farewell to his family, and, if possible, escaped from his house with what jewels he could carry. I have heard many very amusing stories of this kind resulting from evening visits of belated friends as well as many very sad ones, where the end was the bow-string for the father and a life of poverty for the family. The change in the financial system of the Empire, which led to regular taxation and foreign loans, destroyed the influence of the Armenians, and threw the Turks into the hands of the Greeks and Europeans. It is hardly probable that they can ever recover their former importance under Turkish rule. Another means adopted by the Government to raise money was the old expedient of debasing the coinage, which was perhaps quite as honest as the modern plan of issuing paper-money and then repudiating it. The Turkish piastre is said to have been originally the same as the Spanish, worth four shillings and sixpence. In the time of Mahmoud II. it was worth fourpence, and the silver piastre is now worth twopence, while the copper piastre is worth only a farthing and a half. The comparative cost of living in Constantinople in 1827 and 1879 may be seen from the following Table, the prices being reduced to English money:-- 1827. 1879. Mutton, the oke (2-3/10 lbs.) 4_d._ 1_s._ 6_d._ Bread " 4_d._ 4_d._ Fish " 4_d._ 1_s._ 4_d._ Grapes " 1/2_d._ 4_d._ Figs " 1/2_d._ 4_d._ Geese, each 6_d._ 5_s._ 0_d._ Turkeys " 6_d._ 5_s._ 0_d._ Wine, the oke 2_d._ 6_d._ Game was also very abundant and very cheap in 1827.