An Irish Countess lent for exhibition to the South Kensington Loan Collection in 1872 the sapphire ring which Lady Scroope threw from the window of the death chamber of Queen Elizabeth to Sir Robert Carey who was waiting below for this signal of the Queen’s passing in order to convey the news post haste to James. In the Sepher of Solomon “which was set together in the desert by the Children of Israel in the Holy Name of God, following the influences of the stars,” a charm for favouring desires, for procuring invisibility, and certain benefits was a light coloured sapphire on which was engraved a mermaid holding a twig in one hand and a mirror in the other. The times for the construction of this talisman (which was to be set in a ring and worn inwards for escaping the eyes of others) was when the moon well aspected, was passing through the 5th, 6th and 7th degrees of the sign Aquarius. Another charm from the same source is the figure of a young man crowned, a circle round his neck, his hands raised in prayer, seated on a four-legged throne supported on the back of their necks by four men standing. The charm is to be cut on a “cornflower” sapphire for purifying the mind and obtaining favours from rulers, scholars, priests and people of wisdom, when the well-aspected moon was passing through the 1st, 2nd, 28th and 29th degrees of Aquarius. In the “Book of Wings,” a charm advised for gaining wealth and prophetic foresight is an astrolabe cut on a sapphire, especially when the moon, well aspected, passes through the 1st, 2nd, 28th and 29th degrees of Aquarius. Another for health, protection from poison, poisonous airs, and tyranny was the Bearded Head of a man or a ram engraved on a sapphire, constructed when the well-aspected moon was passing through 8th, 9th, 25th and 26th degrees of Aquarius. Dreaming of sapphires is said to denote protection, social success, and favour generally. [Illustration: Beautiful Colour Gems Kelsey I. Newman Collection .in 2 .ta r:3 r:2 1. | |BERYL | | 17¼ carats 2. | |AQUAMARINE | | 59⅛ " 3. | |PINK SAPPHIRE | | 3½ " 4. | |AMETHYST | | 28 " 5. |{| |}| 14 " 6. |{| ORANGE SAPPHIRES |}| 4 " 7. |}| |{| 20 " 8. |}| GOLDEN SAPPHIRES |{| ¾ " 9. |}| |{| 2½ " 10. | | SUNLIGHT SAPPHIRE| | 44-1/16 " .ta- .in ] The Asteriated or Star Sapphire, displaying like the Star Ruby, an opalescent star, is a valued charm for procuring the love of friends, for constancy and harmony. All shades of blue and green sapphires are under the zodiacal Aquarius. White sapphires (called Leucos sapphires) are under the sign Pisces. Yellow sapphires are under the sign Leo. Amethyst sapphires are under the sign Sagittarius. CHAPTER XXIX SARDONYX—SUCCINITE