TRANSCRIBER'S NOTE Italic text is denoted by _underscores_. Obvious typographical errors and punctuation errors have been corrected after careful comparison with other occurrences within the text and consultation of external sources. All changes noted in the ERRATA (pg xvi) have been applied to the etext. Sometimes the currency symbol l (for libra, pounds) was used instead of £. This has been changed to _l_ for clarity. For example, 50l is represented as 50_l_. More detail can be found at the end of the book. AN Historical Review OF THE _ROYAL MARINE CORPS._ PRICE ONE GUINEA IN BOARDS. AN HISTORICAL REVIEW OF THE _ROYAL MARINE CORPS_, FROM ITS ORIGINAL INSTITUTION DOWN TO THE PRESENT ERA, 1803. DEDICATED, BY PERMISSION, TO HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE DUKE OF CLARENCE. BY ALEXANDER GILLESPIE, FIRST LIEUTENANT AND UPWARDS OF TWENTY-FOUR YEARS AN OFFICER IN IT. [Illustration: "PER MARE, TERRAMQUE VINCIMUS."] BIRMINGHAM: PRINTED AND SOLD BY M. SWINNEY, No. 75, HIGH-STREET; SOLD ALSO BY T. EGERTON, MILITARY-LIBRARY, WHITEHALL; MESSRS. RICHARDSON, ROYAL EXCHANGE; MESSRS. LONGMAN AND REES, PATERNOSTER-ROW; AND T. OSTELL, AVE-MARIA-LANE, LONDON. 1803. [Illustration: _St. Jean d'Acre in Syria._ _Memorable for its Gallant Defence by a Body of Seamen, and Marines under Sr. Sidney Smith, & Colonel, now Sr. John Douglas Knt. &c. &c. against BUONOPARTE, & the Flower of the French Egyptian Army._] [Illustration] _Most Gracious Prince_, With mixed sentiments of Loyalty and Gratitude, I now lay the following Work under your Royal Shelter. In having deigned to become its Patron your Royal Highness has placed me under a double tie, as it is a precious mark of condescension bestowed upon myself, enhanced in value from its being a sure earnest of predilection for my Corps. To cherish Patriotism, Subordination and Allegiance, is the bounden duty of every subject; but more peculiarly so, during times of public danger, and of general convulsion. This has been my leading aim, not by the displays of Theory, but of Facts. Conscious that such were my predominant motives, and anxious to maintain consistency throughout, I looked around for a Protector who united within himself all those exalted endowments which I have laboured to establish. My eyes turned towards your Royal Highness, and my pen did not solicit in vain. With talents filled for an honorable discharge of the most important trusts; early trained in the hardy employs of a profession which has long been the prop of the British Empire; and a Prince of the greatest Realm on earth, your Royal Highness has nobly foregone all those pre-eminent claims, and with a manly humility, you have associated yourself, in arms, with the Volunteers of your Country.