in
the pontifical treasury, set in various forms at difÂferent times. It
is used at the grand sacred functions by the Pontiffs as an episcopal
ring. It is a large thin stone, cut in long regular facets ; of fine
water, but of little brightness on account of the single cutting. It
weighs 14-1/4 carats, light weight, and may now be valued at fifty
thousand lire.
The
third, a mis-shapen stone, was cut by the clever workman into a
triangular form, and the duke had it set in one of the rings then worn,
formed by two hands clasped in friendship; he gave it as a token of
loyalty and friendship to Louis XI. of France.
The
finest, if not the largest of known brilliants is that found in the
natural adamantine deposits of Parteal, forty-five leagues south of
Golconda ; in its rough state it had the extraordinary weight of 410
carats ; but the labour requisite for polishing them, and which lasted
two years, reduced the weight to 136-7/8 carats. From the cutting it
acquired an almost square form, with double facetting, which imparted
great brightness to it. When in a rough state it was bought by the
grandfather of the celebrated Pitt, when governor of Fort St. George,
at Madras, for 312,500 lire. The expense of cutting it amounted to
125,000 lire. The pieces remaining from the cleavage were valued at
from 75,000 to 100,000 lire. The Duke of Orleans, regent of France
during the minority of Louis XV., bought it in 1717 for the sum of
3,375,000 lire, and from that time this brilliant has been called the
Eegent. In the inventory of the treasury of France, to which it
