Daily Richmond times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1849-1850, 1850-01-14
JEWELS OF THE PRINCE OF ORANGE,


Mr.. CLAY. hold in my hand and have been re-
quested present to the Senate the petition OF VIM
Seeley ofthe city Of New York.
Some twenty years ago, the Prince and Princess OF
Orange lost from the palace in Brussels belonging
the government OF Belgium, large sum in value of
crown jewels and some Of the personal Jewels of the
princess. No trace for long time could be discovered
of the thief but, length conjecture led to the belief
that he had fled to the United States and the
ment of Holland represented that time by the Che
waller DHuygen, applied to the Government OF the
United States for assistance in recovering the lost
perty OF the crown, and in obtaining possession of tn
cuprit The Government of the United States accorr
dinghy gave instructions to its public officers to rendee
any assistance they might be able in recovering the pro-
wards of million OF dollars Some traces Of the thief
discovered in New York; and at this stage of the
business Mr. Seeley,a professional gentleman-a law
yer OF emnence, engaged in lucrative practice afford
ing him annually ten twelve tho usand dollars
was applied to to aid in recovering this lost property
Mr. Seeey abandoned the pursuit of his profession and
engaged in that object He dedicated nearly three years
OF his life to its accomplishment. The result the
recovery OF almost all the Jewels, the detection and
rest OF the thief and he was, by means or other
sent back TO Europe. The subject became of great
interest to the Prince and Princess OF Orange,
sequence Of intmations having been made the pre-
judce OF the Princel dare say without foundation
He known to be in embarrassed circumstances at the
time and the intimation was made that he had purlon
ed the Jewels OF which he was in pursuit. an init
nation, according to the result, wholly unfounded. Mr.
Seeley however employed his utmost eXertions to sue
coed IN the engagement into which he had entered
Well sir, the Jewels were restored as remarked and
the cupr arrested and from that time this this gen.
tleman has been in vain endeavorng to obtain from the
Government of Holland an adequate indemnity for the
services and, allow me to add, the success which at
tended hif exertons. The aid of the Executive OF this
Government having been invoked in the first instance
for the Of this property M Sseley first applied
were unwilling to make what he deemed to be an ade-
quate compensation to refer the matter to arb
traton as to ascertain what would be just amount
OF compensation. In this stage OF the business he has
again appealed 10 the Executive of this Government
We owe in consequence OF the assumption of the debt
due from portion Of the District of Columbia--either
Washington city, or perhaps Georgetown, am not GER
tain whch--a large debt to Holland, tor the interest of
which appropriations annually made in the general
appropriation bill 1t has been suggested to Mr.. Seeey
and it that has been recommended by the late
well as the present Secretary OF State that he should
apply to Congress; that they should investigate the
case and that they satisfied ofits JUSTICE since he
cannot obtain what lie ought to receive from the foreign
Government, as we have the means OF his indemnify
within our own hands, we should withhold sum suf
Gent satisfy his just claim Mr. Seeey has presented
the petition which hold my hand containing most
ample, full and satisfactory narrative Of the from
the beginning to the end and has fortified his appca-
ton by appeal to numerous satisfactory authorities to
show that in similar cases the Government of country
OF which the petitioner is subject CITIZEN will apply
all the means in its power to see that justice is DONE al
though the general rule u.s. that when man contracts
with foreign Government he must depend the good
faith OF that Government Tor the satisfaction OF his
claims but there exceptions the general rule of
which this appears to me to be This petition ought
more properly TO go to the committee Foreign Affairs;
but as the committee OF Finance has the subject of ap
preparations before them has been suggested that the
subject embraced in this petition should b. referred to
that committee. move that the reading OF the petition
be dispensed with and that be referred to the commit
tee OF Finance, and ask also that thspeton be print
ed. 1t is long and vouminous butt will be found 10 be
highly interesting l move that it be referred to the
committee on Printing.
The DefitiOn va retarred the committee FI-
nance and the question OF printing to the committee
Printing