ARMY - Cautions and Advices to Officers of the Army: Particularly Subalterns. Very proper to be Read by all Gentlemen of that Rank and Profession. By an old Officer. London, printed for Thomas Payne, 1760.
Small 8vo. Near contemporary slightly worn and restored calf; pp. [xii], 202; a little toned; otherwise a good copy of a great rarity; ownershipt inscription of Alexander Balmain of Perth, dated 1818 to title-page and repeated a few times in the text), gift inscription to him, dated 1796 inside front cover, lateer armorial bookplate T.P. Shawe-Storey underneath.
First edition of a very rare conduct book for young officers, with many edificatory and educational episodes from British military history. Talking about 'these sheets' the anonymous author promises, that 'the time employed in reading them, will neither be long, nor, I flatter myself entirely thrown away. Some things I have said in them may so effectually open your eyes to conviction and reason, that if you have unhappily given into any of those vices I have pointed at, they may promote a reformation in you, and a detestation of them. For believe me, Gentlemen, you will not be the worse soldiers for being good and temperate men and Christians' (To the Reader). The 'old officer' speaks out against corporal punishment, torture and violence in the army, a state of affairs not officially abolished until much later, in the 20th century. The book was printed three times before 1800; the last time in 1795 in Perth, where this copy was given as a present a year later. The editor's or publisher's copy?
ESTC T162862.
#2115735