to have worn the ' Arcot ' diamonds, but indisposition prevented her attendance."
We
have seen that the " original weight " was 89J carats, and this was now
reduced to 781 carats, a very slight sacrifice compared with the loss
suffered by the " Koh-i-Nür ', and some other Indian stones when re-cut
in London or Amsterdam. Kluge says the re-cutting was executed " by
order of the Marquis of Westminster."* But this must be a mistake ; for
the operation, as already stated, was performed by Messrs. Rundell
before the stone was put up to sale in July, 1837, and consequently
before the Marquis had any control over it.
It gained so much in the lapidary's hands that this gem is now reputed to be worth from .£25,000 to £30,000, and it must not be forgotten that the stone was sold when times were very bad and money scarce.
