The Sun. — 1856-08-04 (London, England)

RUSSIAN CROWN DIADIONAS.  (Front Galignani's Messenger.) The Crown treasury of the Czars at Moscow contains precious stones of considerable amount. The two most considerable are diamonds, one the size of a pigeon's egg, cut in rose. The Russians have given it the name of the Orloff. The other has the form of an irregular prism, and is of the size and almost the length of a little finger ; it bears the name of the Shah, and its history is as follows :—lt formerly belonged to the Sophie, and was one of two enormous diamonds which ornamented the throne of Nadyr Shah, and which were designated by the Persians by the names of " San of the Sea" and "Moon of the Mountains." When Nadyr was assassinated his treasures were pillaged, and the precious stones divided among a few soldiers, who carefully concealed them. An Armenian, of the name of Shrafrase resided at that • period at Bussora with his two brothers. One day an Affghan 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 Rye of Allele, and a number of other stones, for the whole of which .he asked such a moderate sum, 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 Affghan, fearing 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 bis precious stones for 65,000 piastres and a pair of valuable horses. Shafras had the residence of the purchaser, who was a Jew, pointed out to him, and he went to him and offered him double the price be 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 Affghaes, and threw both the bodies into the river. A dispute soon atter arose between the brothers as to -the dieision 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 ho made known the riches he possessed, and offered them for sale to the different courts of Europe. Catherine 11. pro. posed to buy the Moon of the Mountains only. Shafras was requested to come to Russia, and he was introduced to the court jeweller. The terms demanded by Shafras were—letters of nobility, a life annuity of 10,000 roubles, and 500,000 roubles payable by weekly instalments in ten years. Cunt Panin, 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 bad 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 advantage of his ernbairessinents, and intended that the diamond should fall into his hands fora fourth of its value. Shafras, however, discovered the trap that had been laid for him, and disposing of some of the less valughle stones among his countrymen, paid his debts, and disappeared. Agents were sent after him, who bad even orders to assassinate and rob him, but he escaped time. Ten years after, while he was at Astrakan, renewed offers were made to him, but he refused to enter into any negotiations unless the bargain should be settled at Smyrna. Catherine accepted, and became the possessor of the diamond for letters of nobility-600,000 roubles, and 170,000 paper roubles, making together about two and a half millions of francs. Shafras, not being able to return to bis country, where he would have had to give an account of two homicides and two fratricides; fixed himself at Astrakan, where he married a 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 immense fortune which the murderer had acquired (from ten to twelve reillions) was divided, and soon spent, by his successors and several of the grandchildren of Shafras are now living at Astrakan in abject misery.