LORD BEACONSFIELD'S "GREAT GATES OF INDIA."
[TO THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR-"] SIR,—Lord Beaconsfield's late—I must not say latest— electioneering stimulus, " the great gates of India," reminds me of the tomb, at Ak-sheir, of the celebrated Turkish farceur
and story-teller, Nastra-din-Hodja ; his place of burial is enclosed on three sides by a dwarf wall about a foot in height, while a "great gate" of two solid stone pillars, eight or ten feet high, between which is hung a massive iron-door, fastened by a heavy padlock, completes the security of the spot.
If Lord Beaconsfield would but give over inventing fine phrases, and apply himself in earnest to the regeneration of this unfortunate Asia Minor, we, who are looking to him as our Messiah, would all be of one mind to write a phrase in his praise that even he would not be able to improve upon. I assure you that just now, after the last repudiation of the Government, the people here are in a very plastic state, and as ready to receive a Russian as an English impression, and no time should be lost.
A few days ago, the metallic money (beshlic), the only circu- lating medium left us (because there are no small parts of the silver medjidieh to speak of), was suddenly declared to be of no value, and the loss and inconvenience arising from this last act of the Turkish Government are impossible to estimate. For some days, the cafés and shops were closed, and nothing could be bought ; no small change could be had, the copper having been repudiated. some time ago, and the small parts of the beshlic (metallic) having now become valueless. The shoeblacks and beggars even refused a beshlic, which, up to now, was really worth 101, but which to-day is of no earthly value as a coin. Yesterday, all the caf6jis, shopkeepers, and restaurant- keepers struck their own coin, bits of brass with the different values stamped on them and their owners' initials; one of the railways (the Smyrna and Cassaba) has also struck off a lot of " change," in the shape of tickets, which, I believe, is readily accepted by the public.
If Lord Beaconsfield or somebody else does not make haste to come, we shall certainly have a cowrie currency before long, if no worse fate bs reserved for us. Speaking, however, in the most serious manner, I should say that the sudden withdrawal, with- out any compensation or substitution, of the only real circu- lating medium, is the grossest piece of injustice and the blindest act that was ever committed by an insane Government.—I am, Sir, &c.,
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