Osage Valley banner., 1880-10-14
THE FRENCH CROWN DIAMONDS.

A PRETTY piece Of news comes TO us
from France. NJ, Turquet, the Minister
who has charge of the Department of
the Fine Arts, proposes to turn TO ac-
count the jewels OF the French crown
for the increase Of the public collections
ot paintings and sculptures.
His plan is to divide these Jewels into
three classes. The first class, which
will include all the jewels having an
historical Interest, he wishes to deposit
Of the Museum OF the Louvre, open 20
the inspection of the public. The sec
ond class wsli comprise the stones
which have value as meteorological
specimens, and these he desires to have
deposited at tho Museum Of Mines. The
third class, which IN much the most
numerous, consists OF the Jewels which
have emily commercial value. These
he proposes 70 sell at public auction,
and invest the proceeds for tho annual
purchase Of works of art Every ra-
tional being in France approves this ex-
cellent scheme, and there Is reason 10
believe that il Will DO adopted by the
National Legislature.
The crown jewels of France were re-
nowned for centuries, and il was
thought to be a great concession 10 the
people when, in 1881, the gallery in
which they were kept was opened to
visitors once month. Before that
time, II WAS a sort of distinction in
France to have been allowed to inspect
that wonderful collection. and even aft
erwards IL was not an easy matter 10 be
one OF the crowd OF monthly visitors.
From an inventory taken in 1871
(Which employed twelve men three
months), we learn that the collection
comprised the following gems: 9,547
diamonds 5l3 pearls; $50 Tubes, OF
which l45 were not mounted; 6S to-
pazes not mounted; 100 emeralds, of
which 1873 We're not mounted; ISL sap
phires not mounted; and "A large mum
Dor OF other gems of various values and
colors. The jewels were arranged in
eleven cases OF large size, in such way
as TO exhibit their splondors to the
greatest ADVANTAGE.
Among the diamonds there were four
which were celebrated throughout the
world, each of which had a history.
FIRST, there was the Regent, brought
from India early In the last century by
Thomas Pitt, and sold in l7l7 10 the
Regent OF France, the Duke of Orleans
for 100000. 1t weighs little over
l56 earats;a and although not the largest,
1t Is considered the finest diamond in
existence. The Duke de St. Simon, who
persuaded the Regent TO buy it, describes
it thus in his Memoirs:
ut is Of the size Of Queen Claude
plum, OF form almost round, of a
thickness proportioned TO its volume,
perfectly white, free from every spot,
shade and flaw, of an adg.sirable wa:of.
and II weighs more than five hundred
grains"
St Simon adds,
. applaud myself much for having
induced the Regent TO make so illus
trious purchase
10 is. indeed. most beautiful object.
The reader may be amused win the
arguments used by st. Simon to per-
suade the Regent to buy the diamond.
When it was offered for sale, Ia 1717,
the finances of the French Government
were an great disorder. The Regent,
though he coveted the possession OF
the Jewel for the crown, was dlsmayed
az the price, and refused TO buy it; as
the King of England had done Tor the
same reason. No one could look at il
without wishing 10 put II in his pocket
ana carry II home; but two millions OF
ranes was a very large sum In those