Diamond dust is the only substance with which an impression can be produced upon the hard stones, and they are polished by metal plates covered with this dust, and revolving with inconceivable rapidity. The saw is a very fine wire, to which the dust is affixed. This process appears to be the origin of the adage "diamond cut diamond." Before the fifteenth century, diamonds were worn in their natural state, and the art of cutting and polishing them was discovered by a native of Bruges.
The journey of the students was continued by railway to Utrecht. Approaching this city, the country assumed a different aspect, presenting occasional undulations, while in the town itself there is quite a slope down to the River Rhine, on which it is located. The treaty of Utrecht, which settled the peace of Europe after the war of the Spanish succession, was signed at the house of the British minister; but it has since been pulled down. The principal object of interest in the city is the tower of the Cathedral of St. Martin, which is three hundred and twenty-one feet high, and commands a view of nearly the whole of Holland and a portion of Belgium. The sexton has his residence more than a hundred and fifty feet above _terra firma_, where his family are domiciled, and where his children were born. Doubtless they will be regarded as persons of high birth.
At five o'clock in the afternoon, the weary travellers reached the vessels of the squadron. Holland "was done," and the excitement was ended. Many of them were tired out and cross, and it was a relief to know that the squadron would go to sea the next morning. During the rapid run through Holland, Wilton and Perth had found abundant opportunities to discuss their mischievous scheme of running away with the Josephine. They had so contrived it that eight of the Knights of the Golden Fleece had occupied a compartment by themselves in the railway carriages. As the squadron would arrive at Havre on Friday or Saturday, no time was to be lost in arranging the details of the precious scheme, which had been fully explained and assented to by the confederates.
The first point to be gained was to "cut up," so that the whole twenty-six Knights should be condemned to imprisonment on board the ship, while the rest of the students, with the instructors, went to Paris. Mr. Hamblin was still the centre of all their hopes in this direction; for hazing him would enable them to kill two birds with one stone. It was a great satisfaction to annoy him, independently of the result to be gained. Wilton proposed to "keelhaul" him. This was a barbarous punishment, formerly in use in the English and Dutch navies, and consisted in dragging the culprit under the keel of the vessel by ropes attached to the opposite yard-arms. Perth declared that this was utterly impracticable, and a third suggested that it was only necessary to "talk" the matter in order to bring down the punishment upon their anxious heads. Monroe, who always adopted moderate counsels, thought it would be just as well to frighten the old gentleman out of his wits. Indeed, all, except Wilton, protested against inflicting any serious injury upon him. A ducking, or something of that kind, would do him no harm; but they did not wish to hurt, only to annoy, him.