We quote from the same journal a word | tention at the Exhibition, is the famous or two of commendation for American "Koh-i-noor," diamond, being a portion of Daguerreotypes :the spoil taken in the late Sikh war. We extract a brief notice of it, and some interesting observations on the general show of gems, from the London News :—

"It is only within the last few years that the force of light has been made directly available for the arts, in the production of pictures. Here we have very excellent examples of Daguerreotype and Calotypes. Of the former we are inclined, after a very minute and careful examination, to give to America the first place. Whether the atmosphere is better adapted to the art, or whether the preparation of Daguerreotypes have been congenial with the tastes of the people, or whether they are unfettered by the patents in force in England, certain it is that the number of exhibitors has been very great, and the quality of production superexcellent. The likenesses of various distin

guished Americans, by Mr. Brady, are noble examples of this style of art. The family of Mr. Churchill is a very pretty group; and the series of views illustrating the Falls of Niagara are a very appropriate example of American industry, by Mr. Whitehurst, of Baltimore. The large specimens by Mr. In fact, the American display of Daguerreotypes in some degree atones for the disrespect with which they have treated all other nations, in having applied for so large a space, and yet at last having left their space comparatively unfilled."

Harrison are also excellent.

Among the new things which the Exhibition has called into existence in London, is the issue of French and German papers, and the engagement of the best writers of the Continent upon these exotic productions. Thus we see advertised by the Illustrated News of London, a French Illustrated News, with contributions from such distinguished feuilletonists as JULES JANIN, ALPHONSE KARR, and MERY.

We also perceive, that-in compliment to the presence of so many Frenchmen in London-the Duke of Wellington has abandoned his usual Waterloo banquet.

No disturbance has occurred of any moment, and the admirable police of London, is found amply sufficient to arrest all such disorders as had been so confidently foretold by the New York Herald. While talking of the police, we may safely direct attention again to that admirable exposé of the police system which appeared two weeks back, in the Miscellany. Its picturesque and effective treatment of the subject almost points to Mr. Dickens as its

author.

Among the objects which attract most at

the finest are quite free from any speck or
"The diamond is generally colorless, and
flaw of any kind, resembling a drop of the
purest water.
Varieties of color occur, but

are rare; and clear distinct shades of color
in fine diamonds of considerable size are so
extremely rare, as to give a great addition
to the value of such stones.

"The diamonds in the Exhibition may be first the Koh-i-noor,' or Mountain of Light, distinguished into several groups. There is and the so-called Sea of Light,' both at Company, and forming a part of the spoil one time the property of the East India taken in the Sikh war, on the defeat of Runjeet Singh. The former has been presented to her Majesty, and is exhibited by her permission. The latter, with a multitude of other superb gems, are among the Indian

collection on the north and south side of the nave next the transept. The Koh-i-noor is not cut into the best form for exhibiting its purity and lustre, and will, therefore, disappoint many if not all those who so anxiously press forward to examine it. This is, however, a general fault among Indian gems cut in the East, as the people of that country consider the magnitude of too great importance to be submitted to the great reduction necessary to show the beauty of the stone.

Light, is not so cut as to do justice to the "The Sea of Light, like the Mountain of gem; and thus these diamonds, however valuable, yield in brilliancy and effect to the smaller but more ornamental stones exhibited by the jewelers. Mr. Hope's diamond is, however, set, and is thus shown to much advantage.

"The value of diamonds depends on their weight and purity, but increases at a very rapid rate in the case of the larger stones. The weight is estimated in what are called carats, each carat being 3 grains troy weight. There are thus rather more than estimating the value is by considering the 15 carats in an ounce troy. The mode of price of a fine diamond of one carat as £8, and in any particular case multiplying the weight into itself, and this product by 8. Thus, a diamond of 12 carats, or 38 grains, the weight is beyond 20 carats, the value is will be worth 12X12X8=£1152. When estimated in the same way; but the actual selling price is arbitrary, The price of rough diamonds is far less, the standard Diamonds of 5 or 6 carats are very fine price of the carat being £2 instead of £8. stones; those of 12 to 20 carats are rare: up to 100 carats they are extremely rare,

and only a very few are known to be in ex- | her labors, by the time this meets the eye istence whose weight exceeds 100 carats. of our readers, will be at an end. They are found chiefly in India, but also in Borneo, Siberia, and Brazil. By far the greater number found are small, and it has been calculated that the numerical proportion of those of larger size is not very different from the relative value they possess in the market.

for the reason already given. It would probity,
ably become, if properly treated, one of the
finest diamonds now in Europe. The Sea
of Light, in the Indian collection, is a com-
paratively flat stone, and could be properly
set only as a rose or table diamond. The
surface exposed is, however, very large,

Literature, recently established in Great Britain. Mr. BULWER has written a comedy in aid of the project; MACLISE has promised a picture; and numerous other prominent

artists and litterateurs have volunteered their aid. That our readers may have a more distinct idea of what is to be done, we extract for them a fragment from the prospectus issued by the manager.

