’No. 234.  When coming up astern and to windward of the enemy to engage by inverting the line’—­that is, for the ship leading the van to engage the sternmost of the enemy, the next ship to pass on under cover of her fire and engage the second from the enemy’s rear, and so on.

FOOTNOTES: 

[1] The first attempt to provide a convenient Signal Book separate from the Instructions was made privately by one Jonathan Greenwood about 1715.  He produced a small 12mo. volume dedicated to Admiral Edward Russell, Earl of Orford, and the other lords of the admiralty who were then serving with him.  It consists of a whole series of well-engraved plates of ships flying the various signals contained in the Sailing and Fighting Instructions, each properly coloured with its signification added beneath.  The author says he designed the work as a pocket companion to the Printed Instructions and for the use of inferior officers who had not access to them.  Copies are in the British Museum and the R.U.S.I.  Library.

[2] Catalogue, Nos. 252/27 and 252/26.

[3] A still earlier Signal Book attributed to Lord Howe is in the United Service Institution, but it is no more than a condensed and amended form of the established one.  Its nature and intention are explained by No. 10 of the ‘explanatory observations’ which he attached to it.  It is as follows; ’All the signals contained in the general printed Signal Book which are likely to be needful on the present occasion being provided for in this Signal Book, the signals as appointed in the general Signal Book will only be made either in conformity to the practice of some senior officer present, or when in company for the time being with other ships not of the fleet under the admiral’s command, and unprovided with these particular signals.’  It was therefore probably issued experimentally, but what the ’present occasion’ was is not indicated.  It contains none of the additional signals of 1782-3.

[4] Knowles was of course too old in 1830 for his memory to be trusted as to details.  A note in his handwriting upon a copy of his code in possession of the present baronet gives its story simply as follows:  ’These signals were written in 1778, as an idea—­altered and published—­then altered again in 1780—­afterwards arranged differently in 1787, and finally in 1794; but not printed at Sir C.H.  Knowles’s expense until 1798, when they were sent to the admiralty, but they were not published, although copies have been given to sea officers.’

[5] A partial translation of Hoste had been published by Lieutenant Christopher O’Bryen, R.N., in 1762.  Captain Boswall’s complete translation was not issued till 1834.

[6] Note that the signal differs from that which Rodney made under Article 17 of the Additional Fighting Instructions in his action of April 17, 1780, and which being misunderstood spoilt his whole attack.