interesting to the statuary of the Exhibition, the discoloration of the plaster being its only drawback. One of the most extraordinary metamorphoses is the change that has come over the Koh-i-noor diamond. The doubts that have been thrown upon its value and its authenticity, and the difficulty of fully appreciating its brilliancy in tho broad glare of day, have led to the enveloping of the cage and its contents in massive folds of crimson drapery, and showing its splendour by artificial light. The diamond has stood tho test wonderfully, and has fully redeemed its character. Like other beauties who show best by candle light, the sparkling prismatic hues of the gem are now fullv dis". played, and even connoisseurs are readv to admit that the Koh-i-noor is no humbug. The difficulty of obtaining access to the cavern in which it IS enshrined is little less than those encountered by Aladdin in his visit to the garden of diamonds, and has revived all the attractions and fascinations of this famous gem. People who have seen it one' hundred times now stand patiently in the crowd assembled round the dark narrow entrance. ou pass in singly the cage, with the exception of about an eighth of its circumference, is enveloped in thick folds of cloth; half a dozen jets of gas are arranged behind it, and the light from these is again reflected by more than a dozen small mirrors upon the diamond. After all the trouble the arrangers of this theatrical display have taken, we would suggest to them to go one step further, and conceal the light of the gas from the eve of the spectator. The effect will then be perfect.
