280 THE GREAT DIAMONDS OF THE WORLD.
In
the interval between the two appointments he visited Europe, on which
occasion he was created an Irish peer, apparently about the year 1775.
Hence it must have been about this time that he brought the diamond to
Europe; for his second tenure of office1 as is well known,
ended fatally, another mournful instance of the strange and relentless
destiny which has so frequently followed in the wake of these
fascinating but ill-omened gems. Thornton, in his History of the British Empire in India, thus relates the circumstances :—
"
At this time a man notorious in the history of the British connection
with the Nabob of Arcot, first became conspicuous. The Nabob had hinted
that if he was dispossessed of Tanjore, his ability to discharge the
debts owing by him to British subjects would be seriously affected. A
civil servant of the Company, named Paul Benfield intimated that he
held assignments on the revenues of Tanjore for vast sums lent by him
to the Nabob, and other assignments on the growing crops for large
sums lent to individuals. These allegations were more than suspicious.
It was not to be supposed that Benfield brought with him to India any
wealth, and he had there enjoyed no opportunity of honestly amassing
any. The governor properly demanded some evidence that the claims were
just ; but none was offered that could satisfy any one not previously
prepared to be satisfied. A majority of the members of the Government
determined against the claims ; but to whatever cause it may be
attributed, a change took place, and the Board reversed their own
decision by determining
