A Narrative Exposing a Variety of Irregular Transactions in One of the Departments of Foreign Corps, During the Late War.
London: Printed by J. Whiting…and published by J. Parsons and Son…, 1804. First and only editions of two scarce pamphlets. [Togerher with:] Gardiner, [Richard]. Octavo. viii, 129, [2], [1, ads] pp. Nineteenth-century tree calf, decoratively ruled in gilt on both covers with gilt coat-of-arms in the center, gilt spine with burgundy morocco label, sprinkled edges. Joints lightly rubbed. Very good condition. In the first work, there are a number of early ink corrections that appear to have been made by the author, editor, or someone intimately involved in the situation. It would be interesting to know whose copy this was, and whose coat-or-arms is on the front cover. An Answer to a Pamphlet of Mr. James Poole, Entitled ‘A Narrative, exposing a Variety of irregular Transactions…’ London: Printed for R.H. Evans, 1804. Octavo. vii, [1], 64 pp. Item #13571
James Poole reports that in looking over records in the War Office in 1794, he came across evidence of false accounting in the French emigrant regiments of Roll and Dillon while they were serving with the British army in Holland. He became convinced that his superior, Richard Gardiner was aware of the situation and reported him to the Secretary of War. Poole’s account is a detailed summary of everything that occurred between 1794 and the publication of this book. The second work is Gardiner’s answer, made in an equally methodical way, answering Poole point by point, with references to page numbers.
OCLC lists five copies of the first work and two of the second. COPAC lists five copies of the first and one of the second. Curiously, the copy of the first work at Cambridge and four other copies we located, including the Harvard copy, have the same pagination as ours, but four copies listed in OCLC (Columbia, UCLA, University of Missouri, New York Public Library) extend to eighty pages. Poole wrote a reply to Gardiner’s pamphlet in 1805, but it is also scarce (OCLC lists four copies, and COPAC lists three).
Price: $450.00