Add MS 47467

SIGNAL-BOOK, the flags being in colours, comprising signals and instructions evidently for use in the Mediterranean fleet under the command of Vice-Admiral Samuel Hood, Baron and (1796) lst Viscount Hood, in 1793-1794 (see the order of battle at f. 31 which corresponds closely with the list of the fleet printed by Sir W. L. Clowes, The Royal Navy, iv, 1899, p. 203). References are made in the text to an official signal-book, apparently used as a source for entries at ff. 15b-29, and an instruction book. The signals for single flags recorded on ff. 15, 28b, 29 show some resemblances to those in the signal-book of Lord Howe, 1794, as printed by Sir T. S. Jackson, Logs of the Great Sea Fights, 1794-1805, I (Navy Records Society, vol. xvi), 1899, p. 9 (cf. also the version in Add. MS. 41088, f. 2) and in signal-books for 1799 in the Department (Add. MSS. 38888, f.35, and Stowe MS. 437, ff. 19b, 21). On signal-books generally, see Sir J. S. Corbett, Signals and Instructions, 1776-1794 (Navy Records Society, vol. xxxv), 1908. Contents are as follows:-

(1) Alphabetical index to signals listed at ff. 15b-29. ff. 1b-4.

(2) Special signals. ff. 4b-14b, 30b, 31.

(3) Numerical list of signals, with explanations, preceded (f. 15) by flags. ff. 15b-29.

(4) Table of signals, with numbers and flags arranged in chessboard manner, for use of 'private' ships (see the cancelled beginning of the section at f. 29b). ff. 3Ib-41.

(5) Instructions relating to the conduct of the fleet at night. ff. 41b-50. Vellum; ff. ii+50. Octavo. 1793-1794. Calf binding, gold-tooled, with red morocco label on spine, lettered 'Signals'. Ff. 29b and 30 were formerly pasted together. Title 'Lord Hood's Signals' on a flyleaf at the end (f. ii). Owned aft. 1828 (when he was appointed Superintendent of Semaphores at the Admiralty) by Lieutenant Charles Hawse Jay, R.N. (Captain 1857; d. 1864) (signature on f. ii), from whose family the manuscript came into the possession of the donor. Presented by James Meek, Esq.