An Universal Military Dictionary, in English and French;

In which are Explained the Terms of the Principal Sciences that are Necessary for the Information of an Officer. Fourth [and perhaps Best] edition. Portrait frontispiece. Some light browning, frontispiece a little foxed, but overall a very good copy in contemporary half sprinkled calf on marbled boards, boards rubbed, spine slightly creased. xii, 1006 pp. T. Egerton,

The first edition was published in 1802, by 1811 revisions had turned it into a two volume work, but for this edition the author expanded the number of terms included, but abridged his explanations to make it more "portable".

James "... was present in Lisle during the outbreak of the French Revolution, and travelled through France as it spread. He chronicled these events in his Audi alteram Partem: an Extenuation of the Conduct of the French Revolutionists from 14 July 1789 to 17 January 1793. [He] served as a captain in the Western Regiment of Middlesex militia (later the 2nd Royal West Middlesex Militia) in 1793-4, and as Captain in the North York Militia from 1795 to 1797. On 1 March 1806 he was appointed a Major of the Corps of Artillery Drivers attached to the Royal Artillery. When that rank was abolished in 1812 he was placed on half pay. James died in London on 14 April 1821." [ODNB]

This copy with a series of ownership markings. The earliest traceable is that of Sidney James Timbrell, [Lieut.] 31st Foot, dated in 1842, this verso of the frontispiece. In the same location is a further inscription, perhaps later, of "D. M'Leod, Engineers". Armorial bookplate of G.L.W. Watson to the front pastedown, together with the partially obliterated inscription of G.R. Crake Leech, dated 1956. To the front free endpaper there is a rather enigmatic inscription which gives the recipe for gun-powder, with advice on the purification of nitre, over the "signature" United Irishman.

 

A solid and quite attractive copy of this invaluable C19th reference work.

Stock Code: 89499