Page:Experimentsnotes00boyl.pdf/590

36 ly, if not briskly, and I uually wear a Cornelian Ring, that is richly enough endowed with Electricity. But as for Emralds as I thought it trange that Nature hould have denied them a Quality he has granted to o many other Diaphanous Gems, and even to Cryftal, o I thought the aertion deerved an Examen, upon which I concluded, that at leat it does not univerally and contantly hold true. I had indeed een in a Ring a Stone of price and great lutre, which, though green, I found to be, (as I gues'd it would prove) vigorouly enough Electrical. But this Experiment, though eemingly concluive, I did not look upon as a fair trial, becaue the Stone was not a true Emrald, but, which is rare, a green Saphir. And I learned by inquiry of the skillful Jeweller that cut it, that it was o far from having the oftnes of an Emrald, that he found it harder than blew Saphyrs themelves, which yet are Gems of great hardnes, and by ome reputed econd to none, but Diamonds. Without therefore concluding any thing from this Experiment, ave that, if the aertion I was to examin were true, the want of an Electrical faculty might be thought a Concomitant rather of the peculiar Texture of the Emrald than of its green colour, I proceeded to