A PEARL FROM THE ENGLISH CROWN.

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3383, 25 October 1879, Page 4

A PEARL FROM THE ENGLISH CROWN.

About a year ago an illcloihed and needy-looking Jew went; into a jeweller's shop in the Herrengaase, at Prest, drew a small paper, from his pocket, unfolded it carefully, and took from it a little black object. Holding it up before the jeweller, he asked, " What is that worth ?*' After scrutinising it ?ery closely for some time, tha 5 jeweller replied, " That is worth a; great deal; it is a black pearl, one of the' greatest rarities. I have seen many a grey one, but neTer before a black- one. It has one fault, a small breach, which shows that it was formerly in a setting; but its value is rery great. Where did you buy it?" The Jew answered, ",A gfntleman wishes to leave ifc with me iOt * $aW,! and I want to know what it Is worth." The jeweller said he could not exactly tell, the thing being such a rarity. " May I lend 200 gulden upon ' it?," asked the Jew. "Three times as tntich at the very least," replied the other. " Will you not buy the pearl p " . " Wo, indeed," replied the shop keeper : " there is but ono firm in the monarchy which would have an opportunity oF seeing it again; that is the Court jeweller, Biedermaun, at Vienna." The Jew left with the pearl. Nest day he appeared at Biederman's shop. Biedermann, however,made a short process with his would-be customers! He had no sooner seen the black pearl then he sent for the police, and had the Jew arrested upon the spot. At the hearing of his case, the Jew said his name was Isaac Both, and that he was the owner of a pawn-shop in Grosswardein. One day he saw a great stir going on outside the house of a neighbor and 00-religionist, Herr Guyri. * XJpon inquiry be iound that poor. Guyri was in trouble for nonpayment of .taxes, and that the local officer was seizing his furniture. Both paid the needed sum, 20 gulden, out of his own pocket, and Guyri, out of gratitude, presented him with the pearl, of whose, immense value he had no conception. The story was confirmed bj witnesses from Grosswardien.' Guyri, a* it seems had been the confidential servant of a renowned man, Count Louis .B&ttbyani, and when Batthyatii died, he presented his servant with his breast pin as a memorial.. . Guyri, , under the pressure of want, 'had .already sold the gold in "; which the pearl was set, but he would not part with, the jewel, partly out ot esteem for his late master, and partly from a notion that it was of up great worth. The pearl, as the Court Jewell* r Biedermann, at once percieved, rnunt have been stolen property at some-period in its adventures. Being an authority in in the history of famous jewels, be recollected that three black pearls had formerly adorned the English crown, and that they were stolen from that important symbol about two centuries ago. They were renowned as the only black pearls in the world, according to the belief of that time. The English Government, as Herr Biedermanu stated, advertised for them in vain. How Count Batthyani got hold of the pearl nobody knows, but it is conjectured that he must have bought it at one of the old curiosity shops, places iv which he delighted to rummage; while it is certain that he was ignorant of its value or he would scarcely bequeathed it to a servant, without any hinfc of the bequest. The Jew of CJrosswardein, according to the story current in Vienna, is now thanking the black pearl for the foundation of, his fortune, since tbo English Government, recently hearing of its discovery, have bought ifc from him for the sum of 20,000 gulden.—Echo.-:'