Highly interesting military manuscript, showing the daily military life, standards, regulations, orders and rules and administration of the Dutch army in the second and third quarters of the 18th-century. It was written in four parts, each with its own part-title, discussing several relevant aspects of military life.
The first part contains many lists and models, with the names of several officers and their ranks in the military hierarchy, including a model for administering to those who were sick or injured, on personal leave or who lost their lives. It further explains the financial administration of the army, including the income and expenditures for the captain, officers, Swiss guards and many others. The second part contains regulations and prescriptions for the Dutch army, all copied from the Prince of Orange and Nassaus official decrees, drawn up by his secretary in the second and third quarters of the 18th century, at least mostly by Willem IV (1711-1751). It includes regulations to end his displeasure about the envy and disharmony of the different regimental officers in the Dutch army and the fact that orders from higher military ranks were sometimes neglected by the lower ones. This part also includes prescriptions for the uniforms and many concept or model letters that were commonly used in military service, including one to record the amount of money a soldier obtained, a license to marry someone, a small letter to bring someone to the hospital or sanitarium and a redundancy notice. Also included is a short protocol for when someone died and a small list of the several goods and weapons used in the army. The third part opens with a copy of a letter from Anne, Princess Royal and Princess of Orange (1709-1759), the wife of Willem IV, Prince of Orange and first heriditary stadtholder of the Seven United Provinces of the Netherlands. It continues with some very strict orders concerning the daily military matters in The Hague, such as the duties of sentries, guards and patrols, arrests, visitations, emergencies, fires, etc. The last part contains detailed tables and plans, 3 of them showing battle formations, including those for the battles of Muhlberg (1730) and Oosterhout (1732). The other 2 folding plans are model plans for military camps of the infantry and cavalry.
The title-page bears the name of Johan Friederich Liernur, a sergeant in the Dutch army.
Binding slightly worn around the edges, especially around the spine, head and foot of spine slightly damaged. Some small spots on the first and last blanks, front hinge very slighty loose, a minor tear along the fold of the folding plan for the cavalry camp (barely affecting the content), but otherwise in very good condition. A highly interesting military manuscript and handbook, dealing with all aspects of conducting an army and therefore providing good insights into daily military life in the 18th-century Dutch army.