The Federal Court at Geneva has just said the last word about the sad story of the Austrian crown jewels and their sale in Switzerland in circumstances which, im the opinion. of the court, constituted an unprecedented swindle. When the unfortunate ex-Emperor Charles escaped from Austria and reached Switzerland, he took with him, in wi dition to the Empress's own valuables, part of the Hungarian crown jewels, worth about £3,000,- 00—an approximate figure, as some of them were of inestimable value. There are only eight pink diamonds known to exist, and four of them were in the Empress's diadem. Until his ill-fated and ill-advised attempt to re-ascend the Hungar an throne, Charles and his large family lived om mortgages on landed property belonging to himself and his.wife and on the Chateau de Wartegg, which formerly belong: ed to the Duke of Parma, the E: mpress's father, and in: which she Lad an_ interest. The jewellery remained untouched. On the eve of his fligh® towards Hungary, Charles handed. over the treasure te his steward, Baron Steiner, with strict. instructions not to pawn it or alienate it in any way without a. written authority from him. As soon as the failure of Charles's attempt became known, Baron Steiner was surrounded by a crowd of creditors, all clamouring to he paid. According to his own acunt, he lost his head, and. being! Peking appointments.—Reuter.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.