There are very rich merchants among the Armenians at Vienna, Paris,
Marseilles, London, and Manchester. There is a strong Armenian
colony at Manchester. All of them are merchants, and some of them
millionaires. Almost the whole clothing trade between England and
Turkey is in their hands. They have a beautiful Armenian church
there, and always a learned Armenian bishop; I speak from knowledge
and observation. They are much respected by the English. Some of the
Armenian gentlemen are married to English ladies of good family, and
their domestic life is very happy. Prince Loosinian, an Armenian,
a very great scholar, and much respected by the French, lives in
Paris; he is descended from the last Armenian dynasty. His brother
Khoren Nar-Bey Loosinian was one of the foremost Armenian bishops;
the Sultan of course hated him, and it is said had him poisoned while
imprisoned in Constantinople.
The Armenian scholars in Europe are well-known, and on a level with the
best of any country. There is not an institution of learning in Europe
where they are not to be found, either as students or professors;
and the prizes and medals they win are many.
There are two great centers in Europe for the Armenian scholars and
authors: one at Vienna and the other at Venice. They have colleges
and printing presses in these places; and they write, translate, and
publish themselves in nearly all languages all sorts of valuable
books. So the Armenian people are well supplied with the best
modern books. But it must be remembered that these valuable books
are forbidden by the Sultan to go into Turkish Armenia; he wants
the people kept ignorant. Some of their great scholars came home
from Europe to preach and teach in Armenia, to elevate their nation;
but some were killed and some banished during the recent atrocities.