64 



the Imperial sceptre. It is of Indian origin, and for a century 

 and a half formed one of the eyes of the famous idol Serring- 

 ham or Sherigam, in the famous temple of Brahma, another 

 and similar diamond forming the second eye. At the com- 

 mencement of the eighteenth century, a soldier, who was one 

 of the French garrison in India, determined to get possession of 

 both eyes of the idol. With this object he pretended to be a 

 convert to the Hindoo religion, and to show extraordinary zeal 

 in its behalf. Eventually he so cleverly imposed on the priests 

 of the temple that he was entrusted with the care of the temple. 

 He waited patiently for his opportunity, and on a dark and 

 stormy night he succeeded in wrenching one of the eyes from 

 its socket, but failed in his attempt to remove the other. Tak- 

 ing to flight, he reached Madras, where he disposed of the 

 diamond to a captain in the English navy for ^"2,000. On its 

 arrival in England the diamond was purchased for ^"12,000 by 

 a Jewish merchant, and sold by him to Catharine II. for ^4,000 

 and a title of nobility. 



Another diamond with an interesting and romantic history is 

 the Sancy, which is not cut as a brilliant, but in a special and 

 peculiar manner, and is said to have been the first stone cut in 

 Europe, the act having been accomplished by Louis de Berguem. 

 Charles Duke of Burgundy wore it in his helmet at the battle 

 of Morat in 1476, and after the Duke's defeat it was found in 

 the battle-field (another account says removed from the corpse 

 of Charles) by a Swiss soldier, who sold it to a priest for a couple 

 of francs. It was not heard of for some time, but in 1589 it was 

 pledged by King Anthony of Portugal to De Sancy, a Huguenot 

 gentleman, and treasurer of the King of France, who retained 

 it in payment of 100,000 livres. In this family it remained 

 until Henry the Third commissioned a descendant of the pur- 

 chaser to raise recruits in Switzerland ; and very shortly after- 

 wards, driven from the throne by his subjects, the King borrowed 

 the stone to pay his troops, but the servant who was carrying it 

 to the King disappeared, and was not heard of for some time. 

 At last it was discovered that he had been assassinated in the 

 forest of Dole, and buried in a native village. " Then, my 



