Continuity and change in the British diplomatic service in the Levant: The ‘Levantine’ question and the lure of antiquities

Abstract In this article, we examine the organization of British diplomatic service in Ottoman Empire and analyse its transition from a prestigious, privately financed, highly individualized public office to state-funded, but fragmented poorly paid body. We survey idiosyncratic character apparatus set up by Levant Company serve business pursuits, infiltrate local society obtain political favours. 1825 Foreign Office replaced officers with servants who had no ties or affinities Levantine society. However, antiquities for Museum, turn once again Levantines. Based on our earlier published work, 1 as well recent unpublished archival research, paper explains how collecting relied entirely connection.