40 THE GREAT DIAMONDS OF THE WORLD.
to Lisbon, whither the clergyman was also sent to make the proper representations respecting it. The sovereign confirmed the pardon of the delinquents, and bestowed some preferment on the holy father."
This
famous stone, which has been valued by Rom6 Delisle at no less than 300
millions sterling, is said to be about the size of a goose's egg, and
its weight is usually estimated at 1,680 carats, which at the rate of
150 carats to the ounce, would make rather over 11 oz. M. Ferry makes
it weigh 1,730 carats ; and Emanuel as much as 1,880, though this
figure may probably be a misprint for 1,680. Still, the lowest of these
estimates is immensely in excess of Mawe's calculation that it weighs
only " seven-eighths of an ounce." Mawe is here, however, inconsistent
with himself, for a stone of this size could not be described as "
perhaps the largest diamond in the world."
In
his " Memoir on the Diamond," Murray supplies some further interesting
particulars. He tells us that " it remains still uncut, but Don John
VI. had a hole drilled through it, and it was suspended to his neck on
gala days." Murray was not aware whether it was still among the crown
jewels given up by Miguel, or had been previously pledged to carry on
the war against the French. For this latter report, current in Murray's
time, there seems to be no foundation, and according to all recent
authorities the stone would appear never to have been removed from the
Portuguese treasury, where it is jealously guarded against all
inquisitive sight-seers. For obvious financial motives, the Government
is naturally anxious that,
