Naval Chronicle - Gowers signals 1801

[bruce d]

Pages 22 - 30 'Representation of Night Signals, with a Naval Telegraph, by Rihard Hall Gower'.  Also see 500 onwards for more signals, other contemporary news throughout.

Naval Chronicle 1801 p22-30 SIGNALS.pdf

[uss frolick]

Good thing Napoleon didn't subscribe to The Naval Chronicle, or that Trafalgar thingy might have turned out differently! 

[bruce d]

8 hours ago, uss frolick said:

Good thing Napoleon didn't subscribe to The Naval Chronicle,

I have often been amazed at the contents of letters from this era to family and friends containing exact details of upcoming operations.

[mtaylor]

18 hours ago, bruce d said:

I have often been amazed at the contents of letters from this era to family and friends containing exact details of upcoming operations.

 

One has to consider that back then, mail could take months to be delivered or longer for mail from ships.  So, no secrets were probably exposed until well after the fact.

[trippwj]

The Naval Chronicle (see collection here https://archive.org/search.php?query=naval%20chronicle ) has a wealth of information.  Gower was a fairly prolific treatiser in his day.  Here are a few of his publications (with links).

 

Gower, Richard Hall. A Description of Several Instruments for Measuring a Ship’s Way through the Water. By R. H. Gower ... With an Account of His Patent Perpetual Log, Etc. the Author, 1792. https://books.google.com/books?id=Q0tiAAAAcAAJ

———. A Narrative of a Mode Pursued by the British Government to Effect Improvements in Naval Architecture. T. Davison ... and sold by J. Mawman, 1811. https://books.google.com/books?id=7NgVz8eaDi8C

———. A Supplement to the Practical Seamanship, with an Appendix. J Mawman, 1807. https://books.google.com/books?id=ValgAAAAcAAJ.

———. “A Treatise on Signals, with a Proposal to Rendcr Them More Effectual and Extensive; Together with the Addifion of a Naval Telegraph.” The Naval Chronicle V, no. January to July (1801): 22–31. https://books.google.com/books?id=1RJFAQAAMAAJ

———. A Treatise on the Theory and Practice of Seamanship, Together with a System of Naval Signals. Wilkie and Robinson; J. Walker ... and W. Heather, 1808.https://books.google.com/books?id=e2VGAAAAYAAJ

———. Original Observations Regarding the Inability of Ships to Perform Their Duty with Promptitude and Safety, with Suggestions for Their Improvement, as Practised on Board the Transit ... Also the Description of a Propeller or Floating Anchor, and That of a Life Catamaran, Etc. [With Six Plates.]. S. Piper, 1833. https://books.google.com/books?id=W6pWAAAAcAAJ