The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1867-07-25
From til. a.Y. Observer.
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ne EShcfnu1y sbcWeAS'
The exposure for sale in London of
the famous Esterhazy jewels, the value
of which is too great to make it prudent
tor any single person, whether prince or
commoner, 20 purchase the whole col
lection, has given new interest to the
facts which led to the bankruptcy OF
this noble house, which used to be ac-
counted among the richest in the world
The family estates are said to cover
ninety-three square miles, or 10000
acres Of ground. They were lately val
weCs at about "a, 500,0 sterling, and
have in average years yielded a net
return Of El70,0O0, which sum, ac-
cording to recent estimates, might,
under proper management, have been
augmented to $4,000 per annum.
But an old Hungarian adage says:
'SFhe Esterhazys are either in seques
tration or on the road thereto" Aus
tran mobiles have never been famous
far the scientific care of their estates,
and the Hungarians in particular have
proved themselves especially careless,
lavish and improvident. In 1913, the
old feudel services and payments in kind
were superseded by the modern system
of money rents, which demanded even
more than before science and care in the
management of property. The Ester
hays were too proud, indolent aud
Indifferent to care for their own IN
terests, and their affairs went from bad
to worse. Prince Paul Esterhazy, who
took possession of his property in 1888,
found himself saddled with heavy debts,
and before l848 had found it necessary
to raise by loan about Gl40, 600. With
commendable frugality, he cut down
the expenses Of himself and those Of his
son, the now reigning Prince Nicholas,
TO G2I,000 per annum, but it was in
vain. In 1860 his debts amounted to
GI,40o, 900 sterling, while his revenue
did not exceed 100000 year Of
this sum E43000 was absorbed blythe
family expenditure and the costs Of the
princely treasury, leaving G57, 900 per
annum towards payment of the debts.
As this amount did not meet the mere
interest on the Princes liabilities, bis
position was becoming grave The
Emperor of Austria, as King Of Hun
gary, now stepped in, at the Princes
desire, between him and his creditors,
and commission of mobiles and ac-
eountants was named to investigate the
Princes affairs and mature a plan for
their recovery. The Prince would not
consent to sell any portion Of the estate,
and after various plans had been dis
carded, Count Franz Vichy, specula-
tive Hungarian magnate, who was
himself member of the commission,
was finally appointed sole administrator
of the property The task proved alto
gether too great for him, and, his failure
becoming apparent, it was proposed, in
1864, that Prince Nicholas should take
tho management into his own hands,
Time passed, and while they were get
ting rid of Count Vichy and appointing
another commission, the day approach
ed for the drawing Of tho Esterhazy
lottery loan Of 1886, for which the sum
of G35,00 was wanted for prizes The
commission met, but only to report
that they recommended the immediate
sequestration of the Princes whole
property. The Emperor Of Austria
issued the necessary decree, and in
few days the official announcement of
tho bankruptcy of the princely house of
Esterhazy was made.
The London Telegraph gives the fol-
lowing account of the Esterhazy jewels
which are now in the possession Of Mr.
Boore, at 81 Strand
"On a square board covered with
black velvet the princely jewels are
shown, with an effect almost startling
The ornament which surmounts the en-
tire group, and which exels any and ev-
cry component part of it, is an agvtte
of diamonds which the Prince Nicholas
had worn as the brush of his hussar's
hat or 'busby' and which contains about
five thousand stones, weighing pound
and half, and rising to a height of
sixteen inches. Were it proposed to
collect as many loose diamonds of equal
size, weight, and lustre, for the iabrica-
tion of a new ornament, the plan would
be, tits believed, impracticablo. Round
the same hat was worn a loop and tas-
sci of pearls and brilliants, depending
from tho mouth of an enameled lions
head, with diamond eyes. The sword
is diamond-hited, and its black velvet
scabbard is incrusted with diamonds
band ofthe largest diamonds and finest
pearls hung from the shoulder to the
waist and the pouch is covered with an
embroidery OF pearls. There arc six
orders of the Golden Fleece, mostly of
diamonds, the suspended fleece itself
being composed of stones selected for
their yellow tint. There arc emeMlds,
rubies and other stones intermingled
with tho diamonds of these ornaments
and the star of the bath and cross of ST.
Andrew are displayed in equal richness
ofjewelry.
egThe great and learned Seldcn de-