Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1856-09-03
The Russian Crown Diamonds.

The crown treasury of the Gar of Moscow
contains precious stones of considerable amount
The two most considerable are diamonds, one
the size cf pigeons egg cut in rose. The Rus
slams have given it the name of Oroff. The
other has the form of IN irregular prism; and
is of the size and almost the length of little
finger II hears the name of the Shah, and its
history is as follows:
Il formerly belonged to the Sophis, and was
one of the two enormous diamonds which orna-
mented the throne of Nadyr Shah, and which
were designated by the Persians by the names
of "Sun of the Sea- and ''Moon of the Noun
tains" When Nadyr was assassnated, his trea-
surers were pilliaged, and his precious stones
divided among few soldiers, who carefully con-
cealed them. An Armenian, of the name OF
Sbafras. resided at that period at Bassora with
his two brothers. One day an afghan came
to him and offered for sale the large diamond,
the Moon of the Mountains" as we'll as an e.
merald, a ruby of fabulous size,a sapphire of the
finest water (called by the Persians ''rhe eye ol
Allah. 'N and number of other stones, for the
whole of which he asked sIeh moderate price
that Shafras suspected that they had not been
honestly come BY and told him to call again, as
he had not the money in the house. The All
CHAN fearing that Shafras was going to act with
treachery towards him, left the place and could
not again be found, although the three brothers
made every search for him.
Some years afterwards the elder brother met
the man at Bagdad, who told him that he had
just sold all his precious stones for $4,000 plas.
tres and pair of valuable horses. Shafras had
the residence of the purchaser, who was Jew,
pointed out to him, and he went to him and Of
| fered him double the price he had given for
them, but was refused. The three brothers then
agreed to murder the Jew and rob him OF his
purchase, which they did, and on the following
day poisoned the Afghan, and threw both the
bodies into the river. A dispute soon after arose
between the brothers as to the division OF the
SPOIL which terminated in Shafras getting rid Of
his two brothers by poison, after which he he'd
to Constantinople, and thence to Holland, where
he had made known the riches he possessed, and
offered them for sale to different courts OF Eu-
rope. Catherine II proposed to buy the Moon
of the Mountains only. Shafras was requested
to come to Russia, and he was introduced to the
court ieweller. The terms demanded by Shat
ras were, letters of nobility,a life annuity of TO-
600 roubles, and 100000 roubles, payable by e.
oual instalments in ten years Count Panin, who
was then Minister; delayed the settlement of the
bargain as long as possible, and in the meantime
had the Armenian lead into such extravagances
that he fell into debt, and when the Minister
found that he had no means of paying what he
owed, he abruptly broke off the negotiation
Shafras, according to the laws of the country
could not leave until his debts should be paid
and the court jeweller prepared to take advan-
tage of his embarrassnents, and intended that
the diamond should fall into his hands tor
fourth part of its value. Shafras, however, dis
covered the trap that had been laid for him, and
disposing of some of the less valuable stones q.
mong his countrymen, paid his debts and disap'
peared.
Agents were sent after him, who had even
orders to assassinate and rob him, but he escaped
them Ten years after while he was at Astra'
kin offers were made to him, but he refused tc
enter into any negotiations, unless the bargain
should be settled at Smyrna. Catharne &C,
cepted, and became possessors of the diamond
for letters of nobility, 100000 roubles, and l7o,
900 paper roubles. Shatfras not being able te
return home, where he would have had to give
an account of two homicides and two fratricide'
fixed himself at Astrakan, where he married
countrywoman of his, and had seven daughters
One of his sons-in-law poisoned him for the sake
of possessing his share of his property. The i'm
mense fortune which the murder had acquired
was divided, and soon spent by his successors
and several of the grand children of Shatfras are
now living at Astrakan in abject misery.