing being filed up by small ruby
Around this ruby, in order TO form the
cross. are seventy-fiVe brilliant diamonds.
Three other Maltese crosses, forming the
two sides and back of the crown, have
emerald centres and contain, respective
ly 122, l4, and l3O brilliant diamonds Be
tween the four Maltese crosses are four
ornaments in the form of the Frencn
feur-de-lis with four rubies in the cen
ire and surrounded Dy rose diamonds,
containing, respectively ", 80, and 81
rose diamonds. From the Maltese crosses
issue four imperial arches composed or
oak leaves and acorns, the leaves con-
tain 72S rose, table, and brilliant dia-
monds: 81 pearls form the acorns. set
In cups containing 81 rose diamonds and
one table diamond. The total number
of diamonds in the arches and acorns is
los brilliants. 10 table. and $50 rose dia-
mondS. From the upper part of the
arches are suspended four large pendent
pear-Shaped pearls, with rose diamond
cups. containing u rose diamonds, and
stems containing "A very small rose dia-
monds. Above the arch stands the mound
containing IN the lower hemisphere 24
br!iliants, and in the upper PA brilliants,
the zone and arc being composed of 80
rose diamonds. The cross on the sum
nit has a rOse-cut sapphire in the centre,
surrounded by four large brilliants and
li3 smaller brllilaDtS. Summary Of jewels
comprised ia the crown: one large ruby,
irregulariy polished, ! large broad spread
sapphire. rs sapphires, II emeralds,
rubies. l,36S brilliant diamonds, 1273 rose
diamonds 1s7 table diamonds, drop
shaped pearls. and $40 pearls.