346 THE DIAMOND AND OTHER PRECIOUS STONES. 



for these brilliant and other friv^olous decorations. If the depreciation 

 in the value of diamonds is to depend on a decline in the taste lor luxury 

 and ostentation, a desire to shine, and even on the cupidity of man, a 

 rich commerce in these gems may be assured in London and Paris for 

 many centuries to come. 



Without recurring to the Arabian Nights, or to the les:ends of the middle 

 ages, where gnomes and grifQns arc seen jealously guarding- these treas- 

 ures of the earth, and only by the force of some cabal allowing mortals 

 to obtain them, it is evident that a great value assigned to a small 

 quantity of mineral substance has given rise to singular changes in 

 fortune. I do not know on what foundation Mawe says that Lieges, 

 embassador to the court of Berlin, obtained from the King of Prussia a 

 treaty of alliance, offensive and defensive, by dazzling his eyes with 

 the splendor of the Regent, for the cession of which by Prance the abbe 

 allowed the King to entertain a ho})e. Frequently the precious stones 

 of sovereigns have been used as pledges for the payment of debts; but 

 these transactions .are comparatively of little interest, and we prefer 

 much more to contemplate the incident of a poor gardener of Golconda 

 finding in his garden a beautiful stone, which i^roving to be a diamond, 

 afforded, not only ease and comfort to himself and his family, but 

 opened to his whole country a source of riches. We also prefer to dwell 

 on the ft)rtuue of a poor negress who found the Star of the South, in July, 

 1853, while washing the sands of the Brazilian mine of Bagagen. Ac- 

 cording to the ancients, Hercules presided over the discovery of treas- 

 ures. By this perhaps they wished to indicate that what is truly valu- 

 able can only be attained by untiring industry. But be this as it may, 

 the discovery of a gem was never considered by them as a favor from 

 Hercules, but as the reward of labor. 



An anecdote of notable fidelity is connected with the iSancy, which is 

 worthy of repetition. This gem was bought at Constantinople during 

 an embassy, by a baron of the name of Sancy, for 000,000 livres. During 

 the many years in which Henry IV, after the death of his predecessor, 

 was rather an appendage to the throne than King in reality, several 

 of his barons rendered him pecuniary assistance, and, among others, 

 the Baron of Sancy, who placed the diamond bearing his name in charge 

 of a domestic, to be delivered to the King. In the brigandism which- 

 then desolated France, this servant was attacked and assassinated. 

 For a long time his master knew not what had become of him; but 

 after much searching it was discovered that he had been killed in a 

 certain rural commune, and that his body was interred in the cemetery 

 belonging to the locality. When condolences on this discovery were ten- 

 dered to the baron on the loss of his splendid jewel, he replied, "You 

 are very much in error, gentlemen ; since I now know where to find 

 the body of my servant, I know, also, where to find my diamond." In 

 fact, when the body was disinterred the diamond w^as found ; it had been 

 swallowed by the man to secure it from his assailants. 



