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First and sole contemporary edition of this scarce, interesting, and contentious work, which offers "a unique British source" for the war at sea (Cross). The author commanded the Turkish fleet on the Caucasian coast and "adopted a pro-Turkish approach and deprecated the value of the Royal Navy in the strategy of the Crimean campaign" (ODNB). Slade (1804-1877) passed out of the Royal Naval College with distinction, winning the Gold Medal. He served for three years on the South American station. "In 1824, as mate of the Revenge, flagship of Sir Harry Burrard Neale, [he] was at the demonstration against Algiers. [and in] 1827 he was in the cutter Hind, the tender to the Asia, at the battle of Navarino" (ODNB). For the following six years, whilst on half-pay, he travelled extensively in the Mediterranean, Asia Minor, and Russia, cruising in the Black Sea with the Turkish fleet and visiting the Russian ports with Edmund Lyons on the Blonde, publishing an account in 1833. His next employment was on special missions to Greece, Constantinople, and Sevastopol, "on the defences of which and the improved state of the Russian navy he wrote a valuable report" (ibid.). In 1838-9, again on half-pay, he embarked on further excursions and produced Travels in Germany and Russia (1840). In 1849 he was promoted to post captain and shortly afterwards, with war between Austria and Turkey appearing imminent, he was lent to the Porte for service in the Turkish Navy. "Retaining his rank in the Royal Navy, he entered the Turkish service as Mushaver Pasha, and for the next seventeen years was the administrative head of the Turkish navy, which with much difficulty he brought to relative efficiency. His period of service included the Crimean War". However, a very public argument with Admiral Dundas led to a falling out and his being removed from active service. His sense of injustice served as the spur to the present work. Provenance: Arthur Lennox of Huntly, Aberdeenshire, with his ink inscription dated 1861 at the head of the title page; bookseller's ticket of Adam Dunbar, Huntly, to front pastedown. This may be Arthur Charles Wriothesley Lennox (1842-1876), only son of Lord Arthur Lennox (1806-1864), who served in the Royal Navy. Cross G19. Octavo. Publisher's 4-page catalogue at end. Original deep reddish purple cloth, bevelled boards, blind-panelled spine gilt lettered and decorated with eight-pointed stars, sides with blind ornamental panels, light reddish purple surface-paper endpapers. Modern armorial bookplates of William Scott Curtis, to front pastedown, and DeWitt Bailey II, to verso of front free endpaper. Spine sunned, ends lightly crumpled and a little worn, a few marks to covers, light shelf wear. A very good copy.
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