rolled over a bed of gold, every valley contained
inexhaustible mines of diamonds. A suspicion of this kind enabled these
unfortunate men to support the horrors of their fate; they were constantly
sustained by the golden hope of discovering some rich mine, that would
produce a reversion of their hard sentence. Thus they wandered about for
nearly six years, in quest of mines; but fortune was at last propitious.
An excessive draught had laid dry the bed of the river Abaite, and here,
while working for gold, they discovered a diamond of nearly an ounce in
weight. Overwhelmed with joy at this providential discovery, they resolved
to proceed, at all hazards, to Villa Rica, and trust to the mercy of the
crown. The governor, on beholding the magnitude and lustre of the gem,
could scarcely credit the evidence of his senses. He immediately appointed
a commission of the officers of the Diamond District to report on its
nature; and on their pronouncing it a real diamond, it was immediately
dispatched to Lisbon. It is needless to add that the sentence of the three
"condemnados" was immediately reversed.

This celebrated diamond has been estimated by Rome de l'Isle at the
enormous sum of three hundred millions sterling. It is uncut, but the late
King of Portugal, who had a passion for precious stones, had a hole bored
through it, in order to wear it suspended about his neck on gala days. No
sovereign possessed so fine a collection of diamonds as this
prince.--_Monthly Mag_.

* * * * *

NOTES OF A READER.

AMERICAN LIFE.

Mrs. Trollope's amusing book has furnished us with still another page or
two of scenes and sketches:

_Crocodiles on the Mississippi_.

"It is said that at some points of this dismal river, crocodiles are so
abundant as to add the terror of their attacks to the other sufferings of
a dwelling there. We were told a story of a squatter, who having 'located'
himself close to the river's edge, proceeded to build his cabin. This
operation is soon performed, for social feeling and the love of whiskey
bring all the scanty neighbourhood round a new comer, to aid him in
cutting down trees, and in rolling up the logs, till the mansion is
complete. This was done; the wife and five young children were put in
possession of their new home, and slept soundly after a long march.
Towards day-break the husband and father was awakened by a faint cry, and
looking up, beheld relics of three