Navy Office.

manuscript register of the navy with ships arranged by rating, providing ships' names, dimensions, date built, draught, complement of men, armaments, and shipwright or origin ("...Taken from the French..."), engraved title-page with date added in manuscript, each page with engraved headings, red ruled lines, black and red ink, mostly in one hand with some additions in a second hand, c.180 pages, large 8vo, dated 1 October 1794 but with additions to 1800, in red straight grained morocco with elaborately gilt border incorporating stars, wreaths, and cornerpieces, spine gilt in six compartments

An attractive manuscript providing a detailed account of the strength of the Royal Navy in the early stages of the long wars with France, and shortly after the Battle of the First of June. The addition of many ships captured from the French in the 1790s is a good indication of Britain's naval successes during this period. The manuscript was almost certainly presented to either the Duke of Cumberland or the Duke of Cambridge.