Office of the Historian

No. 630.
Mr. Goodenow to Mr. Fish.

Legation of the United States,
Constantinople, May 7, 1875. (Received June 1.)
No. 4.]

Sir: Herewith T have the honor to transmit a copy of a communication addressed to Mr. Boker by the American missionaries and teachers in Robert College, residing here, just before his departure from Constantinople. Mr. Boker expressed his acknowledgments to the deputation who presented the communication in suitable terms.

As an evidence of the very high esteem in which Mr. Boker was held by his colleagues, as well as by the public in Constantinople, I may mention the fact that the English, French, Russian, and Austrian ambassadors and the Persian minister took leave of him on board the steamer.

I have, &c.,

J. H. GOODENOW.
[Inclosure in No. 4.]

The American missionaries to Mr. Boker.

Constantinople, May 1, 1875.

Dear Sir: As American citizens residing in Turkey, we desire to express to you our appreciation of the uniform courtesy and kindness which have marked all your intercourse with us during the period in which you have so ably represented our Government at the Sublime Porte.

We are sensible, to some degree at least, of the embarrassments of your position, and the difficulties which you have had to encounter in the performance of your duty in defending the rights of American citizens residing within the bounds of the Ottoman Empire. You have frequently had to meet with vexatious delays, postponements, and prevarications, complicated, also, in some cases by restrictive instructions from home; and we feel that we are doing but simple justice to acknowledge our indebtedness for efforts which, even when not successful, were earnest and well directed, and which, in so many instances, have gained the results that were sought. The honor of the American name and the dignity of the American legation have hot suffered at your hands.

Permit us to assure you that in leaving this post for one of higher diplomatic rank, you bear with you our sincere congratulations, together with our best wishes for your personal welfare and your official success.

We remain, your sincere friends and well-wishers,

  • ALBERT A. LONG.
  • GEO. W. WOOD.
  • EDWIN E. BLISS.
  • SANFORD RICHARDSON.
  • T. R. GREENE.
  • HENRY O. DWIGHT.
  • LEWIS R. WEBER.
  • GEORGE WASHBURN.
  • EDWIN A. GROSVENOR.
  • GEO. T. HERRICK.
  • EDWIN M. BLISS.

Hon. Geo. H. Boker.