The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1871-11-30

100000 rubles, life annuity of 1O,OOC
rubles. and patent of nobility
! Catharine III. ordered one of her minis
ters to invite the pretended diamond mer-
chant to St. Petersburg, that the court
| Jeweler might examine the diamond, and
estimate its value.
| The minister ordered the court ieweler
to hold out to the Armenian the hope that
the Empress would accept his proposal,
and in the meantime to lead him into all
sorts of excesses and expenditures
! Schatras went to st. Petersburg, and
soon fell into the trap that had been set
for him. Soon all his ready money was
gone, and, as he had credit everywhere
it being known that he had business with
cover head and ears" in debt. This was
what the minister wanted. BY the Rus
sian law any foreigner may be prevented
from leaving the country so long as he is
in debt. The supposition was that the
Armenian would at last be compelled to
dispose OF his diamond for whatever price
he could get for it.
Tell him that Her Majesty has decided
not TO accede to his exorbitant demands ;
and then, if he must sell, pretend that YOU
will buy it on your own account and offer
him one quarter Of what the stone was
worth" Such We're the instructions OF
the minister to the court .ieweler.
This message and the offer of the Jewell
er opened Schafras' eyes ''God is good
and Mahomet is his Prophet :" he mur-
INJURED. ''These Christian dogs want to
cheat me out Of that for which have per
lied my soul. The fools have got me in
to debt. and think now | shall be COM
PEELED to take any price they choose to
offer me; but they shall see that follow
er of the Prophet is a match for this
whole nation Of rascals"
Schafras now very adroitlv encouraged
the belief that he would soon be compel
led to part with the diamond for the price
offered him, while he secretly disposed of
a portion of his smaller Jewels, paid his
debts, and left the country on board of an
English vessel.
When they came to look for the Mos
lem he was nowhere to be found, which
was very embarrassing for the minister,
as Catharine was greatly incensed at the
loss OF the stone, and demanded that it
should be obtained, cost what it might.
For several years every effort Of the
Russian court to find Schafras proved
futile. hnt finally they sncrrndea in track
ing him to Smyrna. They again invited
him to St. Petersburg, and made him
every promise to induce him to accept
the invitation Ask Her Majesty if She
expects to catch an old fox a second time
in the same trapP' was the reply. ITO
save time and words, listen to my ultima
tum. demand patent Of nobility and
800, 900 rubles, which must be paid i'm
mediately. will wait here 4 month for
your reply. If my conditions are not ac-
cepted, | swear by the beard of the
Prophet that Catharine ii. shall never be
the poSScssor Of the Moon of the Noun
tainS'"
The result wa. that the Empress finally
acceded to these cXorbitant demands, and
Schafras, the r0bbcr and murderer, who
was now a Russian nobleman, returned
to his native city, Astrachan, where he
married and had seven daughters.
The end of the villain was such as his
life fully merited. One OF his sonS-in-
law, for whose convenience he lived too
long, poisoned him. Before his death he
made 4 full confession Of his crimes
The major portion of his great wealth
amounting to several millions, was con
tiscated by the Russian Government
The remainder was soon sluandcrcd by
his heirs. and several of his descendants
are now living in extreme poverty.
Aud this is the history of the ''Moon OF
the Mountains" s." one of the Russian crown
diamonds. Hearth anG Home.