Very rare pamphlet on the regulations concerning signalling, intended for flag officers, captains and other high-ranking officials commanding ships, fregats or lesser vessels under command of the State and indicating whom they should salute and signal and how. These rules were issued in the first year of the new Batavian Republic (established in the Netherlands under the influence of the French Revolutionary army, 1795-1806) by the Committee of naval affairs (Comité tot de zaken van de Marine) to regulate salutations at sea by means of firing shots, including the exact number of shots proper to various occasions, such as the number of canon shots when a high ranking official comes on board. An admiral, for example, gets seventeen salute shots while a commandor gets only eleven. The rules were necessary because of the many misunderstandings and difficulties that occurred when (war)ships met other vessels in the open sea, harbours or roadsteads. Such confrontations had often led to often unintentional hostilities. The resolution is dated 26 June 1795 and the confirmation by the States General 6 July 1795.
The Comité tot de zaken van de Marine was created soon after the Batavian Revolution (1795), replacing the old Admiralties, and consisted of 21 members of the parliament.
Corners slightly frayed, otherwise in good condition. De Jonge, Geschiedenis v.h. Ned. zeewezen, 6, 1 (1848), pp. 2023.