Rensselaer Union and Jasper Republican, Volume 8, Number 30, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 April 1876 — Mrs. Fitch’s Diamonds. [ARTICLE]

Mrs. Fitch’s Diamonds.

Th» revenue authorities arepuzzled to know what to do with the Khedive of Egypt's femous gift to Gen. Sherman’* daughter. * The diamonds are locked up in tne big vault in the Sub-Treasury. They were placed there in June last, and unless they are taken away before nest' Juno they will be classified a* unclaimed good* ana sold by auction to pay the duties and storage. If this should happen, the money, after the deduction of the official charges, would be paid to Drexel, Morgan & Co., in whose name the diamonds are consigned. The trouble i* ' that Congress In authorizing Lieut. Fitnk to receive the present to nis wife, neglected to relieve him from the payment of the duties. The necklace and earrings which compose the gift were find said to be worth $850,000, but the experts have since appraised them at $75,000. The duty on this amount would be about $40,000. Gen. Sherman feels that he fa too poor to pay this, and he is unwilling to appeal to Congress for an exemption of the payment of the duties. Neither the Secretary of the Treasury, the Collector, nor any of his deputies are disposed to exercise theirpowsr of granting a free permit for the diamonds, and the Turkish Ambassador, who has the official prerogative of receiving them in his name, will not ask for their release because the Khedive is only recognized by bis Government as a vassal.—NT Y. Sun, Marti 27.