[Sea Pilot – Napoleonic Wars Manuscript 1808 - 1813]

The Printed Atlas: Roux Joseph, “Recueil des principaux plans des ports et rades de la Mer Mediterranée,...”, Marseille, 1764. 67 full-page charts on of the most important ports and bays in the entire Mediterranean, including a “Table de 67 Plans des Ports…” in the end. From Greece & Cyprus included charts of Corfu, Cephalonia, Spetses, Limassol, Methoni, Milos, Kythera, Suda, Thessaloniki, Chios, Zante.

 The Manuscript: Manuscript text on reverse of 15 plates dated during the Napoleonic Wars between 1808-1813.

Two sheets with a handwritten list of 79 names of military officers Prisoners of War in Ashby-de-la-Zouch, entitled “Officiers militaires Francais Prisonniers a Ashby de la Zouch Leicestershire”, among them Colonel Bouson (he was wounded in 1806, while commanding the 2e Regiment de Chasseurs-à-Cheval). Also a sheet with handwritten list of 38 names of merchant shipping officers Prisoners of War in Ashby-de-la-Zouch, entitled “Officiers de commerce Prisonniers a Ashby de la Zouch”. Also, on verso of Ibiza-Formentera chart, there are handwritten notes of the coordinates of Ashby-de-la-Zouch and Leicester using both the London (Greenwich) and Paris Prime meridians. Analytical expenditures for years 1811 & 1812 on verso of 4 Spanish port charts. One sheet, on verso of the Limassol - Cyprus chart, with handwritten positioning in sea measurements, in two columns entitled “Janvier / S – D – M – S” and “Longitude du Soleil Différence” Extended text on last blanc sheet criticizing the military abilities of 6 prominent Spanish generals of the Peninsular War: General Francisco Javier Castaños, General Heding, Gregorio García de la Cuesta, José Rebolledo de Palafox, General Navarro, General Don Ventura Caro One sheet with handwritten notes from a French newspaper “Le Courier” of the 2nd of August 1808, stating the proclamations of French military protagonists of the Napoleonic Wars like the Henri-Jacques-Guillaume Clarke to Count of Hunebourg & François Étienne de Kellermann to Duc de Valmy. On verso of last plate, notes extracted from English-London 1813 news about the frigates LHortense, La Pallas, La Lestre, LArmide Frigates Elegant map ornaments, manuscript designs, sketches of nautical roses, and rhumb lines, notes from observations and positioning attempts in sea on verso of 5 engraved sheets (title page & 4 Spanish port charts). Manuscript text entitled “Roue de Pitagore” refering to the Wheel of Pythagoras predictive numerology to obtain a "yes" or "no" answer to a question. On the reverse of another sheet it is designed a hand shape is designed with notes relating to chiromancy.

Contemporary binding bearing the French heraldry symbol of fleur-de-lis, on front cover, embedded in vellum. Rubbed and worn along extremities and joints, upper right corner of front cover and upper small part of spine chipped. Upper part of first blank sheet cut. Last sheet creased. Title-page and first plate soiled, otherwise occasional spotting and soiling. Modern notes in pencil on lower margins of plates.

From all the above we could assume that the current sea-pilot was used by a French official in the Sea, during the Napoleonic Wars. Of great importance is the detailed list of a total of 117 names and ranks of French Prisoners of War transferred to Ashby-de-la-Zouch.