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THE EUGENIE.
A Splendid Hair-Pin--Catherine II. of Russia and her Favourites--Royal Presents--How the Hair-Pin was Bought by Napoleon III.--Its Sale to the Notorious Gaikwar of Baroda.
A perfect brilliant of 51 carats, of an oval shape, blunt at one end, and very beautifully cut, this diamond was set as the centre of a hair-pin belonging to the Empress Catherine II of Russia. When Potemkin became her favourite she made him a present of it, as a proof of her esteem, and to reward him for the great services he had rendered to his country. This man, unlike her other favourites, was endowed with more than mere personal attractions. He had great natural abilities, and presence of mind. Catherine bestowed upon Potemkin for his services, both military and diplomatic, the surname of Taurisschesky. It was at this time that he received from Catherine a magnificent palace called (conformably to this name) the Tauria, together with the diamond now known as the "Eugenie." The Emperor Napoleon III., on the occasion of his wedding, bought this stone from a grand niece of Potemkin, the Princess Colorado (who was, at the same time, the heiress of all the jewels belonging to the Russian Prince), and gave it to his wife.
The Empress of the French re-named the stone "Eugenie," and it is from Her Majesty's own lips that we received our information. During the whole of her reign, the empress wore this gem as a centre stone of a diamond necklace, which, after the Franco-German war, was sold to the notorious Gaikwar of Baroda, for a lac and a half of rupees (pound 15,000). This was the man who attempted (as previously stated), to destroy the British Resident, Colonel Phayre, by administering diamond powder to him, for which he was tried by a jury of three English-men and three Natives. He was defended by Sergeant Ballantine. The judges could not agree, and the Gaikwar was discharged. He was, however, after the trial deposed for his misgovernment, and since then the "Eugenie," together with many other large diamonds purchased by him, has disappeared. He is supposed to have hidden them away, in the hope of some day raising money on them for the purposes of an attempt to recover his possessions. |
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Precious Stones Guide Vol 10
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