approaching to a straight line, for undecided
legs, with contradictory bends. Hence dumbbells,
shoulder-boards, gymnastic exercises,
the consumption of sugar steeped in Eau-de-Cologne
(a French recipe for imparting brightness
to the eyes), ingenious padding, kalydors,
odontos, Columbian balms, bandolines, and a
thousand other ingenious devices. Devices
with an object, surely;—that object, the
production of a pleasing personnel. It is a wise
policy to remove from sight the calamities
which horrify or sadden; and, as far as
possible, to cultivate all that pleases from its
beauty or its grace. Therefore, let us shake
our friend with the cork-leg by the hand,
and, acknowledging that the imitation is worn
in deference to our senses, receive it as a
veritable flesh-and-blood limb; let us accept
the wig of our unfortunate young companion,
as the hair which he has lost; let us shut
our eyes to the gold work that fastens the
brilliantly white teeth of a young lady, whose
natural dentition has been replaced; and,
above all, let us never show, by sign or word,
that the appearance of our friend (who has
suffered tortures, and lost the sight of one
eye) is changed after the treatment invented
by M. Boissonneau.

ADVENTURES OF A DIAMOND.

IN "Pictures from St. Petersburgh,"
recently published by Mr. Jerrmann, the German
tragedian, we find the history of one of the
splendid jewels of the regalia of Russia. The
particulars are narrated on the authority of
the Pope or Papa in the Greek Church, with
whom Jerrmann fell in during a journey.
The conversation respecting the great
diamond commenced as follows:—

"Have you been to the Hermitage?"
inquired my fellow-traveller.—I replied in the
affirmative.—"Then you saw the Imperial
jewels?"—"I saw the crown, the sceptre, and
globe; and, I confess, I was amazed at their
magnificence. One of the diamonds in the
sceptre especially riveted my attention. For
size and brilliancy it appeared to me
incomparable."—"That diamond," rejoined the
priest, "is called 'Moon of the Mountain.'
In size it perhaps is surpassed; but I
doubt whether it is eclipsed in brilliancy by
any other diamond now in Europe. Its
history, too, may, in the estimation of the
curious, tend somewhat to enhance its value."
Who was the first possessor of that rare
jewel is not known; but an ancient Indian
manuscript records that it once served for an
eye to the statue of the Grand Lama. That,
however, is a tradition which may possibly
admit of metaphorical interpretation; for it
may be taken merely as indicative of the
exquisite radiance and pure water of the
diamond. The facts of its more recent history
are, however, well authenticated, and I will
briefly relate them;—

The celebrated Thomas-Kuli-Khan, who,
from the lowly condition of a shepherd's son,
ascended the throne of Persia (taking the title
of Nadyr Shah), enriched his treasury by a
collection of diamonds of marvellous beauty
and value. Two of these jewels were believed
to be the rarest in the known world; one
was called "Sun of the Sea," and the other,
"Moon of the Mountain."

Towards the close of a reign glorified by
many deeds of heroism, this tyranny of Nadyr
Shah excited his subjects to rebellion. To
subdue the outbreak, he raised a numerous
force, and placed it under the command of his
nephew, Ali-Kuli-Khan. But his nephew
turned against him, raised the standard of
independence, and challenged his uncle to
open battle. Nadyr then marched in person
to encounter the rebels; but, before departing
from his capital, he collected his vast
treasures, and sent them, together with the young
princes his sons, under the escort of Nasralla
Mirza, to the strong fortress of Kelat—a place
deemed impregnable. This was in the year
1747 (1160 of the Hegira).

Nadyr's impending doom was sealed. He
had pitched his camp at Khabushan; and
during the night, whilst he was sleeping, his
nephew and three assassins stole into his tent
and murdered him. The head, at whose nod
all Asia so lately trembled, was now severed
from the body, and exhibited in triumph to
the insurgent soldiery.

The rebels were victorious, and most of
the strongholds which had belonged to the
late Shah, either surrendered or were taken
by storm. Kelat, the amazing strength of
whose fortifications caused it to be regarded
as one of the world's wonders, long held out
against the attacks of its assailants: but,
finally, accident effected what force might
never have accomplished. A soldier, sent to
procure water, descended from one of the
towers by a ladder, which he afterwards
neglected to remove. This did not escape the
observation of some scouts who were on the
watch. Information of the circumstance was
communicated to the besiegers, who, having
gained access to the tower, soon made
themselves masters of the fortress, within whose
walls a frightful massacre ensued. The young
princes fled, were pursued and taken. All
were put to death save the youngest, a boy of
fourteen, who, under the title of Ali Shah,
subsequently ascended to the throne of Khorassan.

The jewels and money which Nadyr had
placed in security at Kelat, now belonged, by
right of inheritance, to Ali Shah, who ordered
them to be removed to his capital. On
examination, it was discovered that many of
the valuables had been abstracted by pillage,
and among the missing jewels was "Moon of
the Mountain." Indefatigable search was
made, and large rewards offered for is recovery;
but in vain! It was given up for lost.

At that time there dwelt in Bassora a
rich merchant, named Shafrat, such, at least,