the property of three or four individuals, in as many days.
In consequence of this favorable report, diamonds were now sought for, with the greatest avidity. Extensive speculations took place, and the diamonds arrived in Europe in such abundance, as to excite an apprehension, that these valuable gems would be greatly depreciated. To counteract this, a report was industriously circulated, that the Brazillian diamonds were decidedly inferior to the Oriental. Others, interested in the trade of diamonds, denied that these newly introduced gems were the produce of America, and declared them to be the refuse of the Indian mines, sent from Hindostan to Goa, and thence transmitted to Rio de Janeiro, on their passage to Lisbon. These misrepresentations excited throughout Europe a great prejudice against Brazillian diamonds. They soon fell however into the hands of a few persons, who
