Add MS 38657

"SAILING and Fighting Instructions for His Majesty's Fleet." Printed, with copious MS. alterations and additions, signed by Adm. Hugh Pigot and dated "on board H.M.S. Formidable in Carlisle Bay Barbadoes the 16th Dec^er 1782" (during his service as Commander-in-Chief in the West Indies, where he had succeeded Adm. Rodney in the previous July). They were addressed originally to Capt. [Anthony] Parry, of H.M.S. Yarmouth, afterwards to Capt. [Edward] Herbert. H.M.S. Yarmouth was built in 1754 and after its service in the West Indies was in 1795 a Receiving-Ship at Plymouth. Capt. Herbert, appointed Captain 5 Jan. 1783, was in command of H.M.S. Experiment in the West Indies. The flags described in the Instructions are coloured by hand in the margin. The contents are divided as follows : (1) Signals to be observed at an anchor, in weighing anchor, in sailing, and anchoring in the daytime. f. 4; (2) Distinguishing lights for the flags. f. 6 b; (3) Signals to be observed at an anchor, (etc.), in the night-time. f.7; (4) Instructions for sailing in a fog. f. 9 ; (5) Instructions "to be observed by younger captains to the elder." f. 10; (6) Signals for calling the flag-officers and other officers on board the Admiral. f. 10 b ; (7) Instructions to be observed by all masters, pilots, ketches, hoys and smacks, attending the fleet. f. 12 ; (8) Fighting instructions. f. 13 ; (9) Encouragement for the captains and companies of fire-ships, small frigates and ketches. f. 16 b; (10) Instructions for the fire-ships. f. 17 b; (11) Additional signals, to be added to the xvith article of the sailing instructions by day, and observed as the other signals. f. 19. Of these series no. 8 (ff. 13-16) is printed by J. S. Corbett, Signals and Instructions, 1776-1794 (Navy Records Society, vol. xxxv, 1908[9]), pp. 262-280, from a copy with similar but not identical MS. additions in the Library of U.S. Navy Department, Washington. The editor says that they are "the final form of the old General Instructions dating from the end of the seventeenth century" ; and discusses how far they are to be attributed to Rodney, Pigot or Hood. With the Instructions in general cf. also Add. MS. 37653, "Signals and Instructions in Addition to the General Printed Sailing and Fighting Instructions," 1779. Paper; ff. 19. Folio. XVIII cent. The cover bears the name of [H.M.S.] Yarmouth (f. 2).