The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1861-03-14

VALUE OF AND PASSION FOR DIAMONDS.
The Duke of Brunswick who is a monomaniac
on the subject of diamonds, has in his possession
three millions OF dollars worth of diamonds. He
has just published catalogue of his diamonds, and
IN the appendix there is notice of the most cee-
brated diamonds in the world. This catalogue
numbers not less than 26S quarto pages 1t gives,
with great detail, a list of his white transparent,
hrst white, second white, steel-white, blue-white
lght-blue, black-blue, lght-yelow, bright-yellow,
amoer-yelow, straw, champagne, deep-rose, rosy,
iightrose, opaescent, pomegranate, violet green
Ism, green, sea-green, brown, lightbrown, deep
brown, dusk black, opaque-black, London-fog,
dy frosty, blackspotted. cracked, split, scratched
ll-cut, uncut, square, round, oval, oblong octagon
pointed, pinion-eyed, almond, Chinese.eyed da-
monds. 1t relates how this adorned Turkish
SABRE that royal dIadem, another an Imperial
collar, third Grand Electoral hat; this black
diamond was an IDOLS eve, that brilliant ROSY da-
mond was taken from the Emperor Babar at AGRA
in 1926 lit weighs Al carats and is worth $50 OOO)
those were the waistcoat buttons of the Emperor
Don Pedro; this diamond ring, with the Stuart
coat of arms and the cypher an S." belonged to
Mary Queen of Scots; that pair of earrings hung
once on Marie Antoinette. The Duke of Bruins
WICK has in his possession fifteen of the ninety
known diamonds, weighing thirty-six carats but
he has not diamond worth 5000, 900. He has
plenty of diamonds worth S20,000, 10000, and
94O,OOO apiece; he has two worth $50 900 each
one worth $4,000, and one worth $4,000; but he
hasn't one worth $1,000 He is in treaty
now tor two diamonds, one of which is worth
9Z5Z, UUO, and the other S650,000, and which
rank in the order of precedence established
by adamantologists, in the sixth rank, which is
next after the Regents diamond and the former
in the eighth rank that is next after the OrIoff
diamond OF Russia In his list of celebrated dia-
monds he places in the first rank brilliant white
diamond, weighing $50 carats, and belonging to
some East Indian prince and worth 50 200 OOO.
next comes tho Kohl moor, which weighs lS6
caratS and which he sets down as worth Sl3S3 $40:
next comes the Rajah of Matara's Borneo) dia-
mond 1t is OF the most beautiful water conceivable;
the Governor of Batavia offered the Raiah $3.50 OOO
two briggs of war, armed, equipped, and provsioned
Tor SIX months, and large quantity of cannon balls
powder and cOngreve rockets; the Raiah refused
them all, and preferred keeping his diamond, which
passes Tor talisman; it is worth 81 1886, ASS. Next
comes the Great Mogu, which is of beautiful rose
color, and of the shape and size of half hens's egg:
1t Is worth S7S4,000, according to the Duke Of
Brunswlck's valuation, though Tavernier, the
traveller, sets it down as being worth S2,344 655;
the Regents diamond of France land which, BY
the way, belonged to Lord Chatham's grandfather,
who brought it from India, concealed in the heel
OF his SHOE, comes only in the fifth rank; it weighs
1869 carats-it is worth $780, $40 it is the purest
diamond known; it required two years to cut it;
before 1t was cut it weighed 4l0 carats; the chip
pings OF 1t were sold for $40 900.
Inc Duke OF brunswick says the Orloff Diamond
OF Russia Is worth only S344, 800, and not S1S5l6
ooO' as some persons have pretended; and he says
the Nancy diamond, which Prince Paul Demidoff'
purchased at the price of $500, 900, is worth only
S29, l6O; but then the Duke of Brunswick reckons
It's historical value as nothing, although it once
adorned the sword of Charles the Bold was found
alter his death on the battlefield of Nancy, was
sold in Switzerland, carried to Portugal and there
sold, belonging to King Antonio, to Henry III,
was swallowed by noble to whom he confided it
swallowed by the faithful noble rather than deliver
1t to robbers and was found in his body which was
alsinterred for the purpose OF discovering it. The
Duke OF brunswick dares not leave Paris at apy
period OF the year; his diamonds keep him chained
mere lie dares not sleep from home single
night Then, he lives in a house constructed not
SO much for comfort as security 1t is BURGLAR
proof, surrounded on every side by high wall
the wall Itself Is surrounded by lofty iron railing
defended by lnnumerable sharp spear heads which
are SO contrlved that il any person touches any one
OF them' chime OF bells begins instantly to ring
an alarm this iron railing cost him Sl4l27
ne keeps his diamonds in a safe, built in
t1lck wall; his bed is placed against it, that no bur-
gar may break into it without killing or at least
waxing him, and that he may amuse himself with
them without leaving his bed. This safe is lined
with granite and iron; the locks have secret
which must be known before they can be opened
arms takes place, which will inevitably kill the
burglar, and, at the same time chime of bells in
every room OF his house are set ringing He has
out one window in his bed room the sash ia of the
s,outest 1ron the shutters of thick sheet iron
Inc ceiling OF his room is plated with iron several
inches thick, and so is the floor The door opening
into 1t Is OF solid sheet iron and cannot be entered
unless one be master of the secret combination of
the lock-. A of dozen sx-barrelIed revol
Vers, loaded and capped, lies open upon the table
within reach of his bed.