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Philosophy: George

Queen Charlotte (consort of George III.) in a confidential conversation with Miss Burney, in 1762, talking of her jewels, said: "I thought at first I should always love to wear them, but the fatigue and trouble of putting them on, and the care they require, with the fear of losing them, made me in a fortnight's time long for my earlier dress, and I wished never to have them more." There is a vein of philosophy in this, but, like the great Queen Elizabeth, she yielded to the seduction of rare and costly jewels to such an extent, that gossip declared her favour, in the way of appointments, might be won through a present of jewellery.

However, Walpole, in his history of the reign of George III., mentions a trait of character which does honour to the Queen. It seems that George III., in the early part of his marriage, took pleasure in presenting his young consort with jewels, and seeing her wear them. Once only she begged to lay them on one side. It had been one of the injunctions of her late mother that on the occasion of her being a communicant at the altar as Queen of England, she should receive the sacrament unadorned with jewels, and without parade. "The king," says Walpole, "indulged her, but Lady Augusta, carrying this tale to her mother, the princess obliged the king to insist on the jewels being worn, and the poor young queen's tears and terrors could not dispense with her obedience."

We are told in the life of the Empress Josephine that shortly before her death she was showing some friends her magnificent jewels which had been presented to her by the Emperor Napoleon, and observed, "During the first dawn of my extraordinary elevation I delighted in these trifles, but by degrees I grew so tired of them that I no longer wear any, except when I am, in some respects, compelled to do so by my new rank in the world; a thousand accidents may, besides, contribute to deprive me of those brilliant, though useless objects. Do I not possess the pendants of Queen Marie Antoinette? And yet am I quite sure of retaining them? Trust to me, ladies, and do not envy a splendour which does not constitute happiness."

In 1827 the celebrated actress, Mademoiselle Mars, who had a costly collection of precious stones, and who was frequently announced in the playbills as "wearing all her diamonds," was, in a romantic manner robbed of her jewels. She was absent from home at the time, and Armand, the comic actor, was deputed to inform her of the loss, and to break the news so as not to cause her too violent a shock. Instead of taking this precaution, he addressed her in a tragic tone, and said, "My dear friend, have you courage? You will need it--prepare yourself, you have been robbed of all your jewels!" With philosophical resignation, Mademoiselle Mars replied, "Is that all? You really made me fear a much greater misfortune!"

Gustaf III. (crowned King of Sweden 1771) when in Italy purchased two large diamonds, a ruby, and some pearls the young Pretender had pledged. After a long negotiation the king gave them up, noting in his own hand, "Est fait l'inventaire et la livraison depuis sept heures du soir de ces eternels diamans et bijoux. Laus Deo qu'enfin tout soit fini." As costly "playthings" some have amused themselves with jewels. It is related of the eccentric Prince Potemkin that in his latter days, tired of a life of dissipation and turbulence, he would sit alone on the long winter evenings, before a table covered with black velvet. Then having his diamonds brought, of which he had a prodigious quantity, he would continue for hours amusing himself, like a child, in placing them one after another in the form of circles, crosses, and fanciful figures, considering each before he placed it, and then admiring the situation of it, or removing it to another. On one of these evenings the thought occurred to him to weigh the diamonds; they were found to amount to several pounds; the most remarkable were what composed an epaulette of brilliants to the value of eight hundred and fifty thousand roubles; another of coloured stones of three hundred thousand; perfect rubies weighing from thirty-five to thirty-six carats, of inestimable value; the picture of the Empress Catherine II., pendant to yellow and black diamonds, in imitation of the ribbon of the Order of St. George, etc. He frequently amused himself by pouring his diamonds out of one hand into the other, as children play with little shells.