"It is proposed to open, at a Life Office of acknowledged respectability and capital, a Branch Insurance and Provident Society, solely for the Professors of Literature and of Art.

"Within the former term are understood to be comprehended all writers, of either sex, of original works or dramas, or of not less than twenty original papers in Periodicals.* Within the latter, all Painters and Sculptors who make the Fine Arts their profession, and all Students of the Royal Academy of England, Scotland, or Ireland.

"This Society will embrace the several objects which the Members of a Profession may be most disposed to secure-such as life insurances, at rates of premium calculated as payable either for the whole term of life, or as altogether ceasing to be payable at a certain age; annuities to commence at a certain age; pensions to widows; payments destined to the education or provision of children, &c.

"In connection with this Society, by which it is intended to commend and enforce the duties of prudence and foresight, especially incumbent on those whose income is wholly, or mainly, derived from the precarious profit of a profession, it is proposed to establish and endow an Institute, having at its disposal certain salaries, to which certain duties will be attached; together with a limited number of free residences, which, though sufficiently small to be adapted to a very moderate income, will be completed with due regard to the ordinary habits and necessary comforts of gentlemen. The offices of Endowment will consist:

1st. Of a WARDEN, with a house and a salary of 2001. a year;

2d.—Of MEMBERS, with a house and 170l., or, without a house, 2007. a year;

3d.-Of ASSOCIATES, with a salary of 100l. a year.

For these offices all who are insurers in the Society above mentioned are qualified to offer themselves as Candidates. Such Insurance is to be considered an indispensable qualification, saving in exceptional cases

This limitation is intended to exclude accidental contributors to periodicals, who may not be attached to literature as a profession.

(should any such arise) where an individual can prove that he has made every effort to insure his life, but cannot find acceptance at any Life Office, by reason of impaired health, or of advanced age, at the date of this prospectus.

"Each MEMBER will be required to give, either personally or by a proxy selected from Warden, three Lectures in each year-one the ASSOCIATES, with the approval of the in London, the other at the Mechanics' Institutes, or some public building suited for the purpose, in the principal provincial Towns. Considering the many duties, exacting time and attention that will devolve on the WARDEN, he will not be required to give more than one Lecture annually, (which if delivered by a proxy, he will, health permitting, be expected to compose himself,) and that in the Metropolis.

"These Lectures will be subject to the direction and control of the managing body of the Endowment. They will usually relate to Letters or Art, and will invariably avoid all debatable ground of Politics or Theology. It will be the endeavor of the Committee to address them on points on which the public may be presumed to be interested, and to require dispassionate and reliable information-to make them, in short, an educational and improving feature of the time.

"The originators and promoters of the scheme, thus briefly detailed, are themselves either Authors or Artists, familiarly acquainted with the wants and feelings of the great mass of their fellow-laborers, anxiously desirous to aid those distinguished in pursuits similar to their own; whose youth they have seen prematurely broken by noble struggles for independence, or whose age they have witnessed a suppliant for bounty, so administered as to embitter every memory of service, and humiliate every honest sentiment of pride. But they desire to extend whatever aid they may have the power to proffer or suggest, in the mode which seems to them most respectful to the members of those professions that give to all nations in which they flourish the least disputable title to respect. They desire that the aid should necessitate no degrading plea of poverty-no painful exposition of calamity and want; but that it should bear the character of a tribute to merit, not of an alms to destitution."

We are obliged to leave out much that we are disposed to reprint in reference to this new design of British Authors and Artists. We feel sure that our readers will read with interest of a plan so benevolent in its purpose and so novel in its execution.

Of American books and literary affairs we defer mentioning until the coming week.

We continue this week our illustrations | offered by Mr. MORANT, one of the oldest and of the most beautiful objects at the World's Fair.

best known house-decorators of London. The top is of plate-glass, painted to imitate Flor

The first is a table richly elaborated and entine Mosaic.

VOL. II.-22

The following engraving is after a Cameo | the well-known story of MAZEPPA upon the cutting by a Flemish artist. It illustrates Wild Horse.

As a specimen of the rich work in iron | Tazza in chased iron, by M. MANTIFAT, of which graces the Exhibition, we give a Paris.

We relieve our matter-of-fact selections this week by reprinting an old and very passionate story, published twenty years ago, by LEITCH RITCHIE.