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XLIV. [1]The Emerald has alſo its peculiar Properties; for it aſſimilates Water, as was before obſerved, to its own Colour. A Stone of a middling Size will do this to a ſmall Quantity only of the Water into which it is put, a large one to the Whole; but a bad one to no more than a little of it, which lies
- ↑ The Emerald is a moſt beautiful Gem, tranſparent, and of a lively graſs green, without the leaſt Admixture of any other Colour. The Romans called this the Neronian or Domitianian Gem; the Perſians and Indians call it Pachæ, and the Arabians, Zamarrut; from whence it is generally ſuppoſed the Word Smaragdus is derived; though, in my Opinion, there is much more Probability that that Word was from the Greek Verb σμαράσσω, luceo, or ſplendeo, as this Gem was ever in great Eſteem for its particularly vivid Luſtre. It has its Colour from ſome Particles of Copper dſſolved in an acid Menſtruum, mixed with it at its original Concretion; and it will loſe it, and become colourleſs in the Fire like the Sapphire.
The Antients diſtinguiſhed twelve Kinds of the Emerald, ſome of which ſeem, however, to have been rather Stones of the Praſius or Jaſper Kind, as they talk of Emeralds which were not tranſparent, and of enormous Size; and others no more than coloured Cryſtals and Spars from Copper Mines; ſo that a more ſcientific Way of Writing would probably have much curtailed the Liſt.
The preſent great Diſtinction is into Oriental and Occidental; the former are exceſſively hard, of a lively Colour, and equally beautiful in all Lights. Theſe are of no determinate
Bohemia, and ſome other Places: It is tranſparent, and its Colour is that of Milk, with a ſlight Tinge of blue.
The greeniſh Sapphire is from Bohemia.
The Oriental Sapphire will loſe its Colour in the Fire, without any Loſs of its Splendor or Tranſparency; and is ſometimes made by this means to counterfeit the Diamond; as the natural colourleſs Sapphire is alſo often made to do: but tho' theſe are both very beautiful Stones, they want much of the Hardneſs and Brilliancy of that Gem, and may always be eaſily diſcovered by a ſkilful Eye.
