4th, the Viceroy received a firman from the Sul tan signifying his approval of the contract his Highness had made with Mr. Robert StepheDSon for that purpose. The engineers are all at pre sent at Cairo, taking the surveys and preliminary measures to commence their work iv earnest. The Alexandria detachment is expected down here to-morrow, and on the arrival of Mr. Ste phenson from Marseilles, the precise line the railway is to take through the country will be decided upon. — (Letter from Alexandria.)

Adventures of a Diamond. — In "Pictures from St. Petersburgb," recently published by Mr. Jerrmann, the German tragedian, we find the history of one of the sptendid jewels of the regalia of Russia. The particulars are nar rated on the authority of the Pope or Papa in ihe Greek Church, with whom Jerrmann fell in during a journey. The conversation respect ing 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 i» the sceptre especially riveted my at tention. For size and brilliancy it appeared to me incomparable," — " That diamond," rejoined the piiest, "is called 'Moon of the Mountain.' In size it is perhaps surpassed ; but I doubt whether it is eclipsed iv 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 pos sessor 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 ex quisite radiance and pure water of the diamond. The facts of its more fecent 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), enr'ched his treasury by a collection of diamonds of marvellous beauty and value. 