Trip 2999 of 5150 collection book57
In this obscure station I laboured with great assiduity untilbook1 I made myself perfect in the knowledge of stones as well as in the different methods of setting them off to the best advantage and having by dint of industry and address got possession of a small parcel set out for this kingdom in which I happily arrived about four months ago and surely England is the paradise of artists of our profession. In less than fourandtwenty hours after this bargain I was arrested by the officers of justice upon the oath of the purchaser who undertook to prove me guilty of a fraud in selling a Saxon pebble for a real diamond and this accusation was actually true for the change had been artfully put upon me by the jeweller who was himself engaged in the conspiracy. Had my conscience been clear of any other impeachment perhaps I should have rested my cause upon the equity and protection of the law but I foresaw that the trial would introduce an inquiry to which I was not at all ambitious of submitting and therefore was fain to compromise the affair at the price of almost my whole fortune.
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