Litchfield enquirer., 1867-01-10
GROWN DIAMONDS,

The grand pre-occupation of the femi- nine world of Paris is to ascertain which of the great historic diamonds are to figure at the UniYersal Exhibition. Indifferent as we may be to the merits of precious stones in general, it must be admitted that the diamond has from time immemorial occu- pied certain, position in the history of nations Thus 1t was one of the stones which adorned the breast-plate of the He brew high-priests. Homer tells us that Ju- no wore diamonds in her ears. Plato be- ieved the stone to be created by the rays of certain stars. The ancients maintained that the diamond imparted courage to the wearer, in like manner as they believed the luby to be preservative against pestilence, the sapphire to secure the favor of princes, and the emerald to preserve it's possessor from false accusers. Certain it is that dia- monds at this moment represent several millions of money.o
 The name of every stone Valuing sum above 4, GOO is now perfectly known, and its whereabouts ascertained, whether 1t be at Amsterdam, Paris, Moscow, or London. The moment that diamond is discovered exceeding this value. the stone, as 1t were, attains sort of etot ctoi in the world of lapidaries. For instance, no one would dare to wear an imitation of the Regent, so long concealed by a slave in deep wound he made for the purpose in his thigh Its weight is 136 carats, and originally cost E312, 500, although its actual value is twelve millions. Neither would any lady attempt to adorn, herself by an imitation of the Sancy, which, as you are aware, was cut by Louis de Berqueem for Charles the Bold, Duke of Burgundy, who wore 1t in his hell met Henry III. borrowed it from his treasurer, De Sancy, in order to gather money on 1t for the purpose of raising troops, by giving it in pledge to the Swiss.
 The servant to whom it was entrusted was attacked by band of Free Lancers, and died fighting for his life and honor. His master De Sancy, confident that he had sacrificed his life in defence of his trust, gave orders for the disinterment of his body. On cutting it open, the dla- mond was found in his stomach. The San cy passed successively from the possessicn of James II. to Louis XVI, from whom it was stolen; and after series of adventures was sold last year, by Prince Demidoff, if my memory serves me, for the sum of 926;O0O:' The French crown possessed in the year 1791, including those purchased for the hilt of Louis XVI. s sword of state, 9,457 diamonds, among which were the Regent, the Blue Diamond, and the Sancy. The whole of this treasure was robbed in 1792, from the Royal Garde Mueble.
 Search was vainly made for the perpetra. be discovered of the jewels until the com mune received an anonymous letter, sta- ting that the missing stones were buried in 8 ditch of the Alice des Veuves Champs Elysees; and truly the Regent and the greater part of the Grown diamonds were dug out of a spot of ground now occupied by the celebrated restaurant so we'll known as the Moulin Rouge. The true story of this robbery was never known; but in 1906, man of the strange name of Baba was ta- ken up for forgery, and confessed that he had assisted in the affair, and had buried the Regent, and subsequently revealed it's whereabouts to the commune. His line of defence was peculiar one. He informed his Judges that France owed the Imperial dynasty to him. seeing that he had not re- vealed the spot where the Regent lay bu. ried, Napoleon could not have pledged il after the 18th Brumaire, when his possess ion of power depended on his having funds at his command wherewith to pay the ar my and carry on the government. The Emperor had Europe ransacked to recover the rest of the Grown Diamonds, and sue ceeded in repurchasing the most valuable among them. Louis XVIII. presented the Duke of Wellington in 1915 with the Or der of St. Esprit, executed with the Cromn Diamonds which had cost 750,O00fr., but the value of which amounted to 20,900, ,26( fir. in the year 1882; although the ISancy was not among them, neither. was the splendid opal called Burning of Troy, which had belonged to the Empress Jose nhina nor a diamond of trrtv four oa,.ats lost on the field of Waterloo Cor of Me London Star.