The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-03-19


in diamonds. Francis | worshipped them.
Henry VIII affected them. Queen Elizabeth
of England was ravenously fond of them; SO
fond of them that she stole all the jewels of
poor Mary of Scotland, and never gave any
compensation for them save taking the head
of their beautiful but most unfortunate owner.
The Spanish Kings were likewise addicted to
diamonds while in France, under the rule of
Henry ", Louis XIII, Louis XIV, and Louis
XIV, to be jewelless was to be worthless.
The story of the Diamond Necklace is too
well known to require repetition but there is
a diamond tragedy associated with the memory
| of the beautiful Mad'le earlier, heiress Of
Cartier a French bookseller of the time, which
merits a brief record. A Monsieur Tiauet sent
| to the young lady a bouquet, in which
diamonds and flowers intermingled in beautiful
! display. This gift, so suggestive of wealth,
won the young heiress at once-and she be-
came Madame Tiquet only to find herself the
wife OF an adventurer, who had used all his
| means and credit to purchase the diamond
bouquet which he had thus used as O decoy to
| win her hand and her fortune. She resented
! the deception and separated from him. He
tried the power of lettre de cachet, but she
tore 1t up before his face. At last, one night,
Monsieur Iiquet was found wetering in his
wounds. He did not die, however, and imme-
dlately accused his wife of an attempt to
murder him, of which charge she was found
guilty and suffered the fatal penalty-a penalty
which of the two he by far the more richly
deserved.
In our own times the diamond still pre-
serves its supremacy alike over the eyes and
the purses of humanity; and princes, men of
rank, and almost all rich men are to be found
among its envied and envious possessors.
THE GREAT DIAMONDS.
There are seven diamonds in existence Of
such great size, purity, and value as to de-
serve the title of paragon. These seven we
will briefly describe;-
l. The Regent Diamond obtained from
India by Mr.. Pitt, Governor of Madras. Be-
fore cutting it weighed 4l0 carats. After cut
ting (Which operation consumed two years) it
weighed 1876 carats. 1t was subsequently pur-
by the Regent Due d'Orleans for a sum equal
to $675, 600. It's worth is now estimated at
over million. 1t is in the possession of the
Crown Of France. It's length is 1'2437 inches;
breadth, l'l77; depth, '359 and weight in
Troy grains, 434.
2. Star of the South; found in Brazil and
taken to France. Weighs 254l carats.
3. Portuguese Diamond; Brazilian. Weighs
in the rough, 1850 carats; worth an immense
fortune, if genuine, which is doubted. 1t is
said to be only fine white topaz.
4. The Kohinoor (Mountain of Light; OBJ
tanned from the mines of Golconda over two
thousand years ago-having an eventful and
romantic history; becoming part of the re-
nowned treasures of Delhi; then passing into
the hands of Nadir Shah; and at last, by treaty,
falling into the possession of the Crown of
England. It's original weight was. lS6 carats.
The last cutting took place at a comparatively
recent date, steam engine being made for the
purpose, and the Duke of Wellington COM
mencing in person. the operation. 1t has been
placed ON public exhibition.
5. The Sultan of Matan. This diamond, OBJ
| tanned from Borneo, is of remarkable size and
purity Its weight is 367 carats; its value
| $3,500,OO0 1t is shaped like an egg, with o
| dent at one end.
6. The Orlef diamond, belonging to the
crown of Russia. Weighs 1875 carats, and is
about the size Of pigeons egg. 1t was ori-
| ginally stolen from an Eastern idol, and was
! ultimately sold by a Greek merchant to Queen
] Catherine.
7. The Austrian diamond or diamond of the
| Grand Duke of Tuscany is of lemon color, and is
| cut in rose. 1t weighs 139 carats. 1t was origi-
| nally purchased for trihe. Its color and cut
initiate somewhat against its value. 1t is
worth only $50O,OOO, instead of double that
! sum.
There are also six diamonds, which, though
! smaller than those just described, are yet OF
! great value, and have become celebrated.
! These are
l. The Shah of Persia, weighing Sc 3-4G
carats, of singular shape, and covered with
| inscriptions. Belonging at present to the
crown of Russia.
| 2. The Sancy, weighing 535 carats
| 3. The Nassack, weighing SO carats.
| 4. The Arcott brilliants, weighing So carats.
5. The Pigott diamond, weighing 40 carats.
| This gem has passed through a variety of
adventures, has been disposed of at a lottery,
and is now in the possession OF the Niceroy OF
| Egypt.
s. The blue diamond of triangular shape.
! This once belonged to the French crown
| Jewels, but of late years it has mysteriously
| disappeared-it was stolen and never found.
| In addition to the above list, we may mention
| that the diamonds belonging to the royal fami-
| lies of Portugal, SPAIN and Brazil are Of re-
| markable brilliancy and value. The King OF
| Saxony possesses a superb green diamond.
| Mr.. Hope, of England, has given his name to
q magnificent blue diamond. Many antique
| gems, engraved with the peculiar art OF the
| ancients-a skill which far surpasses all
| modern attempts in this line-are in the pos
session of wealthy connoisseurs, especially on
! the continent. The Duke of Bedford pos
sesses some valuable gems of this kind. We
are informed that Mrs. Belmont and other Of
our republican noJleSSe are similarly favored
| Mr.. Joseph Meyer, Mr.. James Moore, and
| Mrs. Jarvis, of this city, are the owners OF
valuable and rare black diamonds.
The Polar Star, brilliant diamond, belongs
| to the Russian Princess YougsoupOf and
weighs forty carats. The Prince Esterhazy
| has a diamond valued at twelve millions o.
| francs. The Holland diamond weighs st
| carats and is valued at 26O, 900 francs. Prince
| Rioria, of Naples, owns a fine rose diamond
Is carats. A Mr. Halpher owns a very pure
diamond of 22I carats. The Nizam is very
fine Eastern diamond-weighs $40 carats The