dian weights and measures, as they vary in different places, and at different times. It is sufficient to determine that Baber obtained a diamond, corresponding nearly, if not exactly, in weight and value with one found above a century later in the possession of his descendants. The weight, however, of Baber's diamond being much the same as that of Aurungzebe's, the story of the original weight and the loss in cutting is not to be relied on. It might indeed be supposed that we have two different stones intended; but, besides the improbability that two diamonds of unusual size, so nearly or so exactly the same, should have been met with, it is worthy of remark, that Tavernier did not see in the imperial cabinet any second diamond at all approaching the great diamond in dimensions-the largest diamond in succession that he saw did not exceed 62 carats. The large diamond in the peacock throne he estimates at 80 or 90 carats, whilst none of the rest were more than 10 or 12. Had there been two large diamonds, one obtained by Baber and the other by Aurungzebe, he would scarcely have failed to notice both.

It still remains to be established, however, how far the great diamond of the Mogul emperors is to be considered as the same with the Koh-i-noor, as that appellation is not given to it by the earlier writers. That the Mogul diamond passed into the possession of the ruling family of Kabul, is, however, invariably affirmed by the members of that family, and by the jewellers of Delhi and Kabul, and is by both identified with the Koh-i-noor. We know, from concurrent and unquestionable evidence, that Nadir Shah, on his occupation of Delhi in 1789, compelled Mohammed Shah, the great grandson of Aurungzebe, to give up to him everything of value that the imperial treasury possessed, and his biographer and secretary specifies a peshkash or present by Mohammed Shah to his conqueror of several magnificent diamonds. According to the family and to popular tradition, Mohammed Shah wore the Koh-i-noor in his turban at his interview with his conqueror, who insisted on exchanging turbans in proof of his regard. However this might have been, we need have little doubt that the great diamond of Aurungzebe was in the possession of Mohammed Shah at the time of the Persian invasion. And if it was, it most certainly changed masters, and became, as is universally asserted, the property of Nadir Shah, who is also said to have bestowed upon it the name of Koh-i-noor. After his death, the diamond which he had wrested from the unfortunate representative of the house of Timur became the property of Ahmed Shah, the founder of the Abdali dynasty of Kabul, having been given to him, or more probably taken by him, from Shah Rokh, the young son of Nadir; the jewel descended to the successors of Ahmed Shah, and when Mr Elphinstone was at Peshawur, was worn by Shah Shuja on his arm. Mr Elphinstone refers to Tavernier as having delineated the gem, intimating his impression of the identity of the Great Mogul's diamond and the Koh-i-noor; and Captain Cunningham, in his 'History of the Sikhs,' calls it the great diamond which had adorned the throne of the Moguls.

When Shah Shuja was driven from Kabul, he became the nominal guest and actual prisoner of Runjit Sing, who spared neither opportunity nor menace, until, in 1813, he compelled the fugitive monarch to resign the precious gem, presenting him on the occasion, it is said, with a lakh and 25,000 rupees, or about £12,000 sterling. According to Shah Shuja's own account, however, he assigned to him the revenues of three villages, not one rupee of which he ever realised. Runjit was highly elated by the acquisition of the diamond, and wore it as an armlet at all public festivals. When he was dying, an attempt was made by persons about him to persuade him to make the diamond a present to Jagannath, and it is said he intimated by an inclination of his head his assent. The treasurer, however, in whose charge it was, refused to give it up without some better warrant, and Runjit dying before a written order could be signed by him, the Koh-i-noor was preserved for a while for his successors. It was occasionally worn by Khurruk Sing and Shir Sing. After the murder

of the latter, it remained in the Lahore treasury until the supercession of Dhulip Sing, and the annexation of the Punjaub by the British Government, when the civil authorities took possession of the Lahore treasury, under the stipulation previously made, that all the property of the state should be confiscated to the East Indian Company in part payment of the debt due by the Lahore Government, and of the expenses of the war. It was at the same time stipulated that the Koh-i-noor should be surrendered to the Queen of England. The diamond was conveyed to Bombay, by Governor-General the Earl of Dalhousie, whom ill health had compelled to repair to the coast, and was there given in charge to Lieut.-Colonel Mackeson, C.B., and Captain T. Ramsay, the military secretary to the Governor-General, to take to England. These officers embarked on board her Majesty's steam-ship Medea, and left Bombay on the 6th of April, 1850. They arrived at Portsmouth on the 30th of June, and two days afterwards relinquished their charge to the chairman and deputychairman of the court of directors, by whom, in company with the president of the board of control, the Koh-i-noor was delivered to her Majesty, on the 3d of July—an appropriate and honourable close to its eventful career.

PROGRESS OF THE ROYAL WATER-LILY. THREE years ago it was our privilege to announce, in the pages of the INSTRUCTOR,* the successful flowering of the Royal Water-lily of South America, in the princely garden of his Grace the Duke of Devonshire, at Chatsworth. The fact was regarded as an important one in a horticultural point of view; but since then it has attained to a wider interest. It will remain on record in the annals of gardening so long as gardening is cherished as a useful art; but it has also become interwoven in one of the brightest pages of our national history. Sir Joseph Paxton, the Crystal Palace, and the Royal Water-lily, are the three associated 'great facts' that represent in memory's page the ever-memorable year of peace and industry. Our former paper was penned immediately on our receiving the news of the Victoria regia being successfully introduced to cultivation, and embraced a full detail of its discovery, its early history, its structural peculiarities, its habits, as exhibited in the lagoons of South America, and its introduction to our own country. Its history since then is a highly interesting one, and it is a striking fact (which the writer has elsewhere observed), that no other merely ornamental plant has, in so short a period, given rise to so profuse a literature as now exists peculiar to itself, and which details almost every phase of its history. Not to speak of the magnificent works of Lindley and Hooker, published in illustration of this most magnificent of all plants, our periodical literature has during the last three years devoted more attention to it than to any single topic connected with the science of botany. Magazines of science, of literature, and of art-newspapers-journals of botany, natural history, horticulture, of education and industry, of light reading for the million, and of philosophy for the learned, have all and each of them done homage to the Queen of Flowers. In the present paper, it is our purpose to give some tracings of the Victoria's progress over the civilised world, to which it was merely introduced when our former paper was written.

It may be proper to observe, however, that the benefits derived by horticulture from the successful cultivation of this plant are not to be regarded as those only a novel acquisition to which arise from its value as our hot-houses. This of itself is, of course, very considerable, the superiority of the Victoria over every other ornamental plant of recent introduction being universally acknowledged. But, while its intrinsic value is considerable, it is of infinitely greater value to horticul ture from its extrinsic influences on a department of the art which has long been neglected in this, as indeed in We do not regard gardening as all other countries.

Vol. iv., New Series, page 281.

merely a pleasant rural recreation, or even as a rational amusement. It is justly entitled to rank among the fine arts, and as not the least important of them-one which has a most improving tendency, and which ought as one of its results to lead to a contemplation of the works of God, and of the beauty and harmony which they display. Hitherto we have been almost solely indebted to painting for representations of the scenery and of the physiognomic features of the vegetation of different lands, and how few of our painters have opportunities of representing them from nature! Gardening ought to supply this desideratum. Gardens, instead of consisting of floral patchwork, ought to present, in some shape or other, the realisation of some peculiar trait of natural beauty, either as regards individual specimens or general physiognomy. Landscape gardening is now-a-days doing much to point out this important use of gardens, which alone can bring out the true value of the art of horticulture as an instructire and rational amusement. Now, some of the most remarkable physiognomic forms of vegetation are those presented by certain tribes of aquatic plants; but, until of late years, there has been no opportunity of representing these in our gardens. Many excellent aquariums (or aquatic gardens) are now in operation in this as well as in other countries, nearly all of which have been called into existence by the successful culture of the Victoria. It has been observed in the Garden Companion,' that the interest and admiration of this plant are not likely to pass into matters of history with its novelty, of which any one may be readily satisfied who will contemplate for a moment the position in horticulture which the lily holds, and the fact of its having given birth to a branch of cultural art scarcely recognised before in Britain, but with the development of which our ideas of landscape and artistic gardening are likely to widely expand, and which, as it gains favour, and gradually wins over horticultural taste, will insure the continued and extended cultivation of the Victoria. The materials, as well as the element necessary for their cultivation, which aquatic plants place at the artistic gardener's disposal, are calculated to lead to a much more perfect representation of vegetable physiognomy, and of the botanical traits of different regions, than has hitherto been realised, or even attempted by art.

our money; and, as a limited number only could be admitted at once, hundreds were disappointed. On the two days during which the first blossom was expanded, espe cially on the second morning and evening, more than 2800 tickets were disposed of. M. Eduard Otto, the curator of the Botanical Garden, has kindly communicated to us the full particulars of his cultivation of the plant. We give in full a translation of his letter, as his observations are those of a practical man, and will be much valued by cultivators:- For the purpose of cultivating the Victoria regia, I had a span-roofed house, thirty-one feet each way, and containing a circular basin of twenty-five feet diameter and four feet deep, specially built. In the centre of this basin, I introduced a mound of earth, consisting of equal parts vegetable mould, loam, and sand; and upon this I planted, on 31st May, a small plant of the Victoria regia, having only four leaves. The plant flowered for the first time on the 28th of August, having up to this time produced seventeen leaves, of which the largest had attained to a size of five feet eight inches in diameter. The water in the tank had no continual or gradual flowing in and off. However, from twenty-five to thirty buckets of water were daily added, while a similar quantity was either run off, or was used for watering the other plants kept in the same house. The young plant, nevertheless, succeeded well from the commencement, despite of a frequent reduction in the temperature of the water in the tank to 14° Reaumur (634 Fah.), and even that of the house being often no more, especially towards the end of June and beginning of July. From the middle of July, the temperature of the house was seldom below 18o R. (724 Fah.), and that of the water never less than 21° R. (794 Fah), the general temperature of the house being from 28° (95 Fah.) to 30° R. (994 Fah.), and that of the water from 22° (814 Fah.) to 24° R. At first, a new leaf appeared every eighth day, afterwards every fifth day, and at last two leaves came to maturity each week. The quickest development I observed in the case of the fifteenth leaf, from the 19th to 20th of August, when it increased about nine inches in twenty-four hours, and from the 20th to the 21st of August, when it increased eleven inches in twenty-four hours. The length of the leaf-stalks, which only extend after the leaves are nearly full-grown, was from twelve to thirteen feet. The nineteenth leaf was the first that exhibited an upturned margin, and this appeared on all the leaves that were afterwards produced. The first flower-bud made its ap

6

Nowhere has the Royal Water-lily excited so much interest as at Hamburg, where it bloomed for the first time on the 28th August, 1851, in the aquarium of the Botanical Garden. This was the third plant of the species that had flowered on the Continent, and the second in Germany. We learn from a notice in the Botanische Zeitung,' that immense interest was excited by the occurrence. To prevent too great a crowd, tickets of admission were issued at a sum equal to about two shillings of • Messrs Weeks's nursery is situated in Chelsea, that village of palaces which once was, but whose popular celebrity is now chiefly derived from Cremorne Gardens, where (during our stay) nightly displays of fireworks and balloon ascents were added to the equestrian attractions of Franconi's Cirque National-a sad contrast this to the once quiet, artistocratic seclusion of Cremorne, where tea, Queen

Charlotte' would sometimes counsel take, and sometimes tea.'

28th of the same month. The second opened on the 7th September, the 3d on the 14th of that month, and up to the 17th October, eight flowers had bloomed. There were others which did not come to perfection, the house being then purposely very little heated, as I intended to reduce the plant to a dormant state, in which I have now nearly succeeded. The flowers had a diameter of from twelve to fourteen and a half inches; the first produced was the smallest, and the third the largest, being fourteen and a half inches in diameter. The flowering of the Royal Water-lily has created great interest here, for, with the exception of the one in Hanover, which commenced flowering several weeks sooner, none had previously flowered anywhere else in Germany. M. Van Houtte flowered the Victoria last year. Mr Borsig of Berlin has also erected a beautiful house for its accommodation, but his plant has not flowered as yet. I have obtained seeds from my plant, and purpose to raise plants to grow next year. In the basin along with the Victoria, I had of other aquatics, Nelumbium Count of Thun, N. luteum, Nymphæa rubra, pygmæa, micrantha, cærulea, cyanea, dentata, odorata, thermalis; also, Pistia Stratiotes, Thilydrum lanuginosum, Limnocharis, Plumieri, L. Humboldtii, Pontederia crassipes, Cyperus papyrus, C. alternifolius, Saccharum officinarum, Caladium, various species, &c., mostly all of which have flowered.'

time in North America, in the garden of Caleb Cope, In September, 1851, the Victoria flowered for the first Esq., Philadelphia, full particulars of which have been

given in Sir W. J. Hooker's Kew Garden Miscellany.' Leaves were produced six and a half feet in diameter, and flowers seventeen inches in diameter, the separate petals being six inches, and the disc or crown of the flower three inches. Great interest was excited by the occurrence.

The Royal Water-lily has been successfully introduced to India, where it will form a magnificent object in the open-air ponds, associated with the gay Oriental aquatics, which are scarcely less beautiful, and certainly exceed the Victoria in the classical interest of their historical and poetical associations. Mr Fortune, the Chinese traveller, informed us some time ago that the Victoria was just coming into flower at Calcutta at the time he left that place on his way to England. Scotland is behind the age in Water-lily culture; but it is a department of the art which is fast gaining ground in the north. Scotch cultivators have many difficulties to contend with unknown to those in the neighbourhood of London, and this is one reason why aquatic gardening has received so little attention from us. It is a branch which has, indeed, had but a short period for its development amongst us; for we learn from a writer in 1823, that the culture of tender aquatics 6 was scarcely known in Scotland before Mr W. M'Nab introduced the practice; and in his collection, which is pretty considerable, are a number of valuable specimens, most of them new in this country.' (Stark's Picture of Edinburgh, edit. 1823.) The collection of exotic aquatics in the Edinburgh Botanic Garden is rapidly increasing under the management of Mr James M'Nab, who likewise ranks among the successful cultivators of the Victoria, although, from the limited space necessarily allotted to the plant, we cannot expect that it will produce blossoms.*

The Victoria has flowered in Scotland, however, having been successfully reared in a special aquarium in the garden of N. M'Leod, Esq., of Dalvey, Morayshire, and brought into flower during the bygone autumn. The details which have been given respecting the culture of the plant are very similar to many others, and it will therefore be unnecessary to give them here; but we may quote a brief recapitulation of the plant's history, with which Mr G. Berry, the gardener at Dalvey, has kindly favoured us: The seeds were sown on 1st November, 1851, being immersed in water to the depth of four inches in a small tub placed above the heating tank of the orchid-house, where a temperature of 90° Fah. could be obtained. One of the seeds germinated on the 25th of November, and another on the 9th of December, which last is the one now in flower. Notwithstanding the unfavourable season, the plant progressed rapidly for a fortnight after germinating, and in that short period perfected five leaves. During the two subsequent months it remained without increase, and was with difficulty kept in life beneath a glass-frame for better protection. The plant has now perfected four flowers, the largest fourteen inches in diameter; there are many more flower-buds coming forward.'

We learn from a circular issued by the Directors of the Glasgow Botanic Garden, that they have resolved to erect a glass-house and water-tank, by means of penny subscriptions from the working-classes, for the purpose of cultivating the Royal Water-lily.

NEW STIRRUP IRON.

Among the gold medals awarded by the American Institute in New York last year (1851), was one to 'Mr Nathan Post, of East Cleveland, Ohio, for a new stirrup. Its excellence consists in a spring-guard, which allows the foot to go into the opening only a certain distance, This guard, by means of a centre tube and screw, may be elevated and lowered, to allow the foot to go in a greater or less distance. There are various other contrivances, and

+ Since this paper was in type I learn from Mr M'Nab, the respected Curator of the Edinburgh Botanic Garden, that notwithstanding the limited accommodation for the plant of Victoria regia, it has already produced a number of flower-buds, some of which may possibly be expanded by the time these observations are before the reader.

its whole effect is, that, if the rider is thrown from his horse, it is impossible for his foot to stick in the stirrup, for the guard throws it out at once.-Year Book of Facts.

THE GLOVE.
FROM SCHILLER.

Behold the arena clear'd;
King Francis sits prepared
To see the lion-fight;

His statesmen and courtiers are there to see,
And all around in the balcony

Is a circle of ladies bright.
The king he beckons, and lo!
A door wide open they throw;
And the lion from his rest has risen,

And with heavy stride comes forth from his prison;
And he stared around,
But utter'd no sound,

And yawn'd, and yawn'd,

And shook his mane,

And stretch'd his limbs,
And lay down again.
Now beckons the king,
And the wardens swing

Wide open another door
With a savage spring

A tiger leap'd out,
And he saw the lion

As he look'd about,
And rent the heaven with his roar,
And he lash'd the rail
With his heavy tail;
Then slyly, slyly, he paced the ground
The lion around,

And round he roll'd his bristly tongue,
And beside his foe,

With an angry growl and a murmur low,
His tawny body he flung.

The king he beckon'd once more;
They open'd the door

Of a double cell, and two leopards gay,
With a warlike bound,

Sprang to the tiger where he lay

By his foe on the sanded ground.

His claws he fixed in their spotted hides, But the lion jumped up with a warning roar, And the beasts drew back, and their battle was o'er, And, hot from the strife

Of death and life,

They crouch'd on their wounded sides.

There fell from the balcony then and there
A glove from the hand of a lady fair,
Midway between

The angry lion and tiger keen.

Then said the Lady Cunigond To the Knight Delorges, jokefully,

'If thy love, sir knight, be as true and fond As every hour thou swear'st to me,

Go, fetch my glove from the wild beast's den.'
Swiftly ran Delorges then;

Over the barrier dire he pass'd,
And fast and fearlessly making his way
To where on the ground untouch'd it lay,
He lifted the glove, and held it fast.
Knights and ladies there assembled,
Looking downward, fear'd and trembled;
Safely back he bare the glove!
Every mouth speaks out his praises,

But his mistress there above-
'Tis no glance of scorn she raises

On the knight that sought her love.
He bow'd before the lady fair-
For your thanks I have no care
Nor claim;' and so he left her there.