The Virginia Gazette

LONDON, Nov. 21.

A description of two curious CLOCKS, intended as a present from the East India Company to the Emperor of China; made by English artists.

THESE clocks are in the form of chariots, in which are placed, in a fine attitude, a Lady, leaning her right hand upon a part of the chariot; under which is a clock of curious workmanship, little larger than a shilling, that strikes and repeats, and goes eight days. Upon her finger sits a bird, finely modelled, and set with diamonds and rubies, with its wings expanded in a flying posture, and actually flutters for a considerable time, on touching a diamond button below it; the body of the bird (which contains part of the wheels that in a manner give life to it) is not the bigness of the sixteenth part of an inch. The Lady holds in her left hand a gold tube, not much thicker than a large pin; on the top of which is a small round box, to which a circular ornament set with diamonds, not larger than a sixpence, is fixed, which goes round near three hours in a constant regular motion. Over the Lady's head, supported by a small fluted pillar (no bigger than a quill) is a double umbrella, under the largest of which a bell is fixed, at a considerable distance from the clock, and seems to have no connection with it, but from which a communication is secretly conveyed to a hammer that regularly strikes the hour, and repeats the same at pleasure, by touching a diamond button fixed to the clock below. At the feet of the Lady is a golden dog, before which, from the point of the chariot, are two birds fixed on spiral springs, the wings and feathers of which are set with stones of various colours, and appear as if flying away with the chariot, which, from another secret motion, is contrived to run straight, circular, or any other direction; a boy that lays hold of the chariot behind, seems to push it forward. Above the umbrella are flowers and ornaments of pearls, rubies, and other stones, terminating with a flying dragon, cut in the same manner. The whole is of gold, most curiously executed, and embellished with diamonds, rubies, and pearls.