The Trial of the Honorable Admiral BYNG, at A Court-Martial held on board His Majesty's Ship the St. George, in Portsmouth Harbour, Tuesday, Dec. 28, 1756 , For An Enquiry into his Conduct, while he commanded in the Mediterranean…

FIRST EDITION, [vi], 320, [2], 321-479, 45, 71 pp.; Five engraved folding maps of nautical manoeuvers, a little light foxing and marginal damp staining, engraved armorial bookplate, contemporary calf, neatly rebacked, with new red morocco spine label, 8vo, London: Printed for and Sold by J. Lacy, 1757.

[Bound with]

A Candid Examination of the Resolutions and Sentence of the Court-Martial On the Trial of Admiral Byng; As founded on the Principles of Law, Evidence and Discipline. In a Letter to the Gentlemen of the Navy… By an Old Sea Officer.

FIRST EDITION, [2], 38 pp., London: Printed for J. Cooke… 1757.

This is among the best of the period on the prosecution and execution of Admiral Byng, a cause celebre in English naval history.

The successful French invasion of the British held island of Minorca initiated the Seven Years War (or at least the Anglo-French component in the European theatre).

Admiral Byng was scapegoated by the Admiralty, who had sent his squadron out with insufficient men and vessels, leading to a disastrous conclusion. Byng was court-martialed after electing to repair his damaged fleet at Gibraltar rather than relieve a British garrison. The court acquitted him of personal cowardice, but convicted him of neglect of duty and condemned him to death.

The trial and subsequent execution of Admiral John Byng after his failure to defeat a French fleet and then relieve Port Mahon was a low point in British naval history.

The fine large folding plates, rarely present, depict the disposition of the vessels of the French and English during the maritime engagements and were prepared for the present work.

Provenance:

Alexander MacKenzie