power.
It is also occasionally spoken of as the " Amsterdam," from the place
where it was purchased for the Russian crown, under circumstances which
will be hereafter detailed. In size, it ranks first amongst European
gems ; in beauty it yields only to the " Regent," while for romantic
interest it rivals the "Koh-i-Nur" itself. Its early history is
involved in great obscurity, and seems to have got somehow
inextricably involved in that of the " Moon of Mountains," another
great diamond in the Russian regalia. The " Moon of Mountains,"
however, reached Europe through Persia, whereas, there can be little
doubt that the "Orloff" found its way direct from India to Holland and
thence to Russia. In all current accounts of its original discovery,
however, the circumstances are related in such a confused way, that it
has hitherto been impossible to fix its first definite appearance. The
date of its arrival in Europe, and of its purchase by Prince Orloff for
the Empress Catherine II., are demonstrated by the subjoined passage
from a letter dated January 2nd, 1776, from the Hague, and quoted by
Boyle in the Museum Britanuicum (London, 1791) : —" We learn
from Amsterdam that Prince Orlow* made but one day's stay in that city,
where he bought a very large brilliant for the Empress, his sovereign,
for which he paid to a Persian merchant there the sum of 1,400,000
florins, Dutch money. A florin in Holland is valued at 2od."
Dutens, writing about this time, tells us that " this
