a very surprising incident, he was so fortunate as to find the same ring in the belly of a large fish that was the next day served at his table. To what must this be attributed, the Prince's good fortune or the virtue of the ring? It does not appear that Romulus had introduced or authorised the use of rings after the foundation of Rome, for we only find them on the figures of the statues of Numa Pompilius, and Servius Tullus. However, it may be remarked in Florus, that even in that time rings and bracelets were pretty common among the Sabines, because the virgin Tarpeja, one of the Vestals, being gone to draw water for the sacrifice, betrayed one of the gates of the capitol to Talius, King of the Sabines, and demanded as a recompence the rings or bracelets the soldiers wore on their left hands; but they, pretending she had asked their bucklers, crushed her to death between them, and entered the city, thus acquitting themselves of their promise.

It was customary at Rome for the bridegroom to send to the bride, before marriage, a ring of iron, without either stone or collet, to denote how lasting their union ought to be, and the frugality they were to observe together. The Roman Knights were distinguished from the senators by their gold rings; and it was customary, as a mark of honour, to present Ambassadors with them when they received orders from the senate to go to foreign nations.

It was afterwards a sign of liberty at Rome to wear a gold ring; because the freedman was deemed a person of free birth when he received the right and privilege of the ring, whereby he could also be admitted to dignities, and at last take the title of Knight. In the time of the war between Carthage and Rome, Hannibal, as a token of the signal victory he gained over the Roman army, which was entirely defeated in the battle of Cannes, sent to Carthage three bushels of rings, taken off the fingers of the nobles and Roman Knights who were slain on the field of battle.

Though the first inhabitants of England, Ireland, and Scotland, and the ancient Gauls, were accustomed to

wear rings on the middle finger, use at last prevailed among all nations to place them on the finger next to the little one of the left hand, which thence has got the name of annulary, or ringfinger, because there is a small nerve, according to the opinion of the Egyptians, which proceeds from the heart to this finger.

The diamond has been always esteemed by the ancients the rarest stone, and the most precious of all, either for its hardness, its fine brilliancy, its water, or its virtues. It is victorious over fire, and resists also the hardest thing. The finest come from Bisnaga and Decan, provinces of the East Indies.

The virtue attributed to this stone is against poison, panic terrors, and enchantments: it calms anger and foments love between man and wife, and is therefore called the stone of reconciliation.

Such a pernicious quality is, notwithstanding, attributed to diamond- powder, that it cannot be corrected, either by reason of its being extremely cold, or corrosive; and it is said, that the great physician and chymist Theophrastus Paracelsus, was poisoned by it.

As heat may tarnish the lustre and fire of a diamond, Wolphangus and Andrew Baccin are of opinion, that at night, before going to bed, it ought to be taken off the finger, and laid on some marble, or in some cool place. The symbol of the diamond is constancy, fortitude, innocence, and other heroic virtues.

The carbuncle is so rare and precious a stone, that it is very hard to be found.-Some have said that it is not in nature, but they are greatly mistaken, it being certain that it has been, and is still found. Garcias ab Horto, a physician to the Viceroy of the Indies, writes, that he himself saw carbuncles in that Prince's possession, whose splendour was so prodigious, that they seemed like so many blazing coals, which glowed in the midst of darkness.Lewis Vertoman, a Roman, relates, that the King of Pegu usually wore one of so large a size, and of so lively and brisk a lustre, that whoever looked at

this King in the darkest night, saw him shine as if surrounded by the rays of the sun. If, therefore, nature produces stones of this quality, that sparkle with so much lustre in the light, and dissipate its obscurity, these stones must be carbuncles; and it is that fire which must distinguish it from other precious stones. If the same nature has given so great a resplendency to a little worm, which in summer-time conquers by its lustre the darkness of the night, and illuminates the objects about it, why should not a body more solid, more purified, and on which nature might have worked during several ages, have the same fire with more brilliancy, being a more finished work, and whose merit, except in point of life, surpasses that of the glow-worm?

Ælian relates, in his History of Animals, that a young stork having been cured of a broken thigh by a woman of Tarentum, in gratitude for her care had let fall into her lap a precious carbuncle, which shined in the night as a burning candle. Hence it is manifest, that dragons only carry them about them to give themselves light; and that they do not grow out of their heads, because birds know how to distinguish them from other stones, and to find them in the places where they grow.

The carbuncle is of different kinds and sexes. Its nature is to emit a coruscant fire, which shines brighter the greater the obscurity is. It also contains drops of gold, like so many stars within. These are the rarest carbuncles, and they come from Ethiopia. The Chaldeans had so great a veneration for this stone, that they used it in their ceremonies. It is still remarkable, that the carbuncle cannot be counterfeited. Its supposed virtues are, to resist fire, to stop defluxions of the eyes, to divert dreams and nocturnal illusions, and to serve as an antidote against corrupt and pestilential air.

The ruby differs much from the carbuncle, though some place no distinction between them. It is diaphanous, and variegated with little spots of azure in the midst of its purple colour. The less azure it has, the more noble and

beautiful it is. The best are from the isle of Ceylon, and the river Pegu. That which the Emperor Rodolphus II. had, was as big as a hen's egg, and valued at sixty thousand ducats. The virtues ascribed to it are for resisting poison, preserving from the plague, banishing sorrow, repressing luxury, and averting ill thoughts. If it changes colour, it portends impending misfortunes; but it resumes its colour as soon as they are over.

The amethyst is in great esteem for its excellencies, and therefore ranked among the most precious stones. The best are from the East Indies, though Germany and Bohemia furnish pretty good. The more deep and less transparent their violet-colour is, the greater esteem they are in. This stone is called amethyst from its colour, and because it hinders drunkenness; for being applied to the navel, it attracts and dissipates the fumes of wine. It also is said to divert ill thoughts, to make the mind joyful, and to acquire for the bearer the favour of Princes. The Roman ladies were very fond of this stone.

The jacinth is of the number of rare stones; and such of them as are reputed the most beautiful, have the glow of flames of fire, and emulate the colour of scarlet, or natural vermillion. The Oriental are the most noble. Their principal use, formerly, was against the plague, being hung to the neck. They were also thought to fortify the heart, to secure from the effects of lightning, and to augment riches, honour, prudence, and wisdom.

The emerald is the most perfect, beautiful, and sprightly, among precious stones. The most considerable come from the Indies, Persia, and Peru. The reputed virtues of this stone are to prevent epileptic fits; and, if the disorder is so violent as not to be conquered by it, it breaks.

The opal, of which there are four sorts,challenges an eminent rank among precious stones, because it partakes of the beauty of all the others, and cannot be counterfeited. The virtues attributed to the opal are for recreating the spirits of the heart, preserving against

contagious air, hindering fainting fits, and malign affections.

We shall finish this essay by the pantarbe, of which Philostrates, in the Life of Apollonius, relates wonderful effects. The stone is incomparable, both in beauty and virtue; for it has so piercing a lustre, and so brisk a fire, that, like the carbuncle, it lights up day in the midst of darkness. But what is most admired is, that this light is a spirit, accompanied by such an effect that it insinuates and diffuses itself in the earth to attract insensibly the

other stones round about it; and even as far as this virtue extends, so far it has strength, and all these stones resemble a cluster of bees surrounding their king.

Heliodorus, in his History of Theagenes and Caricles, says, that it preserves from fire those that carry it about them; and that Caricles was preserved it, notwithstanding the fury and vengeance of Arsace, Queen of Ethiopia. It was held to be one of the first talismans Theagenes was possessed of in Egypt.