Redhouse James W. A Lexicon, English and Turkish shewing in Turkish, the Literal, Incidental, Figurative, Colloquial and Technical Significations of the English Terms

Constantinople: Printed for the Mission by A.H. Boyjian, 1884. — 827 p.In 1856, the Audior, moved by the political events of the time, had prepared an "English and Turkish Dictionary, in two parts, English and Turkish, and Turkish and English" giving the pronunciation and accentuation of the Turkish words in European characters, besides their orthography in the Oriental letters. That Dictionary having been written for the use of English officers and others who might be led to commence the study of Turkish, no special facilities were offered in its arrangement to Turks who might become desirous of studying English. But, almost before the work could be completed, the state of affairs which had called it into existence had become altered. The British fleets and armies left Turkey; the "Turkish Contingent" was dissolved ; the book threatened to become a burden on the publisher's hands; and all chance of a demand for the preparation of a more complete Lexicon of the two languages seemed to have vanished. Such, however, was not truly the case. The allied arms had driven back Turkey's political foe ; but there was another warfare to be carried on within her territories—the war of the book, not of the sword. A small body of earnest men, from the great Anglo-Saxon republic established on the Trans-Atlantic continent, had long been established in Constantinople and various other parts of Turkey, labouring to unfold the views of modern science, temporal and spiritual, to the Armenian nation ; losing no opportunity, however, to place themselves in friendly communi - cation both with the governing Osmanli, and with the numerous races and religious denominations subject to his sway. By degrees, the relations between these American gentlemen and a growing circle of Turkish friends had reached a point, and the newlyawakened desire among these latter to know more of English ideas and literature had attained a degree, such that it was felt desirable, not only to furnish them with all available appliances
suited to the purpose, but even to create a body of bi-lingual books specially designed to facilitate to Turks the acquisition of the English language ; more particularly as the Sultan's Government had, immediately on the close of the Russian war, sent to England, to be instructed in various arts and sciences, between thirty and forty young officers of the Diplomatic, Naval, and Military Departments, who, it was thought, would not fail to be followed by others in succession.