Nashville daily patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1855-1857, 1856-09-03

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The Crown Treasury of the Cars at Nos
COW contains precious stones OF considerable
amount. The two most considerable are da-
mOndS, one the size of pigeons egg rose. cut.
The Russians have given it the name of the
Orloff. The other has the form of an irregular
prism, and il OF the size aud almost the length
of a little finger, it bears the name of the
Shah, and its history is rs follows:-lt formerly
belonged to the SOphis, and was one of two
enormous diamonds which urnamented the
throne of Nadir Shah, aud which were desig
mated by the PerSians by the names of 'Sun
of the Sea" and "Moon of the Mountains"
When Nadir was as>assinated his treasures
were PLACED, and his precious stones divided
among a few soldiers who carefully concealed
them. An Armenian named Shafras resided
at that period at Bussora with his two broth
ers. One day an afghan came TO h'm, and
offered for sale the large diamond, "The Moon
of the Mountain" as well as an emerald,
ruby of fabulous size, q sapphire of the finest
water, called by the PersiaDs the Eye OF ALI
lab, and number of other stones, for the whole
of which he asked snch moderate sum that
Shafras suspected they had not been honestly
come by, AMI told him 10 call again, as lac had
not the money in the house. The afghan,
fearing Shafras was going TO act with treachery
be found, although the three brothers made
every search for him.
Some years afterwards the elder brother met
the man at Bsgdad, who told him that he had
Just sold all his precious stones for Co. 900 pias
tiers and pair of valuable horses. Shatras
had the residence of the purchaser, who was
a jew, pointed out To him, and he went to him
aud offered him double the price he had given
for them, but was refused. The three brothers
then agreed to murder the jew aud rob him
of his purchase, which they did, aud on the
following day poisoned the afghan, aud threw
both the bodies into the river. dispute
soon after arose between the brothers as To the
division of the spoil, which terminated IN Shat
rls getting rid of his two brothers by poison,
alter which he fed 20 Constsntiuople and
thence TO Holland, where he made known the
riches he possessed, aud offered them for sale
to the different Courts of Europe. Catharine
III, proposed 10 buy the Moon of the Noun
tains only. ShatrGs was requested Ia come To
Russia, and he was introduced 10 the Court
ieweller. The terms demanded by Shafras
were-letters of nobility, a life annuity OF
10000 roubles, and 100000 roubles, payable
by equal installments 10 ten years. Colnt
Banin, who was then Minister, delayed the set
Element of the bargain as long AS possible, and
in the meantime, had the Armenian led into
such extravagances that he fell into debt, and
when the Minister found that he bad no means
of paying what he owed he abruptly broke off
the negotiation. Sharas, according TO the
laws of the country, colld not leave until bis
debts should be paid, and the Court jeweler
prepared TO take advantage Of his emOai rAss~
ments and intended that the diamond should
fall INTO his hands for fourth of its value.
Shafrss, however, discovered the trap that
had been laid for him, aud, dspOsing OF some
OF the less valuable stones among his country
men, paid his debts and disappeared. 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 Astrachsn,
renewed offers were made to him, but lie re-
fused to enter into any negotiations unless the
bargain should be settled at Smyrna. CAthe-
rine accepted, ard became the possessor of the
diamond for letters OF nobility, 100000 roubles
and 10000 paper roubles, making together
about two and half millions Of francs Shat
ras not being able Ia return TO his country,
where he would have had 10 give an account
of two homicides aud two iratrlcIdes, fixed
himself at Astrachan, where he married Il
country woman OF his, and had seven daugh-
tiers. One of bis son-in laws poisoned him for
the sake of possessing bis share OF his property.
The immense fortune which the murderer had
acquired (trom ten TO twelve mlllions) WAS di-
vided, aud soon spent by hls Successors, aud
several of the grand children OF Shafras are
now living at Astrachan in sIject misery.