The Press. — 1856-08-09 (London, England)

SATURDAY,  THE HISTORY OF A CROWN DIAMOND. THE history of the Hoggarty diamond has already been given to the world, but its romance scarcely equals that of one of the world famous Russian Crown diamonds. Two gems of the Imperial Crown are called the " Orloff" and the " Shah." The latter formerly belonged to the Sophis, and was one of two enormous diamonds ornamenting the throne of Nadir Shah, and designated by the Persians "Sun of the Sea " and " Moon of the Mountains." When Nadir was assassinated, his treasures were pillaged and divided among a few of his guards. An Armenian, named Shafras, resided at that period at Bussore with his two brothers. One day an Affghru came to him and offered for sale the large diamond, the " Moon of the Mountains," as well as an emerald, a ruby of fabulous size, a sapphire of the finest water, called by the Persians the "Eye of Allah," and a number of other stones, for the whole of which he asked such a moderate sum that Shafras, suspecting they had not been honestly come by, ti id the Affghan to call again, as he had not the money in the house. The Affghan, fearing Shafras was going to act with treachery towards him, left Bussora that night and could not again be found, although the three brothers made every search for him. Some years afterwards the brothers Shafras were at Bagdad, and one day in the street the elder brother met the Affghan, who told him that be had just sold all his precious stones for 65,000 piastres and a pair of valuable horses. Shafras bad the residence of the purchaser, who was a Jew, pointed out to him, and going immediately to the house, offered the Jew double the price he had given for the stones. The Jew declined. Shatras went home, consulted his three brothers, and they agreed to murder the Jew that night and rob him of his purchase. That night the Jew was murdered and robbed. The next day the Affghan, after a feast with the brothers, died suddenly. 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 fled to Constantinople, and thence to Holland, where he made known the riches he possessed, and offered them for sale to the different Courts of Europe. Catherine 11. proposed to buy the " Moon of the Mountains" only. Shafras was requested to come to Russia. The terms demanded by Shafras were—letters of nobility, a life annuity of 10,000 roubles, and 500,000 roubles, payable by equal instalments in ten years. Count I'anin, who was then Minister, delayed the settlement 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 had no means of paying what he owed he abruptly broke off the negotiation. Shafras, according to the laws of the ccuntry, could not leave until his debts should be paid, and the Court jeweller prepared to take advantage of his embarrassments, and intended that the diamond should fall into his hands for a fourth of its value. Shatras, however, discovered the trap laid for him, and, disposing of some of the less valuable stones, 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 he appeared at Astrachan, and renewed offers were made to him by the Russian Government, hut he refused to enter into any negotiations unless the bargain should be settled at Smyrna. Catherine accepted, and became the possessor of the " Moon" diamond for letters of nobility, 100,000 roubles, and 170,000 paper roubles, making together about two and a half millions of francs. Shafras, not being able to return to his country, where he would have had to give an account of two homicides and two fratricides, fixed himself at Astrachan, where he married, and had seven daughters. At last one of his sons-in-law poisoned him for the sake of possessing his share o the property. The immense fortune which the murderer had acquired (from ten to twelve millions) was then divided, soon spent, and now the grandchildren of Shafras are living at Astrachan in abject misery.  FROM THE LONDON GAZETTE Tuesdny, August 5.