The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1868-09-11
5 ,Crespss Diamonds.

{
precious stones in general, it must be adj
mitted that the diamond has from time inn
memorial occupied a certain position in the
history OF nations. Thus 1t was one of the
stones which adorned the breast-plate of
the Hebrew high-priests. Homer tells us
that Juno wore diamonds IN her ears Pla-
to believed the stone to be created by the
rays of certain stars. The ancients main
tanned that the diamonds impaired courage
to the wearer, In like manner as they be-
lieved the ruby to be preservation against
pestilence, the sapphire to secure the favor
of princes, and the emerald to preserve its
possessors from false accusers. Certain it
is that diamonds at this moment represent
several millions of money.
The name of every stone valuing sum
above $4,000 is now perfectly known, and
its whereabouts ascertained, whether it be
at Amsterdam, Paris, Moscow or London.
The moment that diamond is discovered
exceeding this value, the stone, as it were,
attains sort Of etat cicit in the world of
lapidaries. For instance no one would
dare to wear an imitation of the Regent, SO
long concealed by slave in deep wound
he made for the purpose in his thigh. Its
weight is 1876 carats, and originally cost
e312 800, although its actual value is twelve
millions. Neither would any lady attempt
to adorn herself by an imitation ofthe San
cy, which, as you are aware, was cut by
Louis de, Berqueem for Charles the Bold,
Duke Of Burgundy, who wore it in his
helmet Henry III. borrowed it from his
treasurer, De Sancy, in order to gather
money omit for the purpose of raising troops
by giving it in pledge to the Swiss.
The servant to whom it was intrusted
was attacked by band of Free Lances, 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 ofhis body.
On cutting itopen. Che diamond was found
in his stomach. RThe Sancy passed sue
cessiyely from the possession of James II.
to Louis XVI. from whom it was stolen;
and after a;series of adventures it was sold
last year, by Prince Demidoff, if my mem
DRY serves me, for the sum of $4,000 The
French crown possessed in the year 179f,
including those purchased for the hilt of
Louis XVrs sword ofstate, CAST 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 Meuble.5fL FL gale =
Search was yainly made for the perpetra-
tors Of this daring theft, but no trace could
be discovered of the jewels until the COM
muiie received an anonymous letter stating
that great part of the missing stones were
buried in a ditch of the Alice dies Veuves,
Champs Elysees; and truly the Regent and
the greater part Of the Grown Diamonds
were dug out Of a spot now occupied by
the celebrated restaurant SO well known as
the Moulin Rouge. The true story of this
robbery was never known but in 1906, a
man of the strange name of Bahia was taken
up for forgery, aud confessed that he had
assisted in the affair, and had buried the
Regent, and subsequently revealed its
whereabouts to the commune. His line of
defence was a peculiar one. He informed
his Judges that France owed the Imperial
dynasty to him, seeing that had he not re-
vealed the spot where the Regent Lag burr
ed Napoleon could not have pledged it af-
ter the 18th Brumare, when possession of
power depended on his having funds at his
command wherewith to pay the army and
carry on the aGoyernment. The Emperor
bad Europe ransacked to- recover the rest
OF the Crown Diamonds, and succeeded in
Irepurchasing the most valuable among them.
Louis XVIII, presented the Duke of Well
ington, in, 1916, with the Order of st. Esprit,
executed with the Crown Diamonds, which
had cost 100000 francs, but the value of
year 1882; although the Sancy was not
among them, neither were the splendid opal
called the Burning Of Troy which had
belonged to the Empress Josephine, nor q
diamond of thirty-four carats, which the
Il 4