THE FRENCH CROWN JEWELS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1554, 17 February 1887, Page 1

THE FRENCH CROWN JEWELS.

The »ale of the French Crown jewels, which h&a been threatened for half-a-dozen years, has been really decided upon at last, remarks the St James’s Gazette. The Senate has resolved, though by a not very largo mßjoritr, that such of the regalia as is destitute of artistic value shall be sold. It is estimated that this pitiful proceeding will realise about half a million sterling, an estimate which seems to indicate that important reservations will be made. The “ Regent” diamond alone is supposed to be worth £320,000, while two millions has been mentioned as the total value of the splendid collection. But with all its magnificence the French regalia is a mere shadow of what it was three-quarters of a century ago. When it was catalogued in 1810 it was found to consist of 87,000 separate pieces. A great many things have happened in France since then, and most of those thousands have disappeared. The Regent or Fitt diamond, the story of which has often been told, is the glory of the French Crown jewels. It is one of the most beautiful diamonds in existence, and for limpidity of hue it is unrivalled. Its diameter and depth are equal, and it weigh* 137 carats. The Earl of Chatham’s grandfather made his fortune by the bargain which added this diamond to the French Grown jewels. The most historically interesting of the French gems is the parure of diamonds formed from the stones of the most famous necklace that ever graced the bosom of an imperial beauty. The diamond necklace changed the whole future of France ; and it is to be presumed that whosoever is responsible for the sale will place it upon the list of gems to be preserved as national heirlooms. The milting Sanci is probably tho moat hiitorio of all diamond*. Charles the Bald wore it in his bat upon the field where he lose his life, and the soldier who found it among the slain sold it to a priest for a florin, A Lucerne merchant gave the priest 5000 ducats for the stone, and then sold it to. Emmanuel the Fortunate of Portugal. When Philip 11. assumed the crown of Portugal, Don Antonio parted with the gem for £2BOO to tho Sienr de Sanci, in whose family it ronr-ined for more than a century. Afterwards it was possessed by James 11., who took it with him when he fled from these shore* never to return, and sold it to, Louis Quatorza for £25,000. Louis Seize, wore it at his coronation, and; thereafter it had a long spell of repose. In 1835 Prince Paul Demidoff bought it for £80,000; and although it is said to have been purchased by Napoleon HI, in 1867, the general belief is that it now forma parts of the Russian regalia. G-oms of this kind strangely dissappear and reappear. How are we to explain the presence among the French Crown jewels of the diamond necklace of hearts sent by Mary of Scotland, shortly after her accession, to Queen Elizabeth ? The French , collection is as tonisljingly rich in diamonds, and in them most of the interest centres. A few other jewels there are of great historic intereefc. Of such are the “Regale of France "—the ring placed upon tho shrine of St (j Thomas a Beckett by Louis VI I; Henry VIII long wore it as a thumb ring; and in thA end it passed again to the Royal bouse of France. One of the largest of known rubies is here; it is engraved with a chimera, and it is probably the largest of all engraved rubies."