The Sultan, says the Birmingham Post, is about to have
his treasure valued, and has asked for the services of an expert from London. He cannot raise money sufficient for the ex- penditure of the Palace, and is inclined to utilise the great mass of jewels, gold and silver articles, and curiosities accumu- lated by successive Sultans. Nothing accurate is known about this collection, part of which must be centuries old; but unless it has been pillaged secretly by the Sultans themselves, it must be of extraordinary value. The rarest plunder of the old Eastern Empire should be in Constantinople. We are not much interested in such things, but the opportunity ought to be a great one for the collectors of manuscripts. There is certainly a great library somewhere belonging to the Sultan, and it has been so little seen that it may contain something of unexpected value, perhaps an ancient book regarded as hopelessly lost. Will no American mil- lionaire make the Sultan an offer for that, and bring it away entire, to be examined by savants at their leisure P The Berlin Library would be the purchaser most favoured, and most
likely to understand the treasure ; but it would hardly be likely to expend the necessary sums. Perhaps, however, Herr BleichrOder would consent to confer such a benefit on the country which has so greatly enriched him, or Baron Hirsch, who has already made such vast gifts for the education of his own people.
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