PREFACE. THE political events of the day have drawn " ocracy is doomed, on this side of the Bosphorus at least. Whether its name and the shadow its power be still allowed to endure, or whether the "bag and baggage" policy be carried out to the bitter end, a new order of things is in process of evolution. If my jottings by the way can help the reader to a clearer apprehension of the grave events which must sooner or later remodel the map of Southeastern Europe, my journey will not have been undertaken in vain. Some of the notes embodied in the following pages have already appeared in 'Blackwood's Magazine,' in the 'Pall Mall Gazette,' and in the 'Fortnightly Review;' and I am indebted to Mr J. Morley for his kind permission to make use of the last. M. VALENTINE CHIROL. CONSTANTINOPLE, April 8, 1881. |