Page:The Galaxy, Volume 6.djvu/47

1868.] he goes. Next came a collection of a dozen belts, each surpassing the other in costliness and taste. One of these had the fastening buckle, about eight inches long and three broad, studded with perfect rubies, each about half an inch round, set in gold. Another, diamonds only; a third, the whole band set in emeralds and diamonds, and so on. We then were shown four sabres; all had the flat side of the scabbard richly enameled in gold; one was one blaze of diamonds on the hilt and scabbard; another was studded with pearls like large peas; a third was set with diamonds and other stones to represent flowers. Two other necklaces we were shown were about two and a half feet long each, and formed of large emeralds, each about an inch and a quarter long, alternating with bunches of pearls. An aigrette presented by some Emperor of Austria was exquisitely worked as a bouquet of flowers, set in diamonds, with one large amethyst set a jour. The last tray of jewels was the "bonne bouche." On this we saw a belt of pliant gold work, the buckle consisting of the celebrated "Deriehnoor," or "Sea of Light," a diamond perfectly flat, except at the edges, and almost two inches long by one and a quarter in breadth; it was set round with other smaller diamonds.

Now if diamonds would make a man as happy as a cherub, the Shah of Persia might be such a cherub. But he has none of the appearance of a cherub, and we have no reason to suppose he has any of its bliss. So we will for the present leave his diamonds with him. But what hidden gems exist in the recesses of those Oriental mogulships and satrapys we as yet have no means of knowing; it would be an edifying matter of inquiry for some enterprising and daring philosopher of an inquisitive turn of mind.

There are, however, vast treasures nearer home, which are accessible to the curious traveller. In the World's Exhibition of 1851, Jahn & Bolin, the great jewellers of St. Petersburg, exhibited a diadem, which contained eleven superb opals, sixty-seven rubies, one thousand eight hundred and eleven brilliants, and one thousand seven hundred and twelve rose diamonds. Hunt & Roskell, London jewellers, exhibited gems valued at one and a half millions. Messrs. Blogg & Martin, diamond merchants of London, showed to Dr. Feuchtwanger "three bags, weighing about five pounds each, of diamonds," every diamond of which was of the first water, and weighed from ten to twenty carats. Their value could not have been less than two to four millions of dollars; and they were not in the market for sale.

I know of no accurate and full lists of the crown jewels of the world, but some statements are possible which may interest the reader.

Russia is said to contain the most, and the most valuable diamonds of any country. The crowns of the Czars are wonderful. That of Ivan Alexiowitch contained eight hundred and eighty-one diamonds; that of Peter the Great eight hundred and forty-seven; that of Catharine, two thousand five hundred and thirty-six; and those of Nicholas and his son are beyond price. These the visitor to Moscow must look for in the treasuries of the Kremlin.

The crown jewels of France have been set down at 29,000,000 francs, in this way:

Diamonds ...... 16,730,203 Pearls (506) ...... 996,700 Rubies (230) Sapphires (134). . . . Emeralds (150)  360,604 and other colored stones Mounted Jewels ...... 5,834,490 Ornaments, etc., etc. ..... 5,144,390 Total ...... 29,066,487