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HISTORICAL AND REMARKABLE DIAMONDS. 223
lars ; it formed a part of the crown jewels at the time of the
inventory of 1791, when its value was fixed at two hundred thousand dollars. It was stolen at the robbery of the Garde Meuble, and all traces of the diamond were lost until 1830, when it reappeared as the property of a merchant, but by what means he obtained possession of it, or where it had been concealed, is involved in mystery. A Sancy diamond became the property of the Demidoff
family of Russia, and was the subject of a lawsuit, in 1832, with the director of mines in Switzerland. Pending the trial, there was the most conflicting testimony concerning its history, which could be accounted for only by admitting there had been more than one diamond of this name in the Harlay family. The Demidoff gem was sold, in 1865, to an Indian millionnaire, or Parsee merchant, of Bombay. But the wanderings of this jewel did not end here; it was sent to Paris, where it was exhibited in 1867, then returned to India, when it was purchased by a native prince, together with many of the jewels of the Empress Eugénie, and was worn on the reception of the Prince of Wales during his visit to the East. The last possessor of this mysterious gem has since died, an event which may again change the fortunes of the Sancy diamond, and start it on its devious travels. Another account varies, in some points, with that just related, and coincides with others ; as, that it was sold at Lucerne in 1492, came into the possession of Portugal in 1594, and was sold to De Sancy ; but this leaves one hundred years of its history unaccounted for, which may include its career at the Burgundian and English courts. After remaining in the Harlay family more than a century, it was sold to the Duke of Orleans, Regent of France. It disappeared during the French Revolution, but was recovered and bought by Napoleon I., who sold it to Prince Demidoff. |
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