so fearful of dying before he had repented of his sins, that he had resolved for the future to be industrious and good, and to teach his children to become so too.

Address to the Robin.

LITTLE Robin, pray draw near;
'Tis your Phoebe that is here.
Pretty bird, then come to me;
Come and sing sweet tweedle-dee.

Now the frosty wind doth blow,—
Now the earth is white with snow;
For my Robin all around

Crumbs I'll scatter on the ground.

See how quickly he doth hop,
Glad to fill his little crop;

But should I approach too near,
Then he'd fly away for fear.

Foolish Robin, why afraid
Of a harmless little maid?
Here no trap or cage is found,
Here no cat is prowling round.

Then my bird with scarlet breast,
Come, and on my window rest;
Pretty Robin, come to me,

Come and sing sweet tweedle-dee.

R. A. LYNCH.

The Diamond.

No species of property has attracted the attention of all nations, or been estimated at a greater value than the Diamond. Fashion has, at all times, paid obsequious respect to this costly gem. A reason must exist for this though its usefulness is extensive, yet it is not sufficiently great to admit of comparison in the calculation of its price. Its beauty, its unrivalled lustre, surpassing anything real or artificial, no doubt originally attracted such a degree of admiration, and continues still to uphold it in estimation.

Probably, my dear readers, you know that a Diamond is a very precious gem; but, perhaps, few of you are acquainted with the manner in which it is procured, or even know from what countries it is brought. I hope, then, that a little information on the subject may be both pleasing and profitable.

This highly-prized production is the hardest substance in nature; and is not, as was formerly supposed,

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earthy or stony; but consists of pure carbon; that is, it is a substance which, when exposed to a current of air, and heated to a sufficient temperature, is completely combustible, without smoke or flame.

Diamonds are either colourless, or of a yellow, blue, rose red, or brown tint, each colour reflecting the sun's rays with great intenseness.

To bring them to that degree of perfection in which their beauty consists, the Diamond-cutters begin by rubbing two rough ones against each other; by this means they take off the dull outer crust with which they are covered: this reduces them to a regular form, and the powder rubbed off serves afterwards to polish the stones. This process is effected by means of a mill, which turns a wheel of cast iron, smeared with a mixture of diamond-dust and oil of olives.

The Diamond mines are generally adjacent to rocky hills and mountains; and sometimes the gems are found scattered in the earth near the surface; in other places the miners are obliged to dig through rocks, to the depth of 40 or 50 fathoms, until they come to a sort of mineral earth, in which these precious stones are enclosed. The earth is of a yellowish and sometimes of a reddish colour; and it frequently adheres to the Diamond with so strong a crust, that it is difficult to get it off. In order to find the Diamonds, the

workmen form a cistern of clay, with a small hole on one side, a little above the bottom. Into this hole they put a plug, and throwing into the cistern a portion of the earth they have dug, they pour in water to dissolve it. They then break the clods, and stir the wet earth in the cistern; the lighter part of which is carried off when the vent-hole is opened to let out the Thus they continue washing until that which is in the cistern is pretty clean; and then, in the middle of the day when the sun shines brightly, they carefully look over the sand, so that the smallest stone may not escape them.

water.

The mines in which these valuable and beautiful gems are found are situate in the middle of India, at a place called Golconda; they are found also in Borneo, an island in the Indian ocean, and in Brazil, a large country on the east coast of South America.

The largest Diamond ever known is one which now belongs to the queen of Portugal, which was found in Brazil. It was originally of a still larger size; but a piece was broken off by an ignorant countryman who found this jewel, and who tried its hardness by the stroke of a large hammer upon an anvil. This prodigious Diamond weighs 1680 carets, (the caret being equal to four grains;) and is said to be worth six millions sterling.

Another famous Diamond is in the possession of the Emperor of Russia. It weighs 779 carets, and is valued at nearly five millions of pounds sterling. The history of this Diamond is somewhat curious. It was originally one of the eyes of an idol, worshipped by the Hindoos who inhabit the coast of Malabar, a large tract of country on the west of India. A French grenadier, who had deserted from military service, contrived to become one of the priests of the idol; and after being put into the office, acted so basely as to steal the Diamond. It was sold by him to the captain of a ship, and after passing through several hands, it was purchased by Prince Orloff, at Amsterdam, in the year 1776, for his sovereign the Empress of Russia.

The Diamond which belonged to the late unfortunate king of France, Louis XVI, called the Pitt or Regent, was the most costly jewel belonging to that crown. It was purchased by Louis XIV for one hundred and thirty thousand pounds: though its value has been calculated at nearly double that sum.

In "Mawe's Travels" there is much curious, and some entertaining information respecting these mines. He informs us, that when a negro is so fortunate as to find a Diamond of the weight of 17 carets, much ceremony takes place. He is crowned with a wreath of flowers, and carried in procession to the administrator