Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-05-09

The Watch Worn By Lsnis XVI. WI "a
He vac Executed Now In the Pos
$1,000. af a San Eeauels< nm.

Not quite seven years hence, near 'he
close Of the present term Of Offices Of
Francois Paul Jules Grcvy, third pres'-
dent Of the French republic, will cSenr
the lOOth anniversary Of perhaps the
most touching tragedy in history--the
death Of Louis XVI. Of France. IL Is
curious instance Of the strange
sequence Of events, says the San Fran
cisco Chronicle, that precious me-
mento of the deplorabIe regicide Of
January 81, 1893, should have found
its way to San Francisco. the youngest
great city Of the New World, six thou.
sand miles from the historic centre OF
Gallo national life. The object In
question is an antique watch OF re-
markably fine workmanship, and bear
ing conclusive marks Of its anthem
ITCHY. Few relics have gained
title to veneration by passing
through the hands Of more famous
or more worthy personages. II was
made by the most celebrated
English matchmaker Of his time; its
first purchaser was Benjamin Franklin
it became the property Of Lafayette,
by whom it was presented to Louis
XVI. as q mark oil the respect and
esteem of the friends Of Washington.
Alter the climax of the awful drama Of
the French revolution this and many
other relics Of royalty wera scattered
in a hundred different directions, and
in some cases were forever lost to
sight. There is no doubt that the
melting.pot of ignorant goldsmiths
received a goodly number Of trink-
cts for which the supporters Of
monaIchs would have given more
than twenty times their weight in
the precious metals Of which they were
composed. This watch, consecrated by
the successive ownership of the greatest
American philosopher, the most popular
French patriot, and the martyr king,
escaped both the rash avarice Of sans
cuIottes and the irrelevant clutches of
spectators in bric-a-brac. According
to the statements Of those who brought
it here from France, and an authenti-
Gated official document which accom-
panied it, the watch was a part OF the
spoils of the executioner of Paris.
The memoirs of this sinister person
sge show that be was possessed Of a
certain degree of sensibility entirely
foreign to his vocation; that he greatly
admired his royal victim that remorse
for the deed Of that day was the real
cause Of his premature decline and of
his death in 1906, and that he instituted
an annual expiatory mass to be cele-
brated on the fatal date for the repose
of the souls OF Louis XVI, Marie
Antoinette, and the Princess Elizabeth,
which the SanSons, father and son, MAIN
tanned for a considerable time, even
after they were no longer responsible
for the proper dispatch Of legal justice.
The feeling of the Samson family was
20 severe, or else the need Of culti-
waiting the magnnanimity Of the Bour-
bons was so pressing, that in 1915 they
restored the relic to Loais XVIII. Tue
history thus far rests upon irrefutable
evidence. Subsequent to that date it
passed into the hands Of private per-
sons, who, being forced to part with
the precious relic for pecunisry reasons,
shrink from the pu ,ilcation Of their
family name.
The obtaining possession of the watch
Of the Temple, for it was there that
Louis XVI. longest wore it, was, it may
lie naturally supposed, matter OF no
small difficulty. 1t may be well just at
this point to relate how it came to be
brought to this city and was here pur-
chased by the gentleman in whose cabi-
ntt of curiosities it nov lies. The
Unknown and unfortunate Phoebe, the
l'-tory of whose vast enterprises IS a
J.. It OF that Of San Francisco. heard OF
i existence about 1870. Hewas aman Of
ci.tical tastes and lover Of the fine arts.
A countryman Of his who had just re-
turned from France told him that he
had seen the treasure and could pur.
chase it for round sum. Phoebe was
eager to secure it, and he authorized
the payment Of 1000 francs if it could
rot be bought for less. The interme-
diary resumed the negotiations and
again returned, this time triumphant,
having the watch in his possession, 1t
having cost but 1900 francs. When
he touched the shores of the United
States, however, he learned to his con-
steInation that Phoebe was no more.
lie bad on May 2, 1872,
committed suicide. The gentleman
who acted as his agent in the
fair was poor and enfeebled by age.
lie found it impossible for the time
being to secure purchaser at the price
which Phoebe had agreed to give, and
he kept the watch himself, in spite OF
his financial necessities. Not long ago
he died. His widow, very amiable
and upright lady, attempted to dispose
Of it, but until recently her efforts
were vain. She finally offered it to an
amateur collector, whose European
travels had greatly interested him in
hric-a-brac having peculiar associa.
lions. and he was not long in satisfying
her demand as to its price.
The watch Of the Temple is piece
of marvellous workmanship. 1t wa
made at q period when the art OF the
matchmaker had reached its highest
stage of perfection. In London the
craft had fully equalled the best efforts
of the Swiss and French. Extravagan
sums were lavished by noble anC
princely personages on pocket time
pieces. The metal Of which they wer,
composed was Of less account, AM
Justly so, in fashionable estimation
than the ornamentation. There was n
more renowned matchmaker thai
Howard, OF London, and this relic bear
this inscription :" Edw. Howard, Kerb..
street, London. No. 2ll9."
Howard is mentioned in contem
porary letters and memoirs as standin
at the head of his vocation. 1t woal
not need this name, however. to enabl
one familiar with the work of the watch
makers of the last century to recogniz
this specimen as belonging to precisel
the period in question. Its outwar
appearance, before even the exterior
examined, fixes its antiquity at once