to subjoin, especially as several of their Works are out of print, in order to explain the nature and Ceremonies of the Greek Church, mentioned in this book; to throw light upon some obscure passages in its narrative and historical details: and to corroborate some of the Archdeacon's most remarkable observations, by the corresponding testimony of other Travellers.
In transcribing the Arabic and Turkish words, I cannot say that I have strictly followed one unvaried orthography. The word Romelia, for instance, I have indifferently written with the o, or the u, Rumelia. I have merely confined myself to the general Alphabet of Europe, whereof the Eastern Aliph stands for the a and e, the Waw for the o and u, and the Ya for the e and i; avoiding, by this course, the laughable errors in spelling, into which our English and peculiar system of diphthongs has led more than one-half of our Anglo-Oriental Writers.
There is a Scholar, who takes the highest interest in every thing connected with Oriental Literature whose vigilant superintendence of its welfare suffers no production, however small, from its Arabic, Persian, or Hebrew Cabinets, to circulate through the hands of its philologic negotiators, without affixing to it the respected signet of his paramount criticism who will probably deign to honour also this slight Work with his official notice. To this Chief of the Literate Arabs, my once kind and helpful instructor, Silvestre Baron de Sacy, whom my conversation among the Learned, both in England and on the Continent, in Turkey and in Christendom, whether Professors of high pretensions or unambitious Students, has ever taught me to regard as at a very long interval indeed from any second; who, neglecting no iota of accurate knowledge in the various languages which he possesses better than the learned Natives, shines forth the great light, by which the wandering and uncertain course of the inferior Ulema and Docti should ever be guided; and
; velut inter ignes
To him I seize the opportunity of offering my joyful ongratulations, that his unceasing efforts to exalt the refined science, whereof he has so long been the active minister, have, at length, met with such powrful patronage and support: and that the useful means he has so amply provided for the easier investigation of Eastern lore, are about to be employed by skilful and industrious Labourers.